The Floyd Country Store is famous for old time dancing, and we feel truly honored that some of the great Appalachian old time bands love to play on our stage. One of our regular Saturday Night bands is The Whitetop Mountain Band, a family-based band from the highest mountains of Virginia. Whitetop, Virginia is an area rich in the old time music tradition and this band has done much to preserve the Whitetop region’s style of old time fiddling and banjo picking with their teaching and performances.

Season 2, Episode 7

Musical guests The Little River Missionary Baptist Church Choir from Floyd, Virginia; The White Top Mountain Band of Grayson County, Virginia; and the cello-playing Liske-Doorandishes from Blacksburg, Virginia. Agent Martha Spencer goes undercover in Moscow to recover The Russian Ruby. What Southwest Virginia is like with no young people, and what the weather can do to your mood in the month of March. And, announcing for the first time, the sponsorship of Martin Guitars!

A one woman show by Phyllis Stump of Lexington, about a mountain midwife in the 1900s named Orlene Puckett. Stump is also the author of “Called: The Story of a Mountain Midwife.”

A historic novel about Orlene Puckett (1839-1939) who lived with her husband, John, at the foot of Groundhog Mountain in Patrick County Virginia, during the years prior to, during, and after the Civil War. This historic novel is based on stories and anecdotes told about Orlene, John and events of the war as related by relatives, friends and literature that reveal their history. During her lifetime, Orlene carried 24 babies of her own,none of whom made it to one year of age. Although a mother herself only a short time, Orlene began to “catch” babies for family members, neighbors, and friends. she is reported to have delivered over 1,000 babies, without a single loss of a mother or child, before she died at age ninety-nine.

Wayne Henderson’s top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family, and neighbors in Grayson County, Virginia; his guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of “Masters of the Steel-String Guitar”, and in seven nations in Asia. In addition to his reputation as a guitarist, Henderson is a luthier of great renown. He is a recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. He produces about 20 instruments a year, mostly guitars; he is almost as well-known for the mandolins he has made. Doc Watson, a good friend who sometimes stops at Wayne’s shop in Rugby, VA, to pick a few tunes, owns a Henderson mandolin. He said, “That Henderson mandolin is as good as any I’ve had my hands on. And that’s saying a lot, because I’ve picked up some good ones.”

With few exceptions, the piano does not play a prominent part in Appalachian music, and is rarely the lead instrument. But Jeff Little is an exception – and a remarkable one. His distinctive style is breathtaking in
its speed, precision and clarity.

Season 2, Episode 6

Musical guests Hugh & Zane Campbell from Baltimore, Maryland; Ada Sherman of Troy, Virginia; Scott Perry from Floyd, Virginia. Voice acting and storytelling by Shawanda Williams of Blacksburg, Virginia. The wild tale of cattle-rustling, crime, and punishment that leads to Hugh and Zane playing the Floyd Radio Show. The history of the Christiansburg Institute, an African American school with a century-long legacy. And the incredible versatility and portability of a piano donated by Chick’s Antiques!

Season 2, Episode 5

Musical guests The Black Twig Pickers (Blacksburg, VA), John Lilly (Charleston, WV), and Catherine Planet (Quebec) with Adam Doucet (Louisiana), Joe Dejarnette (Floyd, VA). Chris Owen (Kentucky) on sound effects & voice acting.

Stories: The hardships endured by a celebrity yodeler.  The tragic life of Hank Williams. Why the most desirable children’s names in the mountains are practical and short–like “Bob”. And stop by Aunt Irma’s Cat Funerary Services and Fine Banjo Heads!

Script Writers: Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle, Chris Owen, Joe Dejarnette.

Purchase CDs from this episode’s musical guests in our online shop: http://www.floydcountrystore.com/shop

Rough Carpenters by Black Twig Pickers

We offer in house catering services for all kinds of events, any time of the day. Please see our event menus for details: Breakfast & Lunch, Dinner

Have your very own Floyd Country Store experience, Learn More…

Season 2, Episode 4

With musical guests Kay Justice (Wytheville), Alice Gerrard (Greensboro, NC), Eddie Bond and Josh Ellis (Fries) with Carl Jones (Galax), Rebecca & Us (Floyd). Scenes of the holiday season in Floyd (including the sour Mrs. Pendergrass). The Appalachian Nutcracker Suite with the Waltz of the Mustard Greens. Eddie tells a story from his fiddle mentor, and don’t forget Krumplemeyer’s Peppermint Candy Canes and Walkers!

Purchase CDs from this episode’s musical guests in our online shop: http://www.floydcountrystore.com/shop

Take Me Back by Eddie Bond

Season 2, Episode 3

East Kentucky band Rich & The Poor Folk, with ace banjo players Brett Ratliff and John Haywood, balladeer Rich Kirby and songwriter Nate Polly; Junk DNA—Blacksburg’s tap-dancingest, ukeleliest novelty song band. The retelling of the myth of Persephone—set, in the hills.

Season 2, Episode 2

With North Carolina band The Buckstankle Boys, all dressed in ties and suits, Floyd’s own Mac & Jenny Traynham, and ace storyteller Jimmy Costa with more stories of the old days. A skit of epic proportions—follow our musicians, on their quest for the High Lonesome Sound.

