#ThisIsAppalachia:The Crooked Road
Southwest Virginia'sHeritage Music Trail
A place of beauty – a place of song. This is The Crooked Road.
(Photo and text reprint by permission of Crooked Road Organization)
The Crooked Road began as an idea in January 2003. And response to the concept from communities,
musicians, music venues, and tourism organizations was positive and immediate. As a result of this enthusiasm, “The Crooked Road” now includes nineteen counties, four cities, over 50 towns, five regional planning districts, two tourism organizations, and a large number of music venues.
Our Musical Heritage
The Crooked Road is a 330-mile driving trail through the mountains of Southwest Virginia that connects nine Major Venues and over 60 Affiliated Venues and Festivals that visitors can enjoy every day of the year. The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail is also a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization founded in 2004 whose mission is to support economic development in Southwest Virginia by promoting this region’s rich heritage of traditional music.Experience first-hand how music is woven into the rich tapestry of tradition in Southwest Virginia. The variety is amazing - old-time string bands, a cappella gospel, blues, 300-year-old ballads, bluegrass, and more.Abingdon is home to The Crooked Road's headquarters, inside The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace. There you'll find interactive exhibits, information on traveling the Crooked Road, and an official gift shop. Heritage music is highlighted every Thursday night at Heartwood's Open Jams.Visit more than 92 attractions, 244 outdoor recreation sites and enjoy tons of music alongside the Crooked Road. Virginia's Heritage Music Trail follows the region's music history along Route 58 in Southwest Virginia. Other highlights of the Crooked Road include Appalachian crafts and coal mining heritage. Early ethnic groups that settled in these regions included the Cherokee Indians, the Melungeons (Portuguese, Native American and African-American), the Germans and Scots-Irish.
More Than Music
Although the Trail is focused on the uniqueness and vitality of this region’s heritage music, it also includes outdoor recreational activities, museums, crafts, and historic and cultural programs. Efforts to develop and promote “The Crooked Road” include trailblazer Crooked Road highway signage along the 333 mile route, production of a visitor guide, website, CD recordings of the region’s music, books about the music; and wayside exhibits that travelers can visit to learn more about the region’s music as they travel The Crooked Road.The Crooked Road’s Major Venues showcase the finest in traditional music and present a unique experience based on their historical and cultural significance. Enjoy live music, museum displays, dancing, historical sites, live radio shows, instrument making, shopping and more at these remarkable places.In addition to the Major Venues, The Crooked Road has over 60 Affiliated Venues and Festivals that enable traditional music lovers to access the rich heritage music of the region all year round. They present high-quality traditional music and more in a family friendly setting. They include weekly jam sessions, concerts, fiddlers’ conventions, annual festivals, dances, educational classes and workshops, and even the Trail of the Lonesome Pine.The Crooked Road website has a map and interactive guide to where musical and stage live performances as well as festivals happen along the road.
https://thecrookedroadva.com/about/
The Crooked Road, One Heartwood Circle, Abingdon, VA 24210, 276-492-2400 ext. 2409 info@thecrookedroad.org
