Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Events

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is proud to present the exhibit Modern Visions, Mountain Views: The Cones of Flat Top Manor at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum from July 20 through November 30. The exhibit is a complement to the museum’s art exhibit Modern Visions, Modern Art: The Cone Sisters in North Carolina (August 3-November 30).

The Steel Wheels’ style weaves through Americana and bluegrass music, folk and old-time music, and the acoustic poetry of the finest singer-songwriters. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, the band is familiar with the traditions of folk music and how a string band is supposed to sound while simultaneously evoking a sense of forward motion.

Michael Cleveland brings dynamic traditional bluegrass to the stage with his award-winning band, Flamekeeper, in a show that will leave the audience in awe. An 11-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Fiddle Performer of the Year award, Cleveland and his talented band present a program of tight vocal trios and duos, blistering instrumentals, and fiddle-and-banjo duets that echo the first-generation stars of bluegrass. The show is rounded out with Cleveland’s dry wit and the band's sense of fun.

Chatham County Line has never been shy about crossing musical borders. The Raleigh-based quartet refers to its sound as new traditional. The band consists of Dave Wilson on guitar, vocals, and harp; John Teer on mandolin and fiddle; Chandler Holt on banjo; and Greg Readling on bass, pedal steel, and piano. Playing traditional string band instrumentation around a single microphone while clad in string bow ties and cowboy hats, the band visually projects a sepia-toned timelessness.

The Hot Seats play string band music with simple intentions: to keep the role of traditional musician as entertainer and commentator alive and kicking. They combine the virtuosic soloing and tightness of bluegrass, the band-driven rhythm of old time, the jerky bounce of ragtime, and the swagger of good old rock and roll. Add some eastern melodies, a few modernist ideals, and an uncanny feel for comic timing, and you begin to understand their sound. Tickets are $15. Tickets

Tickets to this event are now SOLD OUT. Please contact us at (866) 308-2773 or wmays@brpfoundation.org if you would like to be added to the waiting list. 

Fireside Collective from Asheville, North Carolina, delights listeners with memorable melodies and contemporary songwriting. While roots music lies at the core of the band’s songs, a willingness to explore the boundaries and present relevant new material remains fundamental to their sound. Fireside Collective’s energetic live performances show off their instrumental proficiency, colorful harmonies and innovative musical arrangements.

J2B2, a.k.a. John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band, is an all-star bluegrass group featuring four legendary, award-winning musicians: John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; Mark Fain on bass; and Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar and vocals. The band’s undeniable live shows have received stellar reviews and have the bluegrass world buzzing.

Join us for a scenic journey along the Blue Ridge Parkway shared through the art of 21 Western North Carolina fine artists. The three-day show presented by the Saints of Paint, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, and Zealandia kicks off with a ticketed gala from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 11, at the historic Zealandia estate atop Beaucatcher Mountain. Guests can enjoy wine, beer, food, music, and purchase works on the opening night of the exhibit to benefit to the Blue Ridge Parkway.