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Amos Perrine

THROUGH THE LENS: Rooster Walk & Railbird Festivals Offered Contrasting Takes On Appalachian Music Festivals

THROUGH THE LENS: Rooster Walk & Railbird Festivals Offered Contrasting Takes On Appalachian Music Festivals

This week’s column highlights two Appalachian roots music festivals: Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, held in Martinsville, Virginia, and Railbird Festival, held in Lexington, Kentucky. Rooster Walk returned for a 16th year (May 21-24, 2026) just months after being selected as the best music fest in Southeast

THROUGH THE LENS: Topanga Banjo Fiddle & Albino Skunk Festivals - Throwbacks in Time

THROUGH THE LENS: Topanga Banjo Fiddle & Albino Skunk Festivals - Throwbacks in Time

This week features two roots festivals new to the column — the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival (Calabasas, California, May 17, 2026) and the Albino Skunk Music Festival (Greer, South Carolina, May 6-9, 2026). Begun in 1961 as a modest gathering in the Santa Monica Mountains Topanga has

THROUGH THE LENS: Vinyl Update - Uncle Tupelo, Robert Johnson, Tony Rice & Other Legends

THROUGH THE LENS: Vinyl Update - Uncle Tupelo, Robert Johnson, Tony Rice & Other Legends

Of all the vinyl updates this column has done, this is the one I am most excited about. The reissues featured below come from legends in virtually every music genre that ND covers: Uncle Tupelo (alt country); Tony Rice (bluegrass); Robert Johnson and BB King (blues); Jimmy Scott (jazz); The

THROUGH THE LENS: Southern California Roots Music at the 2026 Stagecoach & BeachLife Festivals

THROUGH THE LENS: Southern California Roots Music at the 2026 Stagecoach & BeachLife Festivals

THROUGH THE LENS: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2026 Was a Feast For the Eyes, Ears, and Taste Buds

THROUGH THE LENS: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2026 Was a Feast For the Eyes, Ears, and Taste Buds

New Orleans, Louisiana, is not just a city. Its name alone conjures up a scintillating and singular representation of the confluence of French, African, and American cultures. The city is the embodiment of a round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live music scene, and spicy cuisine that reflects its melting pot

THROUGH THE LENS: High Water and Sun, Sand & Soul Fests Offered Singular Roots Music Experiences For Discerning Fans

THROUGH THE LENS: High Water and Sun, Sand & Soul Fests Offered Singular Roots Music Experiences For Discerning Fans

Through the Lens: MerleFest 2026 Was a “Traditional Plus” Triumph!

Through the Lens: MerleFest 2026 Was a “Traditional Plus” Triumph!

MerleFest – named for Doc Watson's son Merle – had rather humble beginnings in 1988, when traditional musicians gathered on a flatbed trailer as a fundraiser for the Wilkes Community College, where the fest has been held ever since. The fest is best described by Doc himself, “When Merle and