Black Twig Pickers, Mikel Dimmick Spiral Joy Band: Big doings this weekend and next

by nf, 12 May 12:20

Hello, friends (slurred McLaughlin voice): and greetings: This weekend and next, there are big sounds happening in the hills and woods, in the bars and on the airwaves, a raying of harmelodic ecstacy, a love cry, a joyful din of ... inquietude.

This weekend: a festival in the woods. Next weekend: crazed barnstorming by the Black Twig Sympathetic Stringband and picker/shouter extrordinaire Charlie Parr (www.charlieparr.com).

Taken in order:

On Saturday, May 13, the first-ever Herbicide festival settles over the hidden groves of Craig County, kicking off around 5 or so with the sawing and thunking of the Black Twigs' Ralph Berrier Jr. and Mike Gangloff.

Next up will be Mike, Amy and Nathan of the Spiral Joy Band, perhaps with others, playing musicks familiar and perhaps less so -- on a rare excursion to the unmapped without the helmsmanship of Joy Band Capt. Mikel, who will be occupied elsewhere. The ship of sound is blown before the gale, rudderless, yet hardly adrift.

Also at the fest: hideki tojo (blacksburg), doug cheatwood (roanoke), 300 lb ghost (blacksburg), ass trakter (blacksburg), black history moth (blacksburg) and barring car issues: the visitations (athens, ga)

Directions as relayed by your host, Deral:

from blacksburg - take 460 west towards wva.... turn right on rt. 42 in newport (at the super val-u convenience store).... follow 42 through newport and continue approx. 13 miles..... after the left elbow (90 degree turn) in simmonsville, it's 1.9 miles..... the farm's on the right, and there will be a sign of some sorts......

from roanoke - go north on 311 through catawba until you reach new castle.... turn left on rt. 42 and go approx. 17 miles..... after you pass the ranger station on your right, the farm will be soon thereafter on the left..... look for a sign of sorts.....

People will be camping, carrying on, etc. Children and dogs are expected. Music is outside, around a fire, inside in a basement, perhaps a barn, over the hills and dales: Enjoy this launch of a new tradition.

AND next weekend.......the Black Twig Pickers barnstrom furiously with Duluuthan resonator king Charlie Parr.

First stop is Friday, May 19, at the Green Dolphin in Roanoke: Twigs and Parr trading sets starting at whenever sounds usually start there -- 9:30? 10? -- cover is $3 or $5 depending on Parr's need for gas and local stock prices. Bring cash for a Parr album or 2 as well -- they're fine, top shelf incitements to strut and holler.

Next is an 11 a.m. set on Saturday, May 20, over grand old WPAQ in Mount Airy, N.C., perceptible at 740 AM on your better quality receivers. Twigs with Parr sitting in, live commercials, all the fixings -- if you're in downtown Mount Airy, come on in to the Merry Go Round theater, where the broadcast will be transpiring live on stage. There's usually a good dance crowd down front, so bring your taps. The Snappy Lunch is just down the block and the line doesn't usually get long until just after noon.

Then comes the Joe Eaton-goes-downtown BBQ at the Thornton residence in Shawsville all Saturday afternoon -- various musics planned and unplanned, miscellaneous Twigs and Parr to stop by at some point and pick between the burgers. Ask Tim for details.

And finally, Saturday, May 20, ends at the Cellar in Blacksburg as the Twigs and Parr trade yet more sets (goal: repeat no songs all weekend. Who will be first to fail? And do requests get a pass?) starting at 9:30 p.m. and continuing until the bar is locked or all the strings are broken. No cover charge for anyone who knows Joe Eaton. Actually, no cover charge at all. Come by and toast Joe and revel in the snap, plunk and whine of fiddles, banjo, guitars, perchance a mandolin, a doghouse bass, a harmonica.......bones and tambor, howl and scrape.

See you along the way, --al;sdkjf