This summer the New River Valley will have a new venue for a musical experience. Sunken Garden Sundays is a concert series taking place at Nesselrod on the New every Sunday beginning June 7.

“We began this event because of our love of live music, our belief in the demand for a top tier venue and program for the heart of the New River Valley, and our belief in our model of promoting and producing live music as a way to unite, bind, and service the City of Radford and the surrounding Valley,” said Ian Fortier, coordinator of the concert series.

The music featured will vary between national, regional, and local music. The types of music that will be played will vary between blues, bluegrass, and rock.

“June is the month of bluegrass and blues,” Fortier said. “July, August, and September will feature funk, jazz, blues, bluegrass, Celtic, and some reggae and a beach show at the end of the year.”

Nesselrod on the New is located in the City of Radford. The driveway is the first right following the bridge coming from Radford. The Web site boasts, “Secluded and magical, the Garden provides the perfect environment to stage and produce the wonderment and experience of live music.”

The month of June already has bands scheduled while July, August, and September will continue to develop. Chatham County Line, a bluegrass group will be a part of the inaugural show on June 7. The Harwell Grice Band, who will serve as the opening act, is a local bluegrass band based out of Franklin County, Va.

Chris Duarte, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Jimmy Thackery will all perform on Sunken Garden Sundays in the month of June. Triscale, a local rock/funk band out of Roanoke, is set to perform as the opening act on June 14. Scott Fore, a blues artist out of Radford, will open the show on June 28.

There are already plans for a Saturday show to open the month of July on the Fourth where Yo Mamma’s Big Fat Booty Band, a funk band, is set to perform.

The first installment of Sunken Garden Sundays is sponsored by Haga & Rhodes Attorneys of Law. The first event will also be co-hosted by The Red Cross Greater New River Valley Chapter. Every event will be co-hosted by a non-profit organization.

“[We want] exposure for all sponsors, supporters, partners, and participants via word of mouth, print, radio, Web and on site,” Fortier said. “[This is] an opportunity to distribute portions of our proceeds back to the non-profit community in our valley to support their programs.”

Another one of the main goals is to give people the opportunity to experience a different part of the New River Valley.

“[This event gives] opportunity to view, visit, and be a guest at wonderful nine-acre property that since its inception has been a virtually private facility.” Fortier said. “[It’s] to open up Nesselrod to the community it serves.”

For ticket sales, go online or call the ticket office at 540.745.6643.

Matt LaBelle is an intern for the New River Voice and will be Editor for Radford University’s student newspaper this fall.