The Virginia General Assembly designated the heritage music trail in 2004 to contribute to the creative economy through the region’s musical heritage
The Crooked Road is proud to celebrate two decades of contributing to the creative economy in Southwest Virginia. The Crooked Road was designated as Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail by the General Assembly in 2004.
The Crooked Road is a roughly 330-mile driving trail that follows U.S. Route 58 to connect 10 major venues and more than 50 affiliate venues throughout Southwest Virginia that feature and celebrate the region’s traditional musical heritage. The organization offers marketing, live music, and educational programs to 19 counties and four cities in the Southwest Virginia footprint.
The Crooked Road’s marketing and musician promotion supports Southwest Virginia communities as an economic driver, promoting domestic and international travel to the region. In 2022, visitor spending across the region topped $1.3 billion.
“I am so proud of The Crooked Road’s work to foster community and economic development around Southwest Virginia’s cultural music scene. We’ve shown the world that we can build a new economy while not sacrificing our heritage and identity,” said Tyler Hughes, executive director of The Crooked Road. “As an old-time musician and Southwest Virginia native, I know firsthand the impact this organization’s support has on venues, artists, and communities.
The tribute to the musical legacy has been acknowledged and promoted statewide and nationally after Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proclamation of the ‘Year of Country Music’ in the Commonwealth. In addition to the organization’s major milestone celebrations, several major venues are celebrating anniversaries of their own. The Carter Family Fold, which pays tribute to ‘the first family of country music’ turns 50 in 2024. The Floyd Country Store is celebrating 40 years of their Friday Night Jamboree, which combines Appalachian traditions of dance and old-time music. The Ralph Stanley Museum, located in Dickenson County, will commemorate 20 years honoring the legendary bluegrass musician. Finally, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol observes 10 years of operation in 2024.
“The Crooked Road has been doing incredible work for the past 20 years to strengthen Southwest Virginia communities and deepen connections to the music and dance traditions. We are so grateful to have spent these years getting to know the people and traditions of our Southwest Virginia communities,” said Dylan Locke, co-owner of the Floyd Country Store and the current chairman of The Crooked Road Board of Directors.
The Crooked Road will partner with several accomplished music venues throughout the region to commemorate the anniversary year. Some of the dates include:
April 27: Appalachia Rising, The Carter Family Fold
May 25: Gathering in the Gap, Big Stone Gap
June 15: The Crooked Road’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, Country Cabin II
July 12: Celebrating 20 Years of The Crooked Road, Moss Arts Center
Aug. 2: The Crooked Road’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, Rex Theatre
Aug. 3: The Carter Family Fold Festival, The Carter Family Fold
Sept. 13-15: Rhythm & Roots Reunion Festival, Bristol
The Crooked Road staff and leadership, while in the middle of celebration, look forward to continuing the vision of making Southwest Virginia a world-class tourism destination through musical experiences at iconic and legendary venues throughout the region beyond this anniversary year.
For more information, details on The Crooked Road’s 20th anniversary celebration can be located at https://thecrookedroadva.com.
The Crooked Road
