Day 1
Sierra Hull
Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens
Day 2
Day 3
Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line
Red Wing V dates have been announced! Mark your calendars for July 14-16, 2017!
Category Archives: Red Wing Roots
Red Wing Roots III
It’s the third year in and I’m not tired of it yet. Not one bit. I love the drive to Mt. Solon. I love the growing sound of banjos and harmonicas as I walk closer to the Chimneys. I love seeing all the familiar faces of Harrisonburg. I love meeting new faces. I love overhearing people gush about how beautiful this festival is. I love the running, smiling, happy children. I love being blown away by performers I never even knew existed. I love my dirty feet at the end of the day. I love watching the weekend through my viewfinder. I love when a moment is so perfect it pulls me from a conversation because I just can’t not take that photo. I love the blue skies. I love the gray skies. I love the food. Oh God, the food. I love working with photographers who are kind and respectful and fun. I love that next year, Red Wing Roots will return and I can do it all again. Aw sookie!
Below are a few of my favorite shots. You can find more on my Facebook page in the coming days and on Instagram at @bsomephoto.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Bands pictured in this post in order of appearance: Dr. How and the Reasons to Live, Locust Honey, Bryan Elijah Smith and the Wild Hearts, Mandolin Orange, Jon Russell, Chatham County Line, The Judy Chops, Scott Miller, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West, Missy Raines & the New Hip, The Barefoot Movement, Nikki Lane, Sarah Watkins – Sarah Jarosz – Aoife O’Donovan, The Steel Wheels, Possessed by Paul James, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Red Tail Ring, The Shook Twins, Spirit Family Reunion, The Honey Dewdrops with Caleb Stine, The Wood Brothers
Other relative links pictured: Lucas Roasting Company, Larkin Arts, South Fork, South Street Brewing, Eno, Friendly City Hoops
Red Wing Roots II: Day 2
It took two showers to wash away Day 1. Fragments of nostalgia broke away from my muddy footprints on the shower floor. Pieces of Mt. Solon dirt and blades of surely the greenest-grass-in-all-the-land sang sweet harmonies as they swirled to their watery death. I assured my lonely pores that their sweat buddies would return soon. Red Wing Roots Music Festival II, Day 2, started at noon with two bands I did not want to miss: Loves It and Smokey and the Mirror. 
Above: Red Wing shirts printed by The Mark-it.
Lucas Roasting Company (above) keeping folks energized and Wholistic Wisdom (below) keeping folks relaxed.
Above and below: So sweet to see their daughter watching the performance from backstage.
Above: remnants of Pokey LaFarge’s performance.
Above: One cute little Blue Mountain supporter. Below: One cute little Red Wing supporter.
Below: Artery kicked off on Day 2. Hundreds of children and adults came to help work on this community painting.
Above: Grilled Cheese Mania. Below: Jack Browns Beer and Burger Joint
One really awesome thing about photographing this festival, is that I get to work with other photographers who I know and love. I admire each of them in very different ways and I’m truly a fan of their work. I feel we have a great network and support system of creatives here in the Valley and I simply can’t imagine it being any other way. I’ll introduce my photog friends below. I encourage you to check out their work!
This is Keesha of Ruby Sky Photography. <–If you click on that link, I have a feeling you’ll enjoy her music selection. In fact, feel free to let it play as you continue to look through the rest of this post…you’ll find it quite relevant. Keesha can usually be found with three little assistants. In the photo below, the third assistant is playing hide-and-seek.
This. Ha. Well, this is Pat Jarrett. He likely rode in on his motorcycle that morning after shooting in Newport News. He’s a busy dude and if you’re a Stauntonian, you’ve probably seen him walking to and from his downtown studio.
These girls are my studio neighbors at Spitzer Art Center and are an inspiration to me. They own and operate The Pinwheel Collective. It’s great how well they not only work together but also how nicely their work compliments each others. They do cool stuff. And sometimes funny stuff, too.
Oh hay. That’s me. You’re looking at my work now…but I do some other stuff to. Like weddings and portraits and I photograph for a blog I do with my friend Katie about Harrisonburg. I also plan this really cool community portrait show with my friend Denise Allen every year called Art Lotto.
Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels
Didya miss Day 1? Click here to get caught up!
Check out this writeup and MORE of my photos from Red Wing Roots 2014 Day 2 on ilovemyburg!
This post is part of my year long series Celebrating Life.
Check out my photos from last year: Red Wing Roots Music Festival 2013! Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3.
Red Wing Roots II: Day 1
I played Bob Dylan on the way to this year’s second annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival. I felt it was a decent way to get my soul ready for the day that awaited me in that magical, green pocket of Mt. Solon. When I parked and stepped out of my car to a distant harmonica chirp being carried through the trees with the mountain breeze, I couldn’t help but smile. I’m baaaaaack. Finally. I slung my camera around my neck, grabbed my cash and i.d. and followed the tunes. It led me straight to the Shenandoah Mountain stage where Charlottesville’s The Honey Dewdrops were mid-set. Sadly, I missed the Walking Roots Band all together because I got distracted by the awesome kids activities that Larkin Arts offered this year. They’ve really evolved with the festival and is one of the many ways the whole experience, that was already dang awesome, got even better. 
