MARTINSVILLE, VA. - Organizers of the Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival are finished booking bands but not quite done announcing them.
The Memorial Day weekend festival (May 27-28) just outside Martinsville has confirmed the 19 primary bands performing at Rooster Walk 3.
The current lineup offers rock, jam, bluegrass, blues, soul, folk, funk, jazz, country and reggae. Rooster Walk, which takes place at Blue Mountain Festival Grounds, will also feature arts, crafts and food vendors from the area, children's programming, a new workshop stage and on-site camping.
Rooster Walk honors the memory of two young Martinsville natives who passed away recently, Edwin G. Penn IV and Walker E. Shank. Both were graduating members of Martinsville High School's class of 2000. Proceeds from the volunteer-led festival go to the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund at Martinsville High School.
Bristol-based roots rockers Folk Soul Revival (FSR) are the only band scheduled to play both nights of the festival. FSR offers "the right mix of rowdy and roots," and has performed multiple times at FloydFest, Bristol Rhythm and Roots, and the Rives Theatre, among others.
Other bands scheduled to perform include: The Mantras, the Jesse Chong Band, Sanctum Sully, Rob Cheatham & GUNCHUX!, the Lizzy Ross Band, the Kings of Belmont, the Big Fat Gap All-Stars and Jamal Millner & Comrades.
William Baptist, also a co-organizer of Rooster Walk, said the secret headlining band was nominated for a Grammy this year. (Editor's note: Infamous Stringdusters are said band).
"They're by far the biggest group we've ever had at Rooster Walk," said Baptist. "And coincidentally, our ticket prices will increase slightly on May 1st ... the day before we announce the headliner. So tell everybody to go to roosterwalk.com today if they want cheap tickets."
Other bands playing RW3 include Poverty Level with special guest Sammy Shelor, Relacksachian, Travis Elliott, Mariana Bell, the Martinsville Community Jazz Ensemble, Riggs Roberston, Levi's Gene Pool and the Boys and Girls Club Steel Drum Band.
General admission tickets for RW3 are currently $35 for a weekend pass and $90 for a VIP weekend pass. On May 1, those prices will increase to $40 and $105, respectively. Tickets are available locally at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center in uptown, Binding Time Cafe and Woodall's Music.
In two years, organizers have donated $10,000 to the scholarship fund. Sara Kasey, a current freshman at Randolph College, was the inaugural recipient in 2010. The announcement of the second scholarship winner is expected in May.
A Rooster Walk kickoff party will take place May 6 at the Rives Theatre. The Lizzy Ross Band will share the bill with Town Mountain Bluegrass Band, and tickets and prizes will be given away. Tickets for the show at the Rives will be $10 each.
For more information, visit www.roosterwalk.com.
Rooster Walk 3 Band Descriptions
Infamous Stringdusters -- This Grammy-nominated, nationally-touring band will be announced on Monday, May 2. They will perform Saturday (May 28) at Rooster Walk 3.
Folk Soul Revival (Wise/Bristol) - Offering "the right mix of rowdy and roots," this five-piece band has been drawing rave reviews since bursting on the regional scene in 2008. FSR drew more than 4,000 fans to its Saturday night set at the most recent Bristol Rhythm and Roots festival, and turned plenty of heads at Floydfest 9 in July. FSR will serve as the "hosts" of Rooster Walk 3, and they will be the only band playing both nights of the festival. Friday (May 27) and Saturday (May 28). www.facebook.com/folksoulrevival
The Mantras (Greensboro, N.C.) - The Mantras' music is a high-energy fusion of jam, metal, funk and rock 'n roll that will shake your knees and rattles your toes. The Mantras unified their musical vision in 2005 to be one of peace, fun, universal harmony, love, and community. They have continued to hone their sonic direction around these ideals while winning new fans over with every show during the last 6 years. Having recently added full-time members Matt Gordon (audio engineering) and Bear (lighting design), the production of The Mantras' live shows is forever climbing to new heights! Saturday. www.themantras.com
The Jesse Chong Band (Virginia Beach) - Jesse Chong's contagious blend of rock, reggae and funk make him one of the most sought-after artists in the region. The Jesse Chong and his four-piece band, with its range of genres, has drawn comparisons to artists such as Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, and Keller Williams. Chong has opened for classic rockers such as Steely Dan, John Fogerty, Leon Russell and The Neville Brothers, country stars like Willie Nelson and Brad Paisley, reggae greats Steel Pulse and the Wailers, and jambands like Dark Star Orchestra, Perpetual Groove, and RAQ. Chong is a regular performer at numerous festivals across the Southeasr. Saturday. www.jessechong.net
Sanctum Sully (Asheville, N.C.) - Featuring Martinsville natives Jay Franck and Win Webster, this progressive five-piece bluegrass band has exploded in popularity since forming little more than two years ago. Readers of The Mountain XPress voted Sanctum Sully one of Western North Carolina's three best bluegrass bands of 2010. They've opened for the likes of Larry Keel and Blueground Undergrass. They will perform at Smilefest and RW3 this year. Friday. www.sanctumsully.com
Lizzy Ross Band (Chapel Hill, N.C.) - Chapel Hill's Lizzy Ross Band fuses jazz and folk music with dirty blues, rock and soul. Ross' commanding, versatile, and expressive voice has been compared to such artists as Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Edie Brickell and Grace Potter. The band's tight arrangements range from subtly complimentary to virtuosically explosive. Creating high energy, soulful music that is intelligent, danceable, and unique. www.lizzy.net
Rob Cheatham and GUNCHUX! (Charlottesville) - Gunchux is an indie-country-rock band that rocked the crowd into a frothing frenzy last year during one of the final sets at Rooster Walk 2. Between Rob Cheatham's well crafted verses, the band's technical skill and its love of improv, GUNCHUX offers an excellent mix of catchy, structured songs and exploratory jams. Formed in the fall of 2008, Gunchux includes Martinsville native Chad Bassett on bass. Saturday. http://www.facebook.com/robcheathamandgunchux
