CROOKED ROAD REVIVAL

Bluegrass
Galax, Virginia

The Crooked Road Revival pays homage to the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, considered one of the most musical places on earth. Created in 2004, the Crooked Road encompasses places, venues, and historic sites that combine to tell the living story of southwest Virginia’s rich musical heritage, showcasing the incredibly rich bluegrass, old-time, and gospel music of the region along the way. Like their namesake, the Crooked Road Revival, led by Johnny and Jeanette Williams, will take listeners on a journey into the Blue Ridge region’s rich heritage of bluegrass music.

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The Crooked Road Revival pays homage to the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, considered one of the most musical places on earth. Created in 2004, the Crooked Road encompasses places, venues, and historic sites that combine to tell the living story of southwest Virginia’s rich musical heritage, showcasing the incredibly rich bluegrass, old-time, and gospel music of the region along the way. Like their namesake, the Crooked Road Revival will take listeners on a journey into the Blue Ridge region’s rich heritage of bluegrass music.

The Crooked Road Revival is led by the incomparable Johnny Williams, who grew up in Fries, Virginia, a small community nestled alongside the New River in Grayson County, an area that has long been steeped in bluegrass and old-time music. Johnny soaked up the musical culture around him at fiddler’s conventions, local performances, and jam sessions and eventually moved with his family to Danville, on Virginia’s Southside, a region home to diverse musical styles. Johnny became a powerful singer and songwriter and, after stints with soul and blues bands, returned to his bluegrass roots. At a local Opry production, Johnny met Jeanette Finney of Eden, North Carolina, a sought-after singer who joined Johnny’s band Clearwater. They married two years later. Jeanette has performed with Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, Larry Sparks, among many others. Johnny and Jeanette often perform and write songs independently; each has won the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest, in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, as well as collaborated with distinguished songwriters Dixie and Tom T. Hall.

Playing alongside Johnny and Jeanette Williams are many former members of the legendary bluegrass group, No Speed Limit, one of the truly emblematic bands coming out of the Crooked Road. Though mostly teenagers at the time, the band experienced instant success, including recording two albums, performing at Tim Kaine’s inauguration for Governor of Virginia in 2006, and even playing for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Virginia in 2007. These talented musicians include Josh Pickett, who brings an arsenal of explosive runs to guitar backup, and as a soloist or “turn-around” man is among the finest guitarists the Blue Ridge Mountains have produced. Bryan Blevins is the pick of a crop of mandolin players who have appeared in the region. Jacob Eller is a rock-solid bassist who grew up in music and has played with a who’s who of the old-time music scene. Crooked Road Revival is also joined by Rusty Breedlove, a banjo player from Virginia, who inherited his talent from his father and grandfather. He can often be found winning banjo competitions all over the Appalachians.

The Crooked Road Revival is sure to bring the time-honored sounds of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Lowell, giving audiences a little taste of Appalachia.

Social media and website:

http://www.johnnyhwilliams.com

Video links: