HoustonFest to be Recognized as an Affiliated Festival of The Crooked Road
Long recognized as the World Capital of Old Time Mountain Music for its Old Fiddlers Convention, and home to the Rex Theater where worldwide radio broadcasts of live mountain music take place weekly, the City of Galax has another crown jewel in HoustonFest, a premiere bluegrass and old time music festival celebrating its 6th year, June 10 and 11, 2016. Year after year, HoustonFest has consistently presented the region’s finest traditional music artists and some of the most celebrated artists in bluegrass and old time music. This year’s lineup features over 100 artists including a performance by seminal bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.
At 6:00 PM on opening night, June 11, 2016, The Crooked Road will present HoustonFest representatives with a Crooked Road banner acknowledging their recent inclusion as a Crooked Road Affiliated Festival. Affiliated Festivals represent the best in traditional music gatherings that the region has to offer. As an Affiliated Festival, HoustonFest will be represented in Crooked Road publicity and promotional materials and recognized as a regional destination to Trail followers.
“The Affiliated Festivals of The Crooked Road must consistently present quality heritage music and be an event that is valued by the community,” said Jack Hinshelwood, Crooked Road executive director. “HoustonFest scores a 10 in every category we have. We are fortunate to have such a high quality festival in Southwest Virginia that is so committed to the region’s rich musical traditions.” The festival was started in honor of Houston Caldwell, an exceptional young man who died in 2010 at the age of 18. His spirit of commitment to his community and pride in the music and place he called home live on in HoustonFest. Proceeds from HoustonFest go to support the Galax Volunteer Fire Department and to local youth music education programs.
HoustonFest takes place in Felts Park in downtown Galax, Virginia, home of the storied Old Fiddlers Convention presented annually by the Galax Moose Lodge since 1935. Audiences can enjoy four stages filled with great music and a special exhibit this year featuring the history of the Old Fiddlers Convention. The music lineup includes performers who exemplify what has become known as the Galax sound as defined by musicians who made the area a hotbed of old time and bluegrass music over decades. Joining Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder on stage will be artists such as Blue Highway, Wayne Henderson & the Virginia Luthier Band, Dori Freeman, New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, Loose Strings, Lonesome River Band, Church Sisters, Whitetop Mountain Band, Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band, Jeff Little Trio, Flatt Lonesome, Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome, Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer, Crooked Road Ramblers – and the list goes on!
HoustonFest moved the date of the festival this year to June and it now coincides with the start of The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming, a nine-day celebration of all the communities in Southwest Virginia – their heritage music, history, cultural events, and outdoor adventures. “For Homecoming attendees, being able to take in HoustonFest will be a huge addition,” said Hinshelwood. “We often refer to the Homecoming as a time when all our traditional music finery is on display, and HoustonFest will ramp that up considerably.”
“HoustonFest organizers are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming,” said Debbie Robinson, HoustonFest director. “HoustonFest 2016 is working collectively with The Crooked Road to shine the spotlight on the rich Galax music history with a special Galax Homecoming Showcase paying tribute to over 80 years of The Galax Old Fiddlers Convention.” Unique performances by legendary artists with Galax connections will be presented each day of the festival on June 10-11, 2016 at Felts Park, Galax, VA. “Working collectively incorporates the whole spirit of community and doing things together creates connections, increases community engagement thus building more sustainable communities,” said Robinson.
Advanced price tickets are $30 for two days and $20 for one day (either Friday or Saturday). Tickets at the gate are $25 per person per day. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Tickets may be purchased online at www.houstonfestgalax.com or www.mtnsofmusic.com. Local ticket outlets are listed on the HoustonFest website.
The Crooked Road’s mission is to support tourism and economic development in Southwest Virginia by celebrating and preserving this Appalachian region’s unique musical and cultural heritage. A complete listing of the Affiliated Venues and Festivals and the Major Venues of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail can be found at www.thecrookedroad.org.
