The Appalachian Cultural Music Association (ACMA) announced the creation of the Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising at a press conference in Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, last week.
The new musical gathering, entitled ACMA’s Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising, for bluegrass, old time and Americana musicians and fans, is to take place at the Wytheville Meeting Center, Wytheville, Virginia, during April 12th and 13th, next year.
This gathering brings together and recognizes the music and musicians who play what has been called the Galax sound. Karl Cooler, an ACMA member, comments,
“Our region is saturated with tremendous talent who create a unique musical experience. The Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising will be a unique convention to bring together old time, bluegrass and Americana musicians in a way that no other gathering does.”
The recent release of the Close Kin album, on Cooler’s Mountain Roads Recordings record label, was the beginning of the idea for the Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising.
Johnny Williams of Danville, Virginia, chairman of the committee organizing this event, adds,
“Our event will be unique to other musical gatherings, especially noting that we will be formally recognizing old time musicians and their music. Other than the Galax Fiddler’s Convention held annually there is no official recognition of the talents and accomplishments of old time musicians past and present. The ACMA through the Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising will recognize and promote old time music and musicians as well as bluegrass and other acoustic forms of Americana Music.”
The region around Galax – south-western Virginia, east Tennessee, western North Carolina, eastern Kentucky and West Virginia – has been the centre for the development of bluegrass, old time and many Americana forms of music during the past 100 years or more.
The event will be membership-driven, and bands and individuals can sign up and become members at the ACMA website. Inquiries concerning sponsorships and vendor applications can also be found there.
There will be awards, workshops, children’s activities, jam sessions, musical vendors and a main stage for registered bands to perform and showcase for promoters, record label executives and fans of the music.
An unveiling of artifacts to be placed in the ACMA’s Mountain Music Museum in recognition of the pioneers who created and cultivated these forms of music is planned also.
Organizers are working with officials in Wytheville, VA, to finalize details for this event, and tickets will be made available soon. A that time there will be an announcement about area motel and hotel accommodation. Information can also be found on the Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising’s Facebook page.
The ACMA is a non-profit 501c3 organization which operates the Mountain Music Museum and Pickin’ Porch in Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee.