The Kings of Belmont (Charlottesville) - The Kings of Belmont have been holding it down at Rooster Walk since Day 1. The KOB headlined the first Walk, and their late-night set at RW2 only raised the bar. The KOB thrives off performing live, and their unpredictable shows harness an energy that permeates the crowd. Whether it's rock or country, hip-hop or jams, you will find it woven into the sound of The Kings of Belmont. With a dynamic that's intense and infectious, the KOB will make you want more. Friday. www.kingsofbelmont.com
The Big Fat Gap (Chapel Hill) - Considered "professors emeritus of bluegrass" at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Big Fat Gap has the chops to crush Nashville but the preference to pick on the back porch instead. The Gap has performed at countless venues and festivals across the southeast and opened for the likes of Ralph Stanley and Robert Earl Keen. Members of BFG have gone on to play full-time in bands like Leftover Salmon, Town Mountain, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and others. Rooster Walk is a yearly reunion for the band, named after one of the last stands of old-growth forest in Western North Carolina. Saturday. www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Fat-Gap/302109523238
Jamal Millner & Comrades (Charlottesville) - You might remember Jamal Millner's smoking guitar solos from RW2, when he performed with the Eames Coleman Trio on Saturday night. This year, Millner and his Comrades will bring the funk, jam it out and then rock you into submission as only they know how. Millner has toured extensively throughout North America, Australia, Africa and Europe. He's played with countless touring pros, including the Dave Matthews Band, and performed at outdoor events like the Chicago Blues Festival, Bonnaroo and the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Saturday. http://www.jamalmillner.com
Travis Elliott and Friends (Charlottesville) - Travis Elliott has taken on songwriting subjects from love to spaceships, both badly in need of repair. He throws in unforgettable melodic hooks that keep you singing long after his performance has ended. His first EP, released in 2003, was hailed as "a modern rock epic" and sent him out on the road performing east coast shows with national acts. Elliott has since expanded his catalog to over 500 songs while honing his live show. From weekly gigs in his hometown of Charlottesville, to national summer tours, Elliott is fast becoming an artist in the center of attention. Friday. www.reverbnation.com/traviselliott
Mariana Bell (Charlottesville) - The Australian-born, Virginia-raised Mariana Bell began singing at age 6. As an alto in the Virginia Consort Youth Choir, she honed her flair for melody and harmony, performing in the National Cathedral and the White House. In the past year, the recent college graduate has been touring across the country from Nashville to Los Angeles, winning audiences over with her rhythmic, soulful and unique live performances. Mariana has developed her style with the likes of Shawn Colvin, Bruce Cockburn, and Ani Difranco in mind. She's also been likened to Joni Mitchell and John Mayer. She will perform with a full band at Rooster Walk 3. Saturday. www.marianabell.com
Relacksachian (Roanoke) - Relacksachian's sound is a mirror image of its name. In creating and combining a relaxing atmosphere with Appalachian-inspired improvisational music, the quintet has managed to generate a sound that consistently stirs audiences into dancing mashes of country girls, city boys, young folk, old folk and most of what's between. Showcasing a fiddle, mandolin, spoons, washboard, upright bass, acoustic guitar and a drum set, Relacksachian reinvents traditional fiddle and bluegrass tunes and reworks songs from the likes of Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead, all while maintaining an impressive library of original music. Friday. www.relacksachian.com
Poverty Level (Stuart) with Sammy Shelor (Meadows of Dan) - Poverty Level is an original acoustic rock quartet from the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. With an eclectic mix of musical styles, Poverty Level brings a fresh take on roots rock and Americana. Formed in early 2008 as an acoustic trio, the band has been impressing audiences with its originals and interpretations of well known cover songs from the get go. One of the Martinsville area's most popular bands, Poverty Level will perform at RW3 with banjo legend Sammy Shelor. Friday. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poverty-Level/119017897613
The Martinsville Community Jazz Ensemble (Martinsville) - Based on a tradition of over four decades of great music and performances by the Martinsville High School Jazz (Stage) bands, this talented group delivers the big-band goods. The Martinsville Community Jazz Ensemble, comprised of 20-plus members, will be making its second appearance at Rooster Walk.
The Boys and Girls Club Steel Drum Band (Martinsville) - This steel-drum band is made up of students from the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge, which serves the Martinsville area. Under the direction of steel-drum master Shawn Thwaites, students have been impressing audiences since the group was founded roughly one year ago. Saturday.
Riggs Roberson (Farmville) -- The son of Chip and Stephanie Roberson, Riggs lends his deft guitar work and lead vocals to create an authentic southern rock sound. A current student at Hampden-Sydney College, Roberson will perform at RW3 with a full band. Friday.
Levi's Gene Pool (Blacksburg) -- These alternative rockers have already made quite a name for themselves, which is impressive considering more than half the members aren't old enough to drive a car. This three-piece family band consists of guitar, bass and drums. A known commodity on the Blacksburg music scene, their influences range from Pink Floyd to the Animals, Jimi Hendrix to Incubus, the Smashing Pumpkins to Led Zepplin. Friday. http://www.reverbnation.com/levisgenepool