Artery’s blank canvas awaits hundreds of children and adult artists to leave their mark.
I spy a Judy Chop!
Peyton Tochterman takes on the crowd at South Stage.
#redwingselfie
WNRN volunteers were there and happy about it!
Old Hill Cider was my go-to when the sun heated up Day 1.
I was particularly excited to see the performance by Many Nights Ahead. Amy, the lead gal, is my former art student and I’ve been trying to catch them live since they started playing. I let myself indulge in photos of these guys. They’re awesome and I felt so proud of them!
I left the Local Roots Stage to take on what I feel is the most difficult part of the festival: deciding what to eat. There were so many goooood and local choices of festie cuisine available. Luckily I have friends that share so we ordered a bunch of food and taste-tested all of it!
A Harrisonburg TRUCKS staple: Grilled Cheese Mania.
Sexi-Mexi…oh God. Straight from my other favorite ‘burg: Strasburg, VA!
David Wax Museum and that sweet sounding jaw bone gets the crowd moving at South Stage!
The Hackensaw Boys
After witnessing all that is Pokey LaFarge last year, I could hardly wait to see him again. And I wasn’t alone. The crowd quickly migrated to the Shenandoah Mountain Stage, ready to shake a thang or two.
Also:
Dearest Pokey,
I love all of your faces. Every. Single. One.
Love, Brandy
P.S. I’m glad the watermelon didn’t hit me in the face. 
Night came and The Duhks took the stage. I was ready to take a long nap and prepare for Day 2.
Don’t miss my photos from Red Wing Roots II: Day 2!
Check out an excellent writeup and MORE of my photos from Red Wing Roots 2014 on ilovemyburg!
This post is part of my year long series Celebrating Life.
Check out my posts from last year: Red Wing Roots Music Festival 2013! Day 1, Day 2, & Day 3.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 3
The third and final day of Red Wing was upon us. We stopped caring about the mud under our toenails, the sweat beads on our forehead, and the mild stench that was totally-that-dude-beside-me and not me. Right? We were all friends now. Rained on, shined on, danced together – friends. I was a little sad finishing these photos. Nostalgic even. They reminded me of this pocket of happy that existed in my summer. A pocket I’ll dig into again next summer only to rediscover it all over…just like that wrinkled up five dollar bill that’s surely waiting for me in my winter coat. ….winter…. Ah geez.
Robin & Linda Williams
Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin
Brian Patrick Band
Pokey LaFarge and all his amazing faces that I just couldn’t take enough photos of.
The Steel Wheels & Friends Tribute Set
See you next year, yeah?
Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 1
Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 2
Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 2
After all the memories made on the first day EVER(!) of the Red Wing Roots Music Festival, I was stoked to know that two more days were still in store. The views of the Valley as I drove to the Chimneys made me extra thankful that this festival was brought to such a beautiful (and close!) location. The day was sunnier with a promise of a cooling evening shower. Sunscreen. Check. Camera. Check. Klean Kanteen. Check. Raincoat. Check. Water. Check. Day 2. Let’s do this.
After grabbing some coffee and fully waking up, we headed to The Southern Stage to listen to the lovely Ana Egge
Over on the Local Roots Stage, Bryan Elijah Smith & The Wild Hearts drew a decent crowd.
Surrounded by happy campers.
Pearl & The Beard
For a little perspective, we hiked up to the top of the Chimneys. So so beautiful.
Back in time for a downpour and the sheer entertainment of The Wiyos.
If you haven’t seen these guys…add it to your list.
My night ended just right with The Steel Wheels.
…and still one more day to go…I could get used to this….
See also: Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 1
Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.
Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 1
I can’t say much about the caliber of awesome that was the inaugural Red Wing Roots Music Festival that hasn’t already been said. Well, not with words anyway. But I can tell you a thing or two with my photos. *whoop whoop* I couldn’t get there fast enough on Day 1 of the three day shindig. As lovely Megan set me up with a wrist band, I could hear Caleb Stine’s hollow voice echoing through the chimneys. Gaaaah! Heart.throb. I walked under gray skies to the Shenandoah Mountain Stage and once it was in sight, the mood was clear, so I shut my mouth and tiptoed to the front. As if they were all witnessing a sacred ceremony, eyes affixed to the stage, the audience sat in awe and respect and silence. It didn’t take long for me to follow suit. The tone was set for the day.
Next on my to-do was to get coffee. Then food. Then beer. Then more music. In that order. The layout of the festival was great and the venders were plentiful with a lot of local options! *bonus* AND they required the use of a Klean Kanteen which not only serves as a Red Wing souvenir but creates much less trash for the festival and the planet. *double bonus*
New Country Rehab
Larry Keel & The Natural Bridge
I’ve come to understand one very important thing about festival goers: they’re always ready to have a good time. Rain or shine. Lucky for them! The rain clouds moved in but the shows went on. People pulled out their rain gear…or fashioned rain gear out of found objects. Dancing and smiling and swaying…feet planted in the mud. Little slivers of heaven.
Yarn…getting the kids all riled up!
The sun set. The rain poured. The Duhks took the stage.
…one down, two to go…
Check out: Red Wing Roots Music Festival: Day 2
Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. If you use photos from this blog for Facebook, please give credit or link to blog post. Thank you for respecting my creative property.
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