Music of Virginia

Virginia has had a big impact on American music. The state helped create many types of music, including Piedmont blues, jazz, folk, brass, hip-hop, and rock and roll. One key moment in music history happened in Virginia during the Bristol sessions, where people from Appalachian Virginia helped start country music.

Music from Virginia comes from many places. Big cities like Richmond have their own styles, as do college towns such as Charlottesville and Fredericksburg. Even in rural areas, like the regions along "The Crooked Road" in Southwestern Virginia, people have made music that influences the whole country.

State song

"Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" by James A. Bland was Virginia's state song from 1940 until 1997. It now has a special status called emeritus. Since January 2006, "Oh Shenandoah" was used as the interim state song. Its tune was later used for "Our Great Virginia," written by Mike Greenly, which became the official state song in 2015. Also in 2015, "Sweet Virginia Breeze," written in 1978 by Steve Bassett and Robbin Thompson, became the official popular state song. Another song that almost won was "Virginia, the Home of My Heart".

Birthplace of Southern shape note music

Singing Davisson's "Retirement" at his graveside in Cross Keys, following an all-day singing from the Shenandoah Harmony (June 7, 2015).

In 1816, Ananias Davisson from Rockingham County made a book of songs called Kentucky Harmony. The book used special symbols to help people learn folk melodies he collected while traveling. While musicians in the North were looking to Europe, Davisson's book became very popular in the South.

Notable music artists from Virginia by genre

Virginia has many famous musicians in many kinds of music. Some well-known names are country singer Patsy Cline, who is honored in towns like Gore and Winchester. The Golden Gate Quartet, started in 1931, helped shape the sound of many groups in gospel, jazz, blues, and more.

Other famous artists include Ella Fitzgerald and Pearl Bailey from Newport News, and hip-hop and rhythm and blues artists such as Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and The Neptunes. Singer-songwriters like Jason Mraz and bands such as the Dave Matthews Band also come from Virginia.

Hip hop

Blues and jazz

The Steel Wheels play at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville

Country and bluegrass

Pop, rock, and heavy metal

Other

Pearl Bailey – Broadway singer, Newport News
Ann Marie Calhoun – violinist, Gordonsville
Bill Deal and the Rhondels are from Virginia Beach
Bruce Hornsby – singer, pianist, and songwriter, Williamsburg. He went to the University of Richmond.
Toby Mac – of DC Talk, Christian hip hop, rap, rock, Fairfax.
Michael Tait – of DC Talk (1997–2001), Newsboys (2009–present). Contemporary Christian artist, Washington DC.
Undine Smith Moore – composer, Jarratt
Wayne Newton – singer and songwriter, Roanoke
Ketch Secor and Critter Fuqua of Old Crow Medicine Show, Harrisonburg
Robbin Thompson – Richmond
Keller Williams – one-man jam band from Fredericksburg
Hilary Hahn – Grammy Award-winning classical violin soloist, Lexington

Music venues and institutions

Virginia has many special places where people can enjoy music. Big concert venues include the Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, and the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach. Other large venues are the Richmond Coliseum, the Hampton Coliseum, and the Norfolk Scope.

The Meadow Pavilion is one of the theaters at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.

Vienna is home to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the only national park in the United States dedicated to the arts. It has a large outdoor amphitheater called the Filene Center and a smaller indoor venue named The Barns. The Old Dominion Opry near Colonial Williamsburg is also a popular spot for concerts.

Other well-known venues include The Birchmere in Alexandria, the Landmark Theater in Richmond, and the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk. Phase 2 in Lynchburg and Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs also attract many performers. The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, held in Orkney Springs, has been entertaining visitors with summer concerts for over 50 years.

Richmond’s 929 West Grace Street has been a punk- and rock-focused club for almost 30 years, known recently as Strange Matter. The Norva Theatre in the Hampton Roads area is a cozy venue for smaller acts. The Clementine café in Harrisonburg is a favorite local spot for music lovers.

Music festivals

FloydFest is a popular music festival near Floyd County in Patrick County. It began in 2002 and includes camping and many music types like bluegrass, rock, reggae, and folk.

Richmond has hosted the National Folk Festival in past years, showing folk music from Virginia and the world. After that, Richmond started its own yearly Richmond Folk Festival.

The Virginia Blues & Jazz Festival began in 2006 and happens each June at the Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs. It has had famous musicians like Taj Mahal and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

The MACRoCk festival happens every April in Harrisonburg, VA, and has had many popular bands over the years.

The Blue Ridge Rock Festival, a hard rock and heavy metal event, was held yearly in Virginia from 2017 to 2023, skipping 2020. It moved to different places each year and had bands such as Gwar and Lamb of God.

Blue Ridge mountain music

Southwest Virginia is part of the Blue Ridge area and is known for its special style of old-time music, often called "mountain music." The town of Galax holds the Old Fiddlers' Convention each year, which started in 1935. It is the largest and oldest festival for this kind of music in the United States. Many famous musicians perform there, and it draws thousands of visitors.

Other festivals in the region include the Fairview Ruritan Club Fiddlers' Convention, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival at Ferrum College, and the Wayne Henderson Music Festival & Guitar Competition. Many small towns and parks in the area also host their own mountain music events. The Carter Family Fold in Hiltons holds yearly folk music festivals and weekly concerts.

Country music

Virginia has been very important for country music. Famous singers like Patsy Cline and groups such as the Carter Family and the Statler Brothers came from Virginia.

Bristol, a city in Virginia, is called the "Birthplace of Country Music." In 1927, a music producer named Ralph Peer went there to record local musicians. During these recordings, the Carter Family began their career, and Jimmie Rodgers made his first records. These recordings were very important for country music. Today, people work to teach others about this history.

Every September, Bristol holds the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, a big music festival. Many people come to enjoy the music and learn about Virginia’s culture.

Hardcore punk and heavy metal

Further information: hardcore punk

Richmond, Virginia, has a busy punk rock scene. The city is known for the band Gwar, famous for fun and wild shows. Gwar began as a band called Death Piggy, along with other local groups. As the punk scene in Richmond grew, many bands formed, including Avail, Inquisition, Fun Size, and others. Small places like Benny's near Virginia Commonwealth University helped support these bands.

Richmond's punk music has its own special sound, mixing in country, folk, and southern rock. The city also has a strong metal scene with bands like Lamb of God, Alabama Thunderpussy, and Municipal Waste. These metal bands connect with the punk rock community and use southern music styles. Today, Richmond still has a lively hardcore punk scene with new bands starting up.