New Family Tradition: Redwing Roots

Welcome to Mt. Solon, Virginia, set in the middle of central Virginia farmland. 

 I don't know much about it, but this weekend we spent two days just outside of Mt. Solon at Natural Chimneys Park, the location of the Redwing Roots Music Festival. In the shadow of these stone towers music is played and people dance for three days in July. 

 Though we had won two three-day passes through our local public radio station, Dan and I had only planned to attend one day due to prior travel plans he had made on Saturday. However, as I walked to the parking lot last night after an amazing set played by The Duhks, I knew I needed to come back.

Today, after sending Dan to the airport, the twins and I returned to the festival, equipped with snacks, a camera (with a charged battery forgotten on Friday), our chairs, and our water bottles. This festival is set-up with four main stages, but the two largest are in the same area. Music alternates between the two stages so that a band can set-up while another band is playing. By the end of the day at this festival, if you keep moving, you can hear over twenty bands play. Standing at the base of the Chimneys, looking from left to right, it looks like this, with the south stage on the left of the first photo and the Shenandoah stage on the right of the third photo.

 The music is the best part of the festival, but my favorite thing about Redwing Roots is that is so family-centered. Children are welcomed and planned for. Today, without back-up, I knew I needed to indulge my kids so that I could build up stamina for the very last set. 

 A chose to hula hoop and add to the community mural.

E made a new friend to spend time with at the make-shift ping pong table and kept his frisbee nearby for random pick-up games of frisbee toss.

 He also worked the hula hoops, studying his sister's skills.

 Every now and then, I would say "let's go listen the music up close." You see, I could hear it wherever I was at the park, but I wanted my kids to see the artists' hands and make eye contact at close range, so with each band we waded our way to the front for a song or two. Of note, yesterday we heard Pokey LaFarge play "Central Time." We also heard the Duhks. I love their new song "Suffer No Fools" and all of their other fun songs like "Old Cookpot." 

 Today's artists were unforgettable. Miss Sarah Jarosz, who can fly on a banjo or mandolin, so watch out.

 The Travellin' Hillbillies, who performed on the Local Roots stage. 

Tim O'Brien and Darell Scott, who sang "Memories and Moments". 

And, of course, the Steel Wheels, creators of this festival and hometown boys. Everything they sing is phenomenal, but I heard them a perform a handful that I can't forget.

Rain in the Valley. Redwing. Go Up to That Mountain. We've Got a Fire. Honey Bear. Nola's First Dance. They get going so fast on that last one.

Yesterday I danced, but today, whenever possible I'd just sit and soak in the sounds and I'd hope my kids were doing the same. Like the creators of this festival, I feel like this music is for everyone, regardless of age or perceived musical preference. My heart sang when I heard "Shenandoah," klesmer-inspired numbers, and old fiddle and banjo tunes like Cripple Creek. What a treat to live in these song-soaked mountains and valleys on the outskirts of Appalachia. We will come back to these festivals again and again to hear more amazing music.