As we get ready to shift gears from the summer season to the fall this weekend, knowing the calendar's about three weeks behind reality as usual, let me take a moment to acknowledge a fine time downtown last weekend at the annual Shockoe Craft Beer Festival in Kanawha Plaza. Thanks to Tracy Leverty of Echelon Events Management for hauling me in to emcee the day that started at high noon with ThermUs. These wizened local troubadors created a languid soundtrack to the sultry afternoon. We thought we were in store for another 100-degree sizzler so the frothy brew proved a popular antidote to the heat. I think we made it officially to 97. Close enough. The venerable Taters were next with their impressive ode to the road from Nashville to Bakersfield. Craig Evans and Brad Tucker did their time-tested terrific job of playing the hits from Orbison to Owens...the boys are so solid after all these Ten Years of Taterin'...keep it comin'. I really enjoyed The Atkinsons for the first time, featuring Dickie and Jamie Wood, who have done so much in support of local bands over the last few years with their Richmond Roots Revival events at various venues. Fresh from a big Friday night in Floyd, Virginia son Scott Miller slid in to the headliner slot with his Commonwealth band and easily drew the biggest crowd of the day to the front of the stage. Scott's crafty and compelling songwriting was a good match for the equally and uniquely creative concoctions of the thirty-some brewers assembled for the two-day event. Scott's also become a confident and engaging performer...check out his fourth release on Sugar Hill, Reconstruction, recorded live at The Down Home in Johnson City Tennessee. And he's got one of the coolest Websites around. And a hot high five to Steve Payne of Soundworks for his consistently stellar job of getting the music from the stage to our ears.
On to Ashland tomorrow for another close encounter with one of the most remarkable pure voices in Americana, or any music for that matter, John Cowan and his band at AC&T by the tracks. If you like r&b or the blues or you want to see and hear part of why New Grass Revival thrilled and inspired so many fans and bands alike back in their day, come check out the Cow. Show starts at 8.
Incidentally, John does a fine job narrating a new half-hour documentary on The Infamous Stringdusters viewable now online. It's a nicely done piece following the boys during a Colorado tour last March called "Four Days Of Infamy" If you don't know these guys yet, this is a great introduction. If you're already a big fan as I am, this will seal the deal. You'll even see Critter get a haircut!
And finally for now, congrats to Jeff Sadler for finally scoring the ABC diploma for Toad's Place! Make mine a double. The Avett Brothers on Sept. 20 and Marty Stuart on the 28th.
TT
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