FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge – in partnership with the Floyd Country Store, 5 Points Music Sanctuary, Jefferson Center and Grandin Theatre – will host “Blue Ridge Holler,” a 10-day concert series Nov. 21-30, to raise funds for Virginia and North Carolina communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. The series is being co-sponsored by Cardinal News.

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Akin to Live Aid or Farm Aid, included in the Blue Ridge Holler series is a free benefit concert on Nov. 24 at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke. No tickets required … just show up and enjoy!

Or tune in to our LIVESTREAM on FRIENDS Facebook and YouTube channels.

Blue Ridge Holler Performance Times on Nov. 24
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Blue Ridge Holler merch
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Additional Blue Ridge Holler concerts in the series will be scheduled events at partner venues that have agreed to generously donate a portion of ticket sales to hurricane relief. Throughout the series, donations will be requested from audiences in attendance as well as those tuning in to a free live-stream for each event.

Other concerts in the series include:

FRIENDS invites other venues and artists to be part of the 10-day Blue Ridge Holler series with performances either in-person or pre-recorded via livestream. All money raised will go to Blue Ridge communities in Virginia and North Carolina that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Specifically, funding will go towards rebuilding community assets aligned with FRIENDS’ mission of celebrating the region’s unique culture, natural beauty, and quality of life.

“This might mean funds and volunteer support to rebuild recreational areas, parks, playgrounds, trails, artist studios and music venues,” said executive director Julie Whalen. “Thankfully, there are several organizations and federal agencies in place to help with health and human services, and we encourage folks to support them. We feel best equipped to help rebuild with direction from our volunteer chapters already in impacted Blue Ridge communities in ways that align our strengths and mission.”

ARTIST BIOS for NOV. 24 CONCERT

2:00 pm – David Stewart Wiley and Julee Hickox
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Maestro David Stewart Wiley has conducted such acclaimed American symphonies as Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, Oregon, Hawaii, and Utah, as well as in dozens of countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Wiley was named Roanoke’s “Citizen of the Year” for his outstanding service and outreach. David was part of the leadership team who traveled to Denver as Roanoke received its 7th “All-American City” award. Wiley made his triple debut several years ago with Boston Pops as conductor, composer, and piano soloist at Symphony Hall, and was invited back again to Boston as a return guest in May. Maestro Wiley was recently honored during his 25th season by the governor and a joint bipartisan resolution in the Virginia house and senate. Joining him today is RSO principal Piccolo and Flute player Julee Hickcox, who also serves as RSO contractor. 

2:20 pm – Newfound Gap
Newfound Gap is from Leicester, NC.  Bayla (16) plays clawhammer banjo and is a traditional Appalachian vocalist. Sylvie (14) plays fiddle. Judah (13) plays guitar. Emme (11) plays bass and mandolin. They’ve won first place ribbons for best youth band at several fiddlers conventions throughout the Southeast. In addition to playing the Youth Stage at the IBMA’s and participating in the Kids on Bluegrass Program, they’ve played the Cabin Stage at Merlefest, Woodsongs, Appalachia Sessions, The Earl Scruggs Festival and FloydFest, among many others.  Bayla is a ‘23-‘24 Fellow in From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab, only the second traditional musician to ever be chosen for the program. Bayla was also selected to participate in The Blue Ridge Music Trails’ Fine Tuned project, a mentorship and collaboration-based project aimed at professional development for emerging artists playing traditional music in Western North Carolina. Her recordings were released last year for the Fine Tuned Project with Cary Fridley and produced by Josh Goforth. Each plans to teach and perform for future generations.

2:40 pm – Scott Patrick & Micaiah McClellan
Scott Patrick is a bluegrass guitarist, producer, and songwriter from southwest Virginia who has performed with regional bands the last 30 years and has several notable bluegrass artists recording his songs including Caroline Owens of Billy Blue Records, Darin and Brooke Aldridge (Billy Blue Records), and Jim Hurst (Pinecastle Records). Micaiah is an up and coming artist from the New River Valley who has a recently developed a love for singing and performing.  She is also and avid horse lover. She will be releasing her first single next year and has full length music project on the horizon.  

3:00 pm – Geoff the Fiddler
Geoff is from Blowing Rock, North Carolina. He was trained in classical violin before moving to Celtic and Old-Time fiddling. Geoff is also a living historian and has given presentations about music of the Civil War to roundtables and battlefields all over Virginia. 

3:20 pm – Amelia Empson
Amelia Empson is an indie-Americana and Folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Blacksburg, VA. Her music is inspired by the Appalachian mountains she calls home, and all the wildness, love, and stories 

3:40 pm – Purple Carrot
Recently fully formed with the addition of Lead Guitarist Mike Bella of Virginia, Purple Carrot is also comprised of life long musicians Darrell Altizer of Virginia on Keys, David Allen of Virginia on Guitar and Vocals, and long time residents of Virginia, Tom Alderson of Boston on Drums and Vocals and Floyd Fulmer of Pittsburgh on Bass and Vocals.

4:00 pm – The Brothers Young
The Brothers Young will transport audiences back in time to the original beginnings of bluegrass. They are a brother duo playing traditional bluegrass music by Flatt & Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, Osborne Brothers & others. They blend traditional bluegrass with energy of a new generation that will satisfy all ages.

4:20 pm – Whitney Lewis
Whitney Lewis has over forty years’ experience playing guitar and singing songs of his own as well as those of the artists who inspired him such as the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Hot Tuna, Peter Rowan and many others. Whitney makes use of many guitar gadgets to enhance the performance beyond the boundaries of the typical singer/songwriter.

