Music draws visitors to rural Virginia

Rural Virginia markets its music roots as a collection of stops along what is called The Crooked Road. The second article says the places have to be developed on their own, and then the collective marketing of them can happen.

Virginia hills come alive with mountain music: "In 1974, after the Carter family had gained widespread success in the music industry, Janette Carter decided to start inviting bands and performers of bluegrass, old-time and traditional country music to the Carter family homeplace in Hiltons, about 30 miles west of Bristol.

"The Carter Family Fold was formally established in 1979, and it still attracts performers every Saturday night throughout the year.

"Today, Rita Forrester, Janette Carter's daughter, continues the tradition.

"Forrester estimates that the Carter Family Fold typically draws anywhere from 300 to 500 people for the Saturday night shows, during which both dancing and enjoying from the stadium seating are encouraged.

"'I'm amazed, considering how far out we are,' Forrester said.

"The site also includes the restored cabin where A.P. Carter was born and the Carter Family Museum.

"But three things, she said, have helped keep the Carter Family Fold alive, particularly in the past four years – the Internet, the so-called 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' phenomenon and The Crooked Road marketing effort.

"Part of the southwestern region of Virginia has been dubbed The Crooked Road, and an organization was established three years ago to economically develop this mostly rural section of the state, 'using music as a metaphor,' said Bill Smith, executive director of The Crooked Road project.

"'On the surface, we're just signs on the side of the road that connect the venues. but the real story is the people and the music,' Smith said. ...

"The Crooked Road is a 250-mile stretch that winds through 10 counties and 13 cities and towns in Southwestern Virginia. It promotes eight featured venues that highlight the history of traditional old-time, bluegrass, folk and country music."
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Carving a niche on the Crooked Road - Roanoke.com: "'Those places didn't happen because the Crooked Road was initiated -- the Crooked Road happened because those places were already there,' said Wayne Angell, chairman of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors. 'To add a new one, you've got your work cut out for you. ... It's just a hard, hard task to make yourself different enough and significant enough that you'll attract a lot of people.'...

"'People are turning this a whole bunch of different ways, hopefully to their advantage,' Smith said. 'That's the strength of the Crooked Road, and that's its appeal. The music played in Franklin County is subtly different from the music played in Galax which is subtly different from the music played in Bristol which is subtly different from the music played in the coalfields.

"'With the Crooked Road, there's a new show every night,' Smith said."

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