Casts from the Past

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Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone?

This past weekend (Labor Day weekend 2008), we took a ride to the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail to get out of the city, see some mountains and pretty scenery, and take in a few shows.

On Friday evening, we went to the famed Rex Theater in Galax, Virginia. From the Crooked Road website:

“Since 1999, radio station WBRF-FM 98.1 has broadcast its weekly “Blue Ridge Backroads” live music show from Galax’s historic Rex Theater on Grayson Street. It is one of only three live bluegrass and oldtime radio shows in the country. With a powerful 100,000 watts of power the signal reaches listeners in 4 states and over 50 counties. The live show hosts local, regional and national bluegrass and old-time musicians on the stage every Friday at 8pm. Visitors come from all over the world to be a part of the audience and participate in the live radio broadcast.”

I think it is usually free, but the show we attended was $5.00 a person to see the Master Musicians from the Crooked Road. It was a pretty amazing show. They did some Carter Family songs and some old time mountain music and bluegrass standards. Our favorite of the night was hearing “No Speed Limit” perform “Ruby”. The band is led by Steve Barr, a stunning banjoist from Galax, and features the fine vocals of Amber Collins.People clogged and played the spoons down front and at times the whole audience sang and clapped along. It was a great evening of affordable fun. I wish I lived close enough that I could go every Friday. Please visit the Rex’s official website to find their schedule, directions, and other information.

On Saturday, we followed the Crooked Road and made our way over to the famed Carter Family Fold in Maces Springs/Hiltons, Virginia. The original Carter Family, consisting of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle, is considered the “First Family of Country Music”. Younger people are most likely familiar with them because of the marriage between Maybelle’s daughter, June Carter, to music legend (and one of my biggest music idols), Johnny Cash.

I’ve been talking about visiting here for a long time now and I finally made it. It was worth the wait! The show featured the Wild Turkeys who did a number of Carter Family songs (including the song title whose name I took for this post) and other old time standards. This time, the floor in front of the stage got down right crowded with cloggers and dancers of all ages.

The history of the place is just so exciting for me. The museum, which used to be A.P. Carter’s country store, now serves as the Carter Family museum. Admission to the museum is covered in the $5.00 ticket to the show. The museum has all kind of pictures, records, awards, personal items like A.P.’s pocket watch, and his favorite chair. I really enjoyed seeing the suit that Johnny Cash wore to the White House in 1970. You can also visit the restored cabin and birthplace of A.P. Carter right next to the museum.

If you can’t make it to the Fold yourself, you can still enjoy a show via streaming video and help support The Carter Family Fold by paying a mere $5.00 to watch online.