Music Archives

Parkers’ Mandolin to Perform Concert at the Jones House Cultural Center

April 9, 2026 Boone, NC – April 9, 2026 -For this special performance, the duo will be joined by guitarist Andy Page and bassist Adam Booker, rounding out the ensemble with a rich and dynamic rhythm section. Both musicians are respected educators who teach in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, and bring a depth of experience and musicality that enhances the group’s already compelling sound.

Roanoke, VA – April 2, 2026 — Roanoke, Va.’s new, premier venue, The Exchange Music Hall, located at 201 S. Jefferson Street, welcomes Umphrey’s McGee on Friday, July 17, 2026, presented by Across-the-Way Productions as a special stop on the genre-defying band’s Summer 2026 Tour. Tickets for The Exchange Presents: Umphrey’s McGee – Summer 2026 go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 3, via https://theexchangeva.com/ & https://aftontickets.com/theexchange-umphreysmcgee. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the all-ages show, with Umphrey’s McGee taking the stage at 8 p.m. In addition to GA tickets, a small number of VIP tickets are also available for the July 17 concert, which feature exclusive access to The Exchange’s Mezzanine Level, including the Speakeasy and VIP bars. With over 2,800 live shows, 15 studio albums and more than 27 years of musical evolution, Umphrey’s McGee continues to defy classification and expectation. Drawing fans from around the globe and across musical boundaries, the band has cultivated a devoted community rooted in spontaneity, precision and connection. Pioneers at the intersection of music and technology, their live experience fuses cutting-edge production with fan-centric innovation, creating a space where longtime followers and newcomers alike feel at home. Genre lines blur …

CHECK, VA – April 2, 2026 — Today, Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. announce the award-winning festival’s On-the-Rise Competition Class of 2026, a quintessential cornerstone of the FloydFest brand, which fosters emerging talent by giving the next generation of up-and-coming performers a stage, a leg-up and an audience. Sponsored by Peluso Microphone Lab and Press Press Merch, the On-the-Rise Class of 2026 includes Free Whenever, Frute, Jacoozy, Late Night Special, Moga Family Band, New Translations, Renee Christine, Stone Throwers, Tand and Teddy & The Rough Riders, each of which will pepper performances over the five days of FloydFest 26~Daydream, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 22 to 26, 2026, at its home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. Today’s On-the-Rise announcement follows the recent release of FloydFest 26~Daydream’s initial By-Day Schedules, available by visiting https://floydfest.com/schedule/by-day-schedules/. For those unable to commit to all five days of ‘Daydream,’ single-day GA tickets — as well as single-day GA pair+parking bundles — are now on sale by visiting www.floydfest.com and https://aftontickets.com/floydfest26daydream. ARTISTS — Daydream’s powerful quartet of 2026 headliners — GRAMMY Award-winning rock-and-soul juggernaut …

March 3, 2026 Boone, NC – March 3, 2026 – Alongside honoring the past, The Wailers remain firmly rooted in the present. Their recent albums One World and Evolution — both Grammy-nominated — reaffirm the band’s creative vitality. Evolution, produced by Grammy Award-winner Emilio Estefan Jr. on Crescent Moon Records, blends classic roots reggae with contemporary global influences, with songs like “Love Should Be Free” resonating worldwide for their positive and socially conscious message.

March 3, 2026 Boone, NC – March 3, 2026 -With even more bands left to announce, the 2026 lineup expands today with the addition of Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel, Tyler Ramsey, Supertaste, Brother Wallace, Denitia, Valley Flower, Organ Fairchild, Mama Said String Band, Canyon Lights, The Weird Sisters, Big Daddy Love Plays Mo-Grass and William Seymour’s Songwriter Showcase. All of today’s additions, plus previously announced artists, are now featured on FloydFest 26~Daydream’s initial By-Day Schedules, available by visiting https://floydfest.com/schedule/by-day-schedules/. For those unable to commit to all five days of ‘Daydream,’ single-day GA tickets — as well as single-day GA pair+parking bundles — are now on sale by visiting www.floydfest.com and https://aftontickets.com/floydfest26daydream.

