The Community Room at The Jacksonville Center means a lot of things to a lot of people. To quilting enthusiasts, it’s home to both the Old Church Gallery Quilters Guild bi-monthly meetings and samples of their meticulously-created fiber arts. To others, it’s the weekly meeting place of Sumati Goldberg’s Gentle Yoga Class. To still others, it’s a place to gather, snack and visit at the Jax’s Meet-the-Artists receptions.

The stage, built by board member, artisan-instructor, and talented wood artist Don George, hints at yet another role for this gabled space: intimate musical venue. (more…)

The Blueberry Years is a new memoir by local author Jim Minick, chronicling the organic pick-your-own blueberry farm he and his wife started and ran for 10 years. The book also includes recipes and various historical bits about organic farming and blueberry lore.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, the New River Voice and the Freedom Foundation for Southwest Virginia will celebrate the book by hosting a release party. Join us at 6 p.m. in the Sunken Garden Amphitheatre at Nesselrod on the New in Fairlawn for a reading, signing, and live entertainment by musical acts Dallas Leonard and Triscale. (more…)

 Last month, approximately 70 people gathered at the Norwood Room on East Main Street in Radford for a free viewing of the documentary film Food Inc. followed by a panel of local food producers. The event was the first of its kind for Main Street Radford, and the attendees resolved to continue exploring the topic of food justice.

This Saturday, the Radford Farmers Market will host a Local Food Fair(ness) event, complete with a localvore luncheon, cooking demos, and a pickling workshop. Below is a sneak preview of that workshop, written by one of the event’s organizers, Zetta Nicely.

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Having seen Cadillac Sky several times over the last few years, I can say it is exciting to see this band evolve. The first time I saw them (at FloydFest 2008) I was impressed with their energy and talent—but it wasn’t until a year later (at Kirk Ave. Music Hall) that I knew this was no ordinary bluegrass band.

By then, David “Mayhem” Mayfield had joined the group, adding what can only be described as a larger-than-life personality to the stage show—so much so that I wasn’t sure he’d ever really settle in. But after listening to their latest CD featuring a collaborative-writing effort, Letters in the Deep, and seeing the joy the band still takes in playing together, it’s clear that Mayfield is in C-Sky for good. (more…)

This week marks an anniversary for me and Cadillac Sky. It was at FloydFest in 2008 when I first saw the band. In the recap of the event then, I said this about the alt-bluegrass band: “I just had never heard of them and didn’t have the highest expectations. But this band blew me away. They could play the traditional stuff with great style and flair, but their originals were truly original, with some experimental instrumentation on occasion. And they were fun!”

And while the band was not back at FloydFest this weekend, the guys are in the area playing Roanoke’s Kirk Avenue Music Hall Thursday, July 29.  The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20. (more…)

Raised in Switzerland, the Kruger Brothers will bring an international flavor to the Blue Ridge Music Center (milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) on Saturday, July 31, when they join John Lilly and the Cheatin’ Hearts on the amphitheater stage.

Jens and Uwe Kruger have performed as an acoustic group worldwide for more than 30 years on guitar and banjo, embracing a wide range of styles. About a decade ago they were joined by bassist Joel Landsberg to form the acoustic trio known as the Kruger Brothers. (more…)