Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival
Sunday, August 31, 2025, 1700 - 2100
On Sunday, August 31st, the 22nd Annual Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival will honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Joseph "Papa Joe" Smiddy. The event is presented by the Cove Ridge Center Foundation. It will be held in the amphitheater at Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, VA starting at 5 PM.
There will be no admission charge to this year's festival thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. Attendees may give a donation to the Cove Ridge Foundation to support its Scholarship Fund.
This annual gathering seeks to promote the musical heritage of the area's Appalachian Mountain culture and honors the tireless work of "Papa Joe," who promoted the music of our region for many decades. In addition to being an accomplished old-time banjo player, entertainer, and educator, Smiddy was Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Virginia's College at Wise.
This year's performers will be Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek, the Roan Street Ramblers, The University of Virginia at Wise Papa Joe Smiddy Bluegrass Band and Hollow Ground, the band selected from this year's Pickin' in the Park Series.
Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek have played together for more than four decades. Reflecting the broad musical tastes of Papa Joe, the band plays a variety of old-time music and original songs. Papa Joe started "Pickin' in the Park," the summer Sunday afternoon get-togethers at Natural Tunnel designed to encourage children and families to play music. Papa Joe and Dr. Joe Smiddy started the Reedy Creek Band in 1974 and have since performed hundreds of times including in Ireland and Canada. They were also featured on the soundtrack for the Big Stone Gap movie. Papa Joe started "Pickin' in the Park," the summer Sunday afternoon get-togethers at Natural Tunnel designed to encourage children and families to play music.
The Roan Street Ramblers are a family Bluegrass band from Unicoi, Tennessee. The band consists of five members of the Smith family: the mother Leslie, and Lucy (14), River (12), and Sawyer (10). Each child has been performing as a string musician with the Academy of Strings since they were three to five years old, and have been involved in the JAM Program for the last three years through their school's JAM affiliate, Upper East Tennessee Traditional Music. Leslie provides vocals and guitar, and is an alumnus of East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music program. The Ramblers share a deep connection to the folklore, culture, and history of the Southern Appalachian Region.
Organized by UVA Wise band director and music instructor, Richard Galyean, and currently led by UVA Wise guitar instructor Cody White, the UVA Wise Papa Joe Smiddy Bluegrass Band has made a mark regionally in traditional mountain music circles and beyond. The band has been featured on radio, released recorded material, and performed for the Transatlantic Dialogue Conference in Luxembourg.
The selection from this year's Pickin' in the Park series, Hollow Ground is a regional band formed in 2011 and is made up of members from Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee with only one member change to the group in 14 years. They play a wide range of Bluegrass Style music from Gospel, Bluegrass, Country, and even a little Rock and Roll. They have recorded 2 CD' s along the way with 1 being Bluegrass and 1 being Gospel. Both having several songs written by members of the group.
While there is fixed seating under roof, additional seating is available and used on the grass behind the fixed seating, so festivalgoers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. A shuttle will be available for festivalgoers with mobility issues, it will take them to the backstage level and bring them back up to the parking lot when they are ready to go home.
An on-site concessions stand will be available to provide food and refreshments. In addition, food vendors will be at the amphitheater that evening.
Artists: Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek, Roan Street Ramblers, The UVA at Wise Papa Joe Smiddy Bluegrass Band, Hollow Ground
Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Music
There will be no admission charge to this year's festival thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. Attendees may give a donation to the Cove Ridge Foundation to support its Scholarship Fund.
This annual gathering seeks to promote the musical heritage of the area's Appalachian Mountain culture and honors the tireless work of "Papa Joe," who promoted the music of our region for many decades. In addition to being an accomplished old-time banjo player, entertainer, and educator, Smiddy was Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Virginia's College at Wise.
This year's performers will be Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek, the Roan Street Ramblers, The University of Virginia at Wise Papa Joe Smiddy Bluegrass Band and Hollow Ground, the band selected from this year's Pickin' in the Park Series.
Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek have played together for more than four decades. Reflecting the broad musical tastes of Papa Joe, the band plays a variety of old-time music and original songs. Papa Joe started "Pickin' in the Park," the summer Sunday afternoon get-togethers at Natural Tunnel designed to encourage children and families to play music. Papa Joe and Dr. Joe Smiddy started the Reedy Creek Band in 1974 and have since performed hundreds of times including in Ireland and Canada. They were also featured on the soundtrack for the Big Stone Gap movie. Papa Joe started "Pickin' in the Park," the summer Sunday afternoon get-togethers at Natural Tunnel designed to encourage children and families to play music.
The Roan Street Ramblers are a family Bluegrass band from Unicoi, Tennessee. The band consists of five members of the Smith family: the mother Leslie, and Lucy (14), River (12), and Sawyer (10). Each child has been performing as a string musician with the Academy of Strings since they were three to five years old, and have been involved in the JAM Program for the last three years through their school's JAM affiliate, Upper East Tennessee Traditional Music. Leslie provides vocals and guitar, and is an alumnus of East Tennessee State University's Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music program. The Ramblers share a deep connection to the folklore, culture, and history of the Southern Appalachian Region.
Organized by UVA Wise band director and music instructor, Richard Galyean, and currently led by UVA Wise guitar instructor Cody White, the UVA Wise Papa Joe Smiddy Bluegrass Band has made a mark regionally in traditional mountain music circles and beyond. The band has been featured on radio, released recorded material, and performed for the Transatlantic Dialogue Conference in Luxembourg.
The selection from this year's Pickin' in the Park series, Hollow Ground is a regional band formed in 2011 and is made up of members from Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee with only one member change to the group in 14 years. They play a wide range of Bluegrass Style music from Gospel, Bluegrass, Country, and even a little Rock and Roll. They have recorded 2 CD' s along the way with 1 being Bluegrass and 1 being Gospel. Both having several songs written by members of the group.
While there is fixed seating under roof, additional seating is available and used on the grass behind the fixed seating, so festivalgoers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. A shuttle will be available for festivalgoers with mobility issues, it will take them to the backstage level and bring them back up to the parking lot when they are ready to go home.
An on-site concessions stand will be available to provide food and refreshments. In addition, food vendors will be at the amphitheater that evening.
Artists: Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek, Roan Street Ramblers, The UVA at Wise Papa Joe Smiddy Bluegrass Band, Hollow Ground
Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Music
Starting Price Per Person
Free
Other Information
Where
Natural Tunnel State Park
1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway
Duffield Virginia 24244
United States
( Park - Garden - Outdoor Space )
1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway
Duffield Virginia 24244
United States
( Park - Garden - Outdoor Space )
Event Organizer Contact
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Event ID: 256146
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