February 24, 2026 Boone, NC – February 24, 2026 -“We’re thrilled to bring Bill Fisher back to mornings, on one of our stations again,” said Erica Lackey, GM at High Country Radio. “Bill is a local institution — he knows our community, our stories, and how to start the day with warmth, wit, and authenticity. His return reinforces our commitment to hometown personality-driven radio, so you can keep listening local, even while he’s in sunny semi-retirement. As Bill says: ‘Fish is back – sort of’.”

February 12, 2026 CHECK, VA – February 12, 2026 — At the heart of FloydFest’s annual purposeful programming, Across-the-Way Productions, Inc. and Blue Cow Arts Foundation, Inc. showcase their love and admiration for the remarkable local music scene by offering patrons a taste of regional talent via the ‘Local Love’ lineup. Across-the-Way Productions and Blue Cow Arts Foundation welcome 13 bands as 2026’s ‘Local Loves’

January 22, 2026 Boone, NC – January 22, 2026 – Boone JAM classes are small group lessons, limited to a maximum of six students per class, allowing for individualized instruction while fostering ensemble skills and community among young musicians.

December 3, 2025 Boone, NC – December 3, 2025 -This semester’s recital features over 100 students from Boone JAM group classes, sharing the region’s deep musical traditions on guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. The community is invited to enjoy an evening of lively, heartfelt music from the next generation of old-time and bluegrass musicians.

November 26, 2025 Boone, NC – November 26, 2025 -In 2021, recognizing the large number of Boone festival goers regularly attending FloydFest he dreamed up “The BooneBeam”, a six foot tall, carved wooden “beam”, commissioned by the Festival and crafted by Floyd woodworker (and earth moving master) Bill St Pierre. Following Hurricane Helene, St Pierre trailered down several pieces of heavy equipment and spent weeks digging out High Country resident’s homes, volunteering his time, and setting aside his regular business and customers back home in order to help out in the massive recovery effort.

November 6, 2025 CHECK, VA – November 6, 2025 — Never-before-offered, limited-time ‘Early-Bird’ ticket pricing, paired with arguably the strongest initial lineup in the festival’s two-decade-plus history, top Blue Cow Arts Foundation & Across-the-Way Production’s Nov. 6 announcement of FloydFest 26~Daydream, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier, award-winning, summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 22 to 26, 2026, at its home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. Tickets are on sale now on the completely redesigned FloydFest.com.

August 9, 2025 Heralded as “one of the best FloydFests ever” by Across-the-Way Productions’ Chief Operating Officer and Co-Owner Sam Calhoun, FloydFest 25~Aurora is receiving rave reviews online and via patron surveys, in only its second year at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. The latest edition of the Southeast’s premier summer outdoor music festival, FloydFest 25~Aurora took place July 23 to 27, 2025, following being named “Best Music Festival” in Blue Ridge Outdoors’ ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2025,’ as well as “Best Festival 2025” in Virginia Living Magazine’s ‘Best of Virginia’ readers’ survey.

July 4, 2025 The Town of Boone continues its Summer Concerts at the Jones House series on Friday, July 11, with a night of powerful string band music and fresh bluegrass sounds from two of the High Country’s most exciting young acts. The show begins at 5:30 PM on the Jones House lawn in downtown Boone. As always, the concert is free and open to the public. Sammy Osmond and the No-Hellers will open the evening with their heartfelt songwriting, old-time grit, and high-energy stage presence. Following their set, Redbud will take the porch with their seamless blend of traditional and original bluegrass. With stunning harmonies, infectious melodies, and driving rhythms, Redbud brings both reverence and innovation to their sound.

