John McCutcheon’s Wry Straw reunites
John McCutcheon may be a folk music phenom now, but in his Virginia youth he played with a low-key Appalachian old-time string band Wry Straw. The trio, which consists of the Grammy-nominated John McCutcheon, Tom Bledsoe and Rich Kirby, will play a reunion concert in Hiltons, Virginia this month. McCutcheon and gang originally come from Scott County, at the southern tip of Virginia, a region that has produced talents like The Carter Family and Ralph Stanley. Though the trio hasn’t played together in nearly 30 years, all three have impacted the world of mountain music independently.
This exciting concert will occur at 7:30 pm on October 15th at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, as part of the Clinch Mountain Music Fest. The band has performed at this venue many times throughout their early career, so it seems like a fitting place for them to finally play music together again. There will be a variety of sounds represented, including old-time, gospel, instrumental compositions and harmonies. Tickets will cost $10 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 to 11, and admission for those under age 6 is free. The Carter Family Fold is sponsored by The Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, which is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to preserve traditional, acoustic and mountain music. For more information you can visit their website at www.carterfamilyfold.org and for a full listing of shows at The Fold visit www.carterfoldshow.com.