This is a FREE event and will be first come first serve.
Saturday, March 27th – 7:00 PM

This Jefferson Center produced event will feature live music performed by musicians from the Crooked Road as well as viewings of newly produced documentaries on local instrument builders. This event will feature From Wood to Singing Guitar an Appalshop documentary film showcasing Wayne C. Henderson, the master musician and master luthier from the small town of Rugby, Virginia as well as a documentary about 82 year old fiddle maker Arthur Conner called Uncovering the secrets of the Strad. This event will also feature the Round the Mountain Artisan Network which features artisans, farms, galleries and craft venues in Southwest Virginia plus much more!

To learn more about the other events in this collaboration between Jefferson Center and the Crooked Road click HERE!

Tickets on sale Tuesday March 9th!
$25 General Admission 
Call the store at 540-745-4563
or purchase tickets online HERE!

“Tradition is a guide, not a jailer. We play in an older tradition but we are modern musicians.” —Justin Robinson

In the summer and fall of 2005, three young black musicians, Dom Flemons, Rhiannon Giddens, and Justin Robinson, made the commitment to travel to Mebane, N.C., every Thursday night to sit in the home of old-time fiddler Joe Thompson for a musical jam session. Joe was in his 80’s, a black fiddler with a short bowing style that he inherited from generations of family musicians. He had learned to play a wide ranging set of tunes sitting on the back porch with other players after a day of field work. Now he was passing those same lessons on to a new generation.

When the three students decided to form a band, they didn’t have big plans. It was mostly a tribute to Joe, a chance to bring his music back out of the house again and into dance halls and public places. They called themselves The Chocolate Drops as a tip of the hat to the Tennessee Chocolate Drops,  three black brothers Howard, Martin and Bogan Armstrong, who lit up the music scene in the 1930’s. Honing and experimenting with Joe’s repertoire, the band often coaxed their teacher out of the house to join them on stage. Joe’s charisma and charm regularly stole the show.

Being young and living in the 21st century, the Chocolate Drops first hooked up through a yahoo group,  Black Banjo: Then and Now (BBT&N) hosted by Tom Thomas and Sule Greg Wilson. Dom was still living in Arizona, but in April 2005, when the web-chat spawned the Black Banjo Gathering in Asheville, N.C., he flew east and ended moving to the Piedmont where he could get at the music first hand. Joe Thompson’s house was the proof in the pudding.

Appalachian Music Masters Concert & Forum

 Presented by:
Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library Foundation
Floyd Friends of the Library
Montgomery Friends of the Library

Proudly Sponsored by:
the Floyd Country Store

One of the distinct aspects of Appalachian culture, admired and studied worldwide is its music, and our region is blessed with many acknowledged masters of the music.  On Saturday, March 20, Appalachian music lovers can hear 13 of these masters in concert at 7:30 pm at Christiansburg High School.  The concert evolved from a recent recording of the legendary 5-Time World Champion Fiddler, Buddy Pendleton from Patrick County.  Mr. Pendleton will be joined on stage by the 12 master musicians who helped make the recording entitled “Buddy Pendleton & Friends – Gems From A Master Fiddler”. 

The concert will feature many well known artists who are collaborating for the first time.  They include Olen Gardner, Jack Hinshelwood, John Hollandsworth, Doug Jernigan, Larry Kirkland, Tim Sauls, Sammy Shelor, Herschel Sizemore, George Smith, Jeanette Williams, Johnny Williams, and Tyler Williams. These talented and respected musicians are all masters of their respective styles and instruments and their contributions to the Bluegrass and Old-Time music of the Appalachians can hardly be overstated.  With their various talents as musicians, composers, luthiers, producers, promoters, authors and teachers, these artists have influenced thousands of aspiring musicians and music appreciators. 

The recording “Gems From A Master Fiddler”was the brainchild of Larry Kirkland, the group’s bass player.  Larry played bass with Grand Ole Opry star Ernie Ashworth and ran a bluegrass festival featuring Bill Monroe for many years, so he was familiar with great fiddling when he met Buddy at the famous Galax Fiddler’s Convention.  It wasn’t long afterwards that he approached guitarist and fiddler Jack Hinshelwood with the idea of putting together a recording project with Buddy.  As Jack says, “There was no lack of enthusiasm among the musicians that were asked to join the project, which is a testament to the respect they have for Buddy’s music”. 

The credentials of these music masters are indeed impressive.  Mandolinist Herschel Sizemore has a Bluegrass Instrumental Album of the Year Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association and his instrumental tune “Rebecca”has become a standard in bluegrass repertoire.  Banjo player Sammy Shelor, perhaps best known as the leader of the popular Lonesome River Band, was inducted into the Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2009.  Doug Jernigan, a dobro phenom, first played with Jim & Jessie McReynolds as a teenager, and is probably best known as a member of the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame.  Singer Jeanette Williams’ “Thank You For Caring”recording with country legend George Jones went to No. 1 on Cashbox Magazine’s RockyGrass chart.  The accolades for the accomplishments of these musicians go on and on.

The concert will feature much of the music from the recording. As Jack describes it: “A wide cross section of Appalachian music that showcases the wonderful variety present in the music.  We have two hundred year-old fiddle tunes mixing with modern bluegrass standards, autoharps sharing the stage with dobros, and hornpipes taking turns with waltzes.  Parlor tunes, duet vocals, four part gospel tunes, flat pick and fingerpick guitar, clawhammer and three finger style banjo – you name it, the variety is present in so many aspects.”    Despite this amazing variety, the songs and tunes do have one thing in common – they have withstood the test of time to become deeply embedded in the Appalachian music repertoire.  Each one is a gem treasured by people who know and love Appalachian music. 

