By Elizabeth E. Payne
Following U.S. Route 219 through Monroe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph and Tucker counties in West Virginia, the Mountain Music Trail highlights the old-time music of the Mountain State.
Inspired by Virginia’s heritage music trail, the Crooked Road, The Mountain Music Trail connects musicians and musical venues along this scenic highway. Participating musicians include The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys and Aurora Celtic, and venues range from the Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton to The Purple Fiddle in Thomas.
“Economic development is one of the primary reasons we wanted to start this project,” Cara Rose, executive director of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the Charleston Gazette-Mail. “But it’s also about preserving the music. It’s about sharing the music of our region and our culture.”
The trail also provides an opportunity to highlight local businesses along the route, including several microbreweries. The organizers have also partnered with the Mountain Dance Trail, a project celebrating West Virginia’s vibrant tradition of community square dancing.
The West Virginia Division of Tourism and West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage collaborated to produce a virtual tour of the new music trail. The website provides videos of stops along the trail, streaming music of featured artists and an interactive map. It is an invitation to spend at least a weekend exploring West Virginia.
For more information and to take in the sounds and sights of the virtual tour, visit mountainmusictrail.com.
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One response to “Mountain Music Trail Winds Through WV”
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I WOULD LOVES TO TAKE THE MOUNTAIN MUSIC TRAIL AGAIN FROM UNION TO THE (BORDER OF GARRETT COUNRY IN MARYLAND.) LEWISBURG,MARLINTON,ELKINS THOMAS, ON ROUTE 219. MY HUSBAND AND I TOOK THAT TRIP IN MAY OR JUME FOR OUR HONRYMOON EVERY YEAR.WE BOTH ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN SENT ME INFORMATION WHERE TO STOP AT AT EACH PLACE IN EACH COUNTIES . I HAVE SOME CARNEGIE HALL,BRAZEN HEAD INN, PURPLE FIDDLE CAFE,THE KUTTLE RESTAURANT AND I KNOW I HAVE MISSED SOME, CAN UPI SENT ME THE MAP OF THE TRAIL ON ROUTE 219. MY LOST MY HUSBAND 2 YEARS AGO AND I MISSED THAT SO I THOUGHT I DO IT THIS YEAR ON OUR ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A WEST VIRIGINIA FANS OF MUSIC BIG TIME JANE POE
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