Purchase CDs from this episode’s musical guests in our online shop: http://www.floydcountrystore.com/shop

The Sweetest Way Home by Mac & Jenny Traynham
When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland by Mac & Jenny Traynham

Season 2, Episode 1

With musical guests, country Singer Karen Collins, all the way from Baltimore and local favorite Janet Turner, and stringband the Crooked Road Ramblers. A tale of mistaken identity, identical voices, and the quest for fame; updates from the summer in Floyd including Joe Biden’s visit, and news of New York’s newest neighborhood “Little Appalachia.”

Purchase CDs from this episode’s musical guests in our online shop: http://www.floydcountrystore.com/shop

When My Time Comes by Janet Turner

Season 1, Episode 9

Musical guests: Pete Winne (New York City) & Joe Overton (Charlottesville), Steve & Penny Kilby (Mouth of Wilson, VA), Stewart Scales, Sandy LaPrelle

Stories: Our skit takes us to the wild west, as Anna searches for the funniest joke in the world: singing cowboys, shootouts, chickens, the whole nine yards. Stories of the meteor showers. And don’t forget: Yodeling Awareness day!

Season 1, Episode 8

Musical guests: Round Peak Ramblers (Mount Airy, NC), Carol Elizabeth Jones (Lexington, VA), Lightning Jack (Floyd), Stewart Scales, Local poets Mara Robbins & Leigh Rainey

Stories: The Poetry Olympics, with Emily Dickenson on Ice, a real Poetry Slam and the Edgar Allan Poe Vault. Poetry from some of Floyd’s finest. Ballads—condensed into movie preview versions, so the rest of us can follow them. And, the much appreciated ad for Ballad GPS (oh we wish it were true!).

Hold on hold on you driver dear
While I recalculate
You know that wrong I’d never steer
Nor get you there too late, late, nor get you there too late.

Season 1, Episode 7

Musical guests: Wayne Henderson, Liam Kelly (Blacksburg), Jimmy Costa

Stories: A story from Ireland, a magic fiddle, a deal with the devil, and the French royal court. A piratical story of swashbuckling down the new river, with Anne Boney. A piece from Bela Bartok. For the verbally challenged—Wayne Henderson’s Remedial Punctuation Service will cure what ails you.

Season 1, Episode 6

Musical guests: Chance McCoy (Floyd), Junk DNA (Blacksburg), Crooked Road Ramblers

Stories: An installment of ask the expert that proves.. less than enlightening. A love story from the Carter Family. A travel thorugh time with a cat with nine lives. A poem from Poe—about a lady of Floyd. And, for the picky eater in the family: try an air sandwich today!

Season 1, Episode 5

Musical guests: Karen Celia (San Fransisco, CA) & Joseph Decosimo (Durham, NC), Tina Liza Jones & Eric Root (Floyd), Jim Lloyd, Leigh Beamer (Rural Retreat) & Trevor McKenzie (Boone, NC)

Stories: An adventure into a sadly dysfunctional Italian kitchen. The story of Texas Gladden’s elopement—involving a false sewing machine errand, an escape from county jail, and a risqué buggy ride. A story, or was it a joke, from Rural Retreat’s banjo playing barber, Jim Lloyd. And finally, don’t forget: if your feet feel frozen, find a fire in a fireplace. Fix yourself a fine flaggon full of your favorite festive beverage and fling your fears to the floor.

Season 1, Episode 4

Musical guests: Abe Goorskey & Scott Patrick (Floyd), Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones (Galax), Kirk Sutphin & Riley Baugus (Winston Salem, North Carolina)

Stories: True stories of old musicians and their moonshine. Not-so true tales of ghost moonshiners, amateur detective works, and buried treasure. And, this month–get a band to follow you around for a day, giving each moment the soundtrack it deserves—with the musical minstrel service!

Season 1, Episode 3

Musical guests: The Reed Island Rounders (Hillsville, Virginia), The Black Twig Pickers (Blacksburg), Dean Reed (Rich Creek)

Stories: Myrtle Vermillion, the charming autoharpist, and her band’s adventures in the big apple, the making of a record, and the seduction of a city slicker. A reflection of fall, in an essay by Fred First. Stories from Dean Reed. And, don’t forget to get your megatron uberfat deep fat fryerator!

Purchase CDs from this episode’s musical guests in our online shop: http://www.floydcountrystore.com/shop

Rough Carpenters by The Black Twig Pickers

Season 1, Episode 2

Musical guests Janet Turner (Floyd, Virginia), Windfall (Floyd), Farm Use Only (Giles County)

Stories: The mysterious tale of a fabric thief, a mean old lady and her husband the sherif, and a phantom quilter. Ghost Stories from Floyd. The adventure of one misfortunate girl and her encounter with a wiley leprechaun. Don’t forget to get—possum in a can!

Purchase CDs from this episode’s musical guests in our online shop: http://www.floydcountrystore.com/shop

When My Time Comes by Janet Turner
Autumn’s Aire by Windfall
Floyd Time by Windfall