Blue Ridge Music

The Blue Ridge Music Center hosts a wide range of musicians every afternoon during the season. Artists also perform in the outdoor amphitheater as part of the summer concert series.

NPS Photo

Western North Carolina and southwest Virginia are known internationally for their traditional old-time stringband music, ballad singing and bluegrass. Traditional music can be heard throughout the region–from hometown oprys and informal jam sessions to concert stages. Festivals and old-time music conventions, some dating back almost a century, provide opportunities for enjoying traditional music and dance in family-friendly settings.

Enjoy Music on the Parkway

Special events and concerts take place at Humpback Rocks (Milepost 5.8), Roanoke Mountain Picnic Area (Milepost 120.4), and Mabry Mill (Milepost 176). Schedules are posted on the calendar of events.

The Blue Ridge Music Center at Milepost 213 celebrates the music and musicians of the Blue Ridge. The Music Center includes an outdoor amphitheater, an indoor interpretive center/theater, and The Roots of American Music, a free interactive exhibition highlighting the historical significance of the region's music. Go to the Blue Ridge Music Center concert schedule to find out who is playing.

The sounds of the fiddle, banjo, and guitar are likely to welcome you when you visit the Blue Ridge Music Center. Experience regional traditional music each day of the week with free, local Mid-Day Mountain Musicians playing on the breezeway of the visitors center from noon - 4:00 PM.

 

Discover More Mountain Music

Both North Carolina and Virginia have routes that celebrate the local music and can connect you to jam sessions and concerts. Many of these shows are found in communities adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out The Crooked Road in Virginia and the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina for more information.