“Voices of the Shenandoah: In Story and Song” – 2023 Ridge Runner Farmstay and Taphouse Edition

Calling all storytellers and musicians for stories and songs of the river.  Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is hosting “Voices of the Shenandoah – In Story and Song”, for our third year in a row! This year we are fortunate to expand our event into a full day festival! We will host this year’s event at Ridge Runner Farmstay and Taphouse, just outside of Woodstock. Come out to listen to original stories and songs, enjoy live music, great food, brews and good company.

Ridge Runner Farmstay and Brewery, Saturday July 22: 1 – 10 pm

Live Music All Day

Katie & Kelly 2 – 4 pm

Taylor LaFever 5 – 7 pm

The River’s Edge 8 – 10 pm

Story and Song Segments

Enjoy original stories, songs, and poetry inspired by the Shenandoah River

4-5pm, 7-8pm

Katie and Kelly, are a Sister-Duo from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Together, they create visual and meaningful music with sweeping blood-harmonies and powerful lyrics. The Americana Roots singers’ have an EP, In the Middle, which brings light to the parts of ourselves that need to be seen and heard. With a decade of collective time on stage, and a lifetime of sisterhood, they bring the medicine of music to those around them each time they step to the stage.

Taylor Lafever is a native of Shenandoah County, Virginia. He is a Indie-Country, Folk, and Americana singer, songwriter, and performer. Currently a candidate for a Master in Music Technology and Studio Production degree from Southern Utah University, it is likely you’ll catch him at a local vineyard or brewery, he’s been playing live shows in the Shenandoah Valley Region since his return from the West Coast.

The River’s Edge: Wade into the warmth of indie folk alt rock, from The River’s Edge. Setting the tone of a summer’s afternoon on the water, the hometown trio of the talented singer/songwriter Matt Chellini, harmonizing queen Deb Taylor, multi-instrumentalist Chris Godbee, and supported by the incisive licks of Carl Hughey on lead guitar, and hired gun Don Scott on the drums, will have your eyes smiling, your heart singing, and your feet stomping to the pulse of their driving beats.

The river is something that connects us all—and we’d love for you to share how you are connected to it.  Take us on a part of your journey by sharing an experience from the river, an old tale passed down through generations related to it, or how the river has made an impact on your life. Experienced and novice storytellers and musicians are encouraged to submit!

Submission Details:

Stories: When read aloud, story submissions should be limited to 8-10 minutes in length.  To enter your story you may email us your full written entry or audio/video recording to friends@fnfsr.org. Or, you may call our office at 540.459.8550 to leave a 2-3 minute summary of your story by voicemail (please limit summaries to 2-3 minutes).  However you submit, please be sure to include your name, phone number and email address with each story submission.

Songs: Songs intended for entry may be submitted by attaching your recording in an email to friends@fnfsr.org.  You are also welcome to play your song into our voice messaging system by calling 540.459.8550.  Please submit only one song per email or call, and please be sure to include your name, phone number and email address with each musical entry.  Lyric-less entries are welcome too.

All are welcome to make more than one story or music submission if you’d like.

If selected you will:

• Tell your full story or perform your music piece at Swover Creek Farms and Brewery.

Submission deadline: 11:59 Tuesday July 18

Story tellers will be notified: Two working days from their submission.

Questions? Contact our Education Support Specialist, Daisy Blakely.

These events are made possible through the generous support of the Bowman-Shannon Grant through the Shenandoah Community Foundation and our sponsors