FEST FOLK: ‘Good Feelings, Fabulous Music’
Red Wing Roots Music Festival Caps Off Sixth Year
By NOLAN STOUT
Daily News-Record 7/16/18
MOUNT SOLON — Mame Warren and Henry Harris had a weekend of dancing. And with Sunday’s closing act of The Steep Canyon Rangers at Red Wing Roots Music Festival, the Rockbridge County couple kept on grooving. “They’re a great dance band,” Warren said. “We love to dance.”
The couple were among the thousands of people who flocked to the three day festival in Natural Chimneys Park near Mount Solon over the weekend.
The festival features music rooted in America, such as folk, blues, bluegrass, Cajun, Western swing, Americana and other genres.
Warren and Harris were back at the festival for the third time. Each trip has been marked by the “good music,” Warren said.
You can’t quite call the two “groupies” for The Steel Wheels, but they did see the band four times in three days. The band played a children’s concert on Friday, its main set on Saturday, gospel music Sunday morning and another concert in the evening.
“We’re completely devoted to The Steel Wheels,” she said. “We’ve seen them many times.”
Saturday was the festival’s busiest day, Warren said, but they had no trouble getting close for The Steel Wheels, which hosts the festival.
“You just keep worming your way in,” Warren said.
Rain may have dampened the ground on Sunday afternoon, but it didn’t dampen spirits as the show went on and festivalgoers donned jackets and umbrellas.
Debbie Harkrader of Afton came out for her fifth Red Wing. She keeps coming to the park for “the place and the toned-down atmosphere.”
“Good feelings and fabulous music of course,” she said.
For many, the festival is an easy way to hear new bands or see favorites live for the first time.
Warren was impressed with Music the trio I’m With Her. “They were really good,” she said. “I’ve never seen them in person. I’ve heard them on the radio.”
Ken Flora of Danville, who has attended all six years of the festival, was looking forward to The Secret Sisters, Scott Miller and Charley Crockett, but loved to hear new acts.
“There’s always new bands that you find out about and you want to go see them again,” he said.
Sarah Koontz of Harrisonburg was excited for Josh Ritter and The Steep Canyon Rangers. She’s been to Red Wing the past three years and has been impressed with its organization, particularly the food vendors and children’s activities.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie,” she said. “It’s a really safe environment. You don’t really see anybody really, really drunk. And it’s great for the kids. ... It’s a great festival. It’s really well-planned.”
ABOVE: The Steel Wheels perform “Rain in the Valley” during their encore set Saturday night at the Red Wing Roots Music Festival at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon. RIGHT: Josh Ritter plays at the Shenandoah Mountain Stage on Saturday.
LEFT: The crowd applauds during The Steel Wheels' set Saturday at the Red Wing Roots Music Festival at Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon. The band, which hosts the festival, played a children's concert on Friday, its main set on Saturday, gospel musk Sunday morning and another concert in the evening. RIGHT: The Steel Wheels perform at the Shenandoah Mountain Stage on Saturday. The festival's sixth year drew thousands of people to the park.