The Appalachian Music Masters Concert is being presented jointly by the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library Foundation, the Floyd Friends of the Library, and the Montgomery Friends of the Library.  Proceeds from the concert will be shared by the three sponsoring organizations to help support the Library’s mission to “strengthen the community by providing individuals with access to information, experiences and ideas”.  Tickets are $18 in advance (through March 13) at any Library branch (Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Floyd or Shawsville) and $20 after March 13 and at the door.  For more information contact Linda Spivey at 540 382-6965, ext. 21 or visit the Library’s website at www.montgomery-floyd.lib.va.us. Don’t miss this truly unique and significant event in Appalachian music!!

<a href=”http://www.floydcountrystore.com/events-on-stage/crooked-road-special-event-march-27” target=”_blank”><em>Music of the Crooked Road Special Event</em> </a>
March 27th – 7:00 PM
This event will feature two new documentary’s on two great local musicians, luthier and fiddle maker Wayne Henderson and Arthur Conner. Also, Round the Mountain Artisan Network plus much more!

<a href=”http://www.floydcountrystore.com/events-on-stage/carolina-chocolate-drops-march-31st” target=”_blank”><em>Carolina Chocolate Drops</em> </a>
March 31st – 7:00 PM
Tickets on sale Tuesday March 9th!

As part of ‘The Crooked Road’, Southwest Virginia’s heritage music trail, The Floyd Country Store shares the honor of being in The Distinctive Dozen Destinations picked by The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In a special ceremony at the store on February 3, Rob Nieweg of the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the award, which honors ‘The Crooked Road’ as one of the top twelve places to visit in the USA.

Wayne Henderson and Friends spiced up the event with some fine  Appalachian Music, and Wayne played back up guitar when two young students of The Floyd Music School, Laurel and Hannah Brooke played a twin fiddle version of The 8th of January. Tradionally in this area the 8th of January was a major day of celebration. This year February 3rd turned out to be another day to celebrate!

You can go to the website of The National Trust for Historic Preservation and see a list of all twelve Distinctive Destinations, and cast a vote for ‘The Crooked Road’ while you are there.

Isn’t it Time for a Dance?

We don’t know what our caller Shirley Ferris saw out there on the dance floor, but we know for sure people were kicking up their heels! And after all this winter weather and snow days we’re all ready to get back out on the dance floor.

On Saturday, February 20 there’s another chance for great music and dancing. If you want to hear the real thing in Appalachian Traditional Music, here it is. One of our favorite old time dance bands, The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, described as follows by Joe Wilson, Executive Director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts:

Around a dozen years ago a group of musicians from the Galax, VA area formed a new band. This group The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters took their name, in part from the original Bogtrotters of the 1930’s and also because band leader Dennis Hall lives on Ballard’s Branch. Rounding out the Bogtrotters lineup are: Eddie Bond on Fiddle, Dennis Hall on guitar, Josh Ellis with clawhammer banjo, Jesse Morris on Bass and Leon Frost on mandolin. Old time music is alive and well, and continues to attract fans of all ages. The New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotter’s remain a leading force in carrying the traditional music of the Virginia/Carolina Blue Ridge into the new millenium.

Saturday February 20 at 7:30pm. $7 at the door.
Children 10 and under free.

Making Butter at The Floyd Country Store
The aim was to have fun when the Floyd Farm Girl Chapter of Mary Jane’s Farm met at the store last week.  In their first meeting they made butter, swapped ideas about country living and definetly had fun.

The organization foucses on ‘Family, Friends and Community’ and has plans to share and learn about organic gardening, preserving, quilting and rug making. The next meeting at the store is at noon on Thursday, February 25th. Call Hilda Collins (593 2201) for further information.

If your non profit group or civic organization is looking for a place to meet call us. We encourage the communtiy to use this space. (745 4563)

Cold Weather Shopping

When the weather outside is frightful you may not want to make the trip to the store. We are always happy to take orders over the phone and ship to you, or visit our estore here!

When you do make it to town come on in and warm up with a steaming bowl or our beef chili, chicken Brunswick stew, or one of our daily soups. We also make great hot chocolate with whipped cream. Just the thing to help you face the winter cold!

Our Hours

We are open for business Tuesday – Sunday. Now you can enjoy our country store lunches and unique shopping experience 6 days a week in addition to our regular weekly music events on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

Monday: closed

Tuesday: 8am-6pm

Wednesday:8am – 6pm

Thursday: 8am-6pm

Friday: 8am – 10:30pm

Saturday: 8am – 6pm (extended for special events)

Sunday: 12pm – 6pm

Here are some other great events happening at the store!

Saturday, Feb 20
1:00 pm Seed Swap – Local biodiversity made simple:  Bring saved seeds from last year’s garden, or come share methods & stories and take home local seeds for this year!

Saturday, Feb 27
Biodynamics Today Workshop Series
9:00 am – 5:00 pm “Lets Talk Gardening” with Jeff Poppen

Sunday, March 7
2:00–5:00 pm Jammin’ for Haiti Benefit Concert featuring Bernie Coveney, Tom Klingelhofer, Tim Pak, Butch Robins, Abe Goorskey, Mike Mitchell, Scott Perry and Martin Scudder

Tuesday, March 9
7:00 pm “The Plight of the Honeybee”,  A talk by Gunther Hauk about the importance of this magnificent insect.

Saturday, March 27
Special Crooked Road Concert Event, more details coming soon!

We look forward to seeing you at the store!