June 27 2025 Host Ronnie Moretz and the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show are moving from terrestrial radio to a streaming platform with a reach to over 80 million listeners. Live365.com will stream the Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show each Sunday from 8–10 p.m. beginning July 6, 2025. “I have been on radio for over 17 years,” said Moretz. “This will give me the opportunity to continue to share my love for bluegrass with people in the High Country and will have the added benefit of sharing bluegrass with people from around the world.” By Sam Garrett

June 26 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, presents Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb, two unmistakable voices of the ’90s, for a special evening marking the 30th anniversaries of their breakthrough albums — Osborne’s Relish and Loeb’s Tails — Friday, July 11 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Revisit the songs that shaped a generation, alongside new music and career-spanning fan favorites. Both Relish and Tails were landmark albums that transcended genres, blending folk, pop, and rock with deeply personal storytelling. Osborne’s “One of Us” and Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You)” became defining anthems of the era, and their impact continues to resonate with longtime fans and new audiences alike. Tickets are $25-$55, with discounts for App State faculty/staff and local residents

June 20, 2025 The long and storied tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games returns to MacRae Meadows on Thursday, July 10, continuing through Sunday, July 13. This marks the 69th year for the beloved and historic celebration of Scottish ancestry and heritage, with the popular festival once again bringing a “wee bit o’ Scotland” to the High Country of North Carolina. “This year’s games are a great reason for folks to travel to the North Carolina High Country,” said Stephen Quillin, president of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

June 20, 2025 The Town of Boone invites you to enjoy an evening of live music on Friday, June 27, as part of the ongoing Summer Concerts at the Jones House series in downtown Boone. Music begins at 5:30 PM with Will Easter, followed by an electric set from Midlife Trip. Raised in a porch-picking family in western North Carolina, Will Easter crafts songs that are both heartfelt and hard-hitting. His lyrics explore themes of home, memory, and emotional honesty with plainspoken depth. From rollicking dance tunes like “River Song” to soul-stirring ballads such as “Carolina Home,” Will’s performances leave a lasting impact.

June 16, 2025 It’s time for another P.B. Scott’s reunion! The famous Blowing Rock music hall closed some 40 years ago, but those who experienced it during its seven years in operation still can’t stop talking about it. There have been a number of reunions over the these past 40 years and another is on its way at Jones House during this year’s Boonerang Festival, taking place this weekend, June 19th through the 22nd. The Boonerang Festival takes place in and around downtown Boone. Festival organizers added a spot on the calendar for the P.B.’s reunion and get together on Saturday June 21st at 6:30pm at the Jones House.

June 17, 2025 The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park, milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, will reopen for the season on Friday, June 20. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Visitors can reach Doughton Park via US 21 as road repairs are now complete on the stretch of the Parkway north of the restaurant. Access from south on the Parkway via NC 18 is closed as the National Park Service continues extensive road work funded by the Great American Outdoors Act.

June 17, 2025 Engage, discover, and connect through the arts during the 41st season of An Appalachian Summer, presented June 28-July 26 by App State’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources. In partnership with the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, App Summer showcases the visual arts through intriguing exhibitions, a juried guided tour of captivating sculptures, and a series of behind-the-scenes chats with visual and performing artists. Each of these events is free and open to the public. For more information, visit appsummer.org.

June 10, 2025 The choir of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock presents the first choral Evensong of the season this Sunday afternoon, June 15th, at 3 pm in the nave of the church. Evensong is a brief contemplative service centered on biblical readings and sung prayers, and a lovely way to end your weekend before the beginning of your busy work week. Music for this Evensong includes Tallis’s If ye love me, the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in D by Walmislet, Gabriel Simerson’s Ivy Responses, and the gorgeous Palestrina praise of the Trinity – O beataTrinitas.

June 5, 2025 The Jones House Cultural Center has announced a series of summer “slow” jams, where participants of all ages can come together to explore the timeless sounds of old-time and classic bluegrass music in a fun and inclusive setting. Each session will be led by two music teachers from the Boone JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians) program. No matter your age or skill level, those who have a passion for traditional music are welcome to join the jams. Bring an acoustic string instrument and come prepared to learn, jam, and make new friends. While some basic chord knowledge is certainly helpful, these sessions are open to beginners and seasoned players alike, offering a supportive environment for everyone to grow and develop their musical talents.