4:40 pm – Mike Franke
Mike Franke performs blues-Infused Americana that ranges from humorous to edgy, silly to profound. A relaxed stage presence that leaves the audience smiling, feeling, thinking, and humming along.

5:00 pm – The McKenzies
Woody and Marcia McKenzie have been making music together for decades and have entertained audiences throughout the U.S. and even in Canada, Denmark and Belize! Their repertoire includes a unique blend of contemporary and original folk, traditional music of southern Appalachia and the British Isles, funny songs, and even some swing and jazz standards. They accompany their strong individual and duet vocals with a variety of instruments, from guitars to whistles, banjos to bodhrans, concertinas to fiddle, and they encourage their audiences to sing along and make a joyful noise!

5:20 pm – Video Performances by Tim Seaman and Tom Abernethy, and Walker’s Creek and the Hound Dogs
Tim Seaman and Tom Abernethy are an eclectic folk duo of multi-instrumental power, featuring hammered dulcimers, guitars, flutes, psalteries, harp, and mountain dulcimer, many of which were made in the Blue Ridge region – Staunton, Floyd, and Bedford. Tom, a math teacher from Richmond, has for many years been part of PolyCeltic; Tim, an English teacher from Williamsburg, has played in Virginia Sky and several other groups, as well as performing and recording solo for many years. Collaborations for recording (23 albums between them!) and concertizing include Shenandoah National Park, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Virginia State Parks. 

Walker’s Creek and the Hound Dogs was founded by Marion, Virginia natives Chandler Walker and Micah Joines. The newly formed band plays “bluegrass with country tendencies.”

5:40 – Keith Goggin
Keith started playing at the age of five and played his first paying gig at twelve. He was a voice major in college and has played in numerous bands all over the country and has opened a tour for the Charlie Daniels Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, among others. He played on the college circuit for years with the South Star Band, and in the New Orleans band Delacroix for eight years. For the last twenty years he has played in the Houston, Texas bands The Levee Busters and Whiskey Brisket as well as doing solo acoustic work. Keith has been working both on tours and in the studio on and off with California-based songwriter Christie McCarthy for nearly 30 years. Keith has also worked as a guitarist in the studio with many artists. 

6:00 pm – Kinnfolk
KINNFOLK – the husband and wife duo of Josh and Julie Kinn – weave octave mandolin, bodhrán (Irish drum), and smooth vocal harmonies into their Celtic folk music from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From sea shanties and working songs, to trad tunes and Old Time favorites, Kinnfolk’s fresh take on classics blends seamlessly with their original compositions. They share stories as enduring as tartan, spinning yarns steeped in Appalachian charm, enjoying playful banter with the audience. Their shows feel like a kitchen party, where everyone is family, and there’s always room for a dancer. 

6:20 pm – Harvest Blaque and Squad Soul
You’ve seen him on the Blue Ridge PBS show BUZZ as a spoken word artist extraordinaire. As a healing therapist for people suffering depression. And as the heart and soul behind “It’s Here!” – a tribute to his beloved city that we featured in our episode highlighting Art & Economic Development in Roanoke, Virginia. He’s even voiced Motown-singing female meerkats on internationally acclaimed Cece Bell’s newest book Animal Albums from A-Z. In September, Bryan “Harvest Blaque” Hancock released his second album, “The Care Package.” 

6:40 PM – Eight Point Star
A Cosmic-Appalachian string band led by Mike Gangloff’s droning fiddle and Matt Peyton’s fingerpicked guitar, Eight Point Star mines the modal traditions of both old-time Appalachia and far-out drone music to produce beautiful tunes that are equal parts memorable and psychedelic. Joined by Tim Thornton and Isak Howell, Eight Point Star is also an old time string band. 

7:00 pm – Marcus Perry / TheBandPaul

7:20 pm – Just Some Random Dude
Just Some Random Dude is from Roanoke, Virginia, and an eclectic amalgamation of aggressive lyricism, outlandish and experimental delivery, and subject matter rooted in the reality of this generation. A native to the Tri-State area, he prides himself on being a mouthpiece of the everyman. Dude weaves his tales of personal experiences of fatherhood, marriage, employment, and the pursuit of a greater purpose; finding beauty in the pain, excitement in the mundane, and curiosity in the hard to explain.

7:40 – Jack Hinshelwood and Patrick Turner
For over 50 years, singer, songwriter, and award-winning multi-instrumentalist Jack Hinshelwood has entertained audiences with a broad swath of traditional and Americana music on guitar, fiddle, harmonica, and vocals. Jack is a winner of the Knoxville World’s Fair Guitar Championship, the Wayne Henderson Guitar Championship, and a two-time winner of the prestigious Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention guitar contest. His most recent recording, “50 Years in the Making,” is a two-volume anthology of old time, bluegrass, and blues music featuring fellow artists such as Doyle Lawson, Phil Wiggins, Dom Flemons, Michael Cleveland, Dori Freeman and many others. Multi-instrumentalist Patrick Turner has been making music since he was old enough to hold a violin and take Suzuki lessons. He still plays violin, but also became a very talented bassist along the way in part from his musical studies at VCU and University of Houston. Over the years he’s made music with The Hot Seats, the Celtibillies, The Floorboards, Alabaster Boxer, and even played in the band for legendary comedian Joan Rivers when she performed at Virginia Tech.