50 STATES IN 50 WEEKS…WEEK19: VIRGINIA

Home Of: George Washington, Dave Matthews Band, Patsy Cline, The Carter Family, Timbaland, Clipse, Gwar, The Dismemberment Plan, Lamb of God

Fun Facts: State flower; American Dogwood, State dog; American Foxhound, State bird; Cardinal

The Venues:

For a unique live music experience, check out The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the only national park for the arts in the United States. There are two venues in the park: The Filene Center, a 7000 seat outdoor amphitheatre and The Barns, a smaller indoor venue.

The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA is one of the leading folk clubs in the country. Artists like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt and Vince Gill all played here early in their careers.

Like roots music? Head to the 36th annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival on October 24th. The festival celebrates the folk traditions of the area, including Blue Ridge ‘mountain music,’ played by musicians native to the area. This year’s festival will also be honoring Virginia’s part in the history of rockabilly music.

The Music:

The Honey Dewdrops – Listening to The Honey Dewdrops is like stepping into a time machine. Their old-timey twang and close vocal harmonies bring to mind the music of The Carter Family and their contemporaries. Their throwback sound impressed the staff of A Prairie Home Companion, who named The Honey Dewdrops the first place winners of their “People in their Twenties Talent Show” in March 2008. The band is currently touring in support of their May 2009 debut album If The Sun Will Shine, so check out “Wandering Boy” and catch The Honey Dewdrops in your town!

The Splints – The Splints’ punk influenced rock ‘n’ roll hits you like a kick in the chest, so it comes as no surprise that their rhythm section includes an ex-Marine. The band’s first full length, Love Letters And Broken Bones, was engineered by the legendary engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey), with the track “Linoleum” winning a Top 10 achievement in the October 2008 Punk Channel.

My Radio – Boston music scene staple JP Powell thought he was moving to Roanoke, VA to give up rock and roll for good. He couldn’t have been more wrong. After a chance meeting with hard-hitting drummer Hunter Johnson, the two decided to form the Rock/Pop powerhouse that is My Radio. The band recently signed with music publishing company Ocean Park Music Group, and their song “Yeah Yeah Yeah” will be the soundtrack of the Fox Sports Cleveland Cavaliers halftime highlights for this upcoming NBA season.

Check out these acts and other great Virginian artists in the playlist below! Who are your favorite OurStage Virginians? Where do you like to see live music in Virginia? Let us know in the comments!