June 2, 2025 Appalachian State University’s annual multi-disciplinary summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, opens its 41st season with Amos Lee, Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. The soulful singer-songwriter released his gold-selling self-titled first album in 2005 and has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, including Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Zac Brown Band, and Willie Nelson. With a laconic style, gravelly, evocative voice, and acoustic Americana sound, Lee is equally comfortable and affecting amidst a range of genres — from folk, soul, and jazz, to Americana, roots rock, and country — in his quest to connect honestly and emotionally with his audience.

May 30, 2025 While the arts have always played a key role in Banner Elk, the town takes it up a notch in 2025 with its first-ever Summer of Music. Top-level national, regional and local acts take the stage at a variety of venues all summer long. The schedule features 90-plus live performances, highlighted by Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune, bluegrass stars Jim Lauderdale and Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Oates and Gary Morris, who has five No. 1 country songs.

May 29, 2025 The Town of Boone is proud to kick off the 2025 Summer Concerts at the Jones House series with an unforgettable evening of world-class roots music on Friday, June 6, beginning at 5:30 PM at the Jones House Cultural Center in downtown Boone. The concert is free and open to the public. The evening begins with a performance by internationally acclaimed Italian guitarist and composer Beppe Gambetta, followed by a set from dynamic Appalachian and Americana duo Clay Lunsford & Matthew Weaver, bringing their rich regional heritage to the Jones House front porch

+ More Articles

Parkers’ Mandolin to Perform Concert at the Jones House Cultural Center

The Exchange Music Hall Presents: Umphrey’s McGee July 17

On-the-Rise Class of 2026 revealed for FloydFest 26~Daydream (July 22-26, 2026)

The Exchange Music Hall Presents: The Wailers – ’50 Years of Positive Vibrations’ May 2

Twelve New Artists, Initial By-Day Schedules Revealed for FloydFest 26~Daydream (July 22-26, 2026)

High Country Radio’s “HIGHWAY 106.1 & 102.3” Announces Major Lineup Changes — Bill Fisher Returns to Morning Drive; New Country-Connected Host to Power the Drive Home

‘Local Love’ Lineup Revealed for FloydFest 26~Daydream (July 22-26, 2026)

Registration Now Open for Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians Spring Semester!

Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians Announce Recital at the Appalachian Theatre

BooneBeam Shines a Spotlight on FloydFest 2026

Announcing FloydFest 26~Daydream, July 22-26, 2026; Tedeschi Trucks Band, My Morning Jacket, Stephen Wilson Jr., Lukas Nelson to Headline – Tickets on Sale Now with ‘Early-Bird’ Pricing

FloydFest 25~Aurora Celebrated as “One of the Best FloydFests Ever” by Organizers and Patrons

Sammy Osmond and the No-Hellers with Redbud Perform at the Jones House on July 11

Catgut ‘n’ Jugs Bluegrass Show is Now on Live365.com

Gen X Hitmakers Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb Celebrate Their 30-Year-Old Landmark Albums in Boone Concert Friday, July 11

Highland Games Set to Return to Grandfather Mountain’s MacRae Meadows July 10 to 13

Will Easter and Midlife Trip Bring High-Energy Americana to the Jones House on June 27

P.B. Scott’s Music Hall Reunion and Round-Up Taking Place at Boonerang Festival this Saturday, 6:30 at the Jones House

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park to Open June 20

Sculptures, Stories and Stunning New Exhibits at An Appalachian Summer

Choir of St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church Presents Their First Choral Evensong Sunday June 15th at 3 pm in the Nave of the Church

Get Ready to Strum, Pick, and Sing Your Way Through Summer at Jones House Cultural Center

Amos Lee Kicks off the 41st Season of An Appalachian Summer on Saturday, June 28

All Ears: Banner Elk Unveils First-Ever Summer of Music Featuring 90-Plus Live Performances

Beppe Gambetta and Clay Lunsford with Matthew Weaver to Open 2025 Summer Concert Series at the Jones House on June 6th