Start by celebrating the 40th anniversary of Loudoun wine at the LoCo Wine Festival September 14th & 15th at Old Farm Winery at Hartland. Purchase tickets at locowinefestival.com
From fairs and festivals to fun on the farm, there’s no shortage of adventure and excitement this harvest season. Scan the QR code to start planning!
Hike through fall foliage
Pick pumpkins at local farms
The Lucketts Bluesgrass concert series kicks off Sept. 15 with a free afternoon concert featuring Serene Green along with Dunlap and Mabe.
GET OUT LOUDOUN
Get Out Loudoun is distributed monthly to entertainment, tourism, and hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County. For the latest news on the music scene and other community events, go to getoutloudoun.com.
CONTRIBUTORS
Dana Armstrong Douglas Graham Norman K. Styer
ON THE COVER
Get up close with vintage aircraft and daring pilots at the annual Leesburg Airshow on Sept. 28. File Photo
TO ADVERTISE
Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com
getoutloudoun.com
6 10 18 14 23 22
Inside:
SPOTLIGHT
Contributed
Leesburg’s downtown historic district will be filled more than 40 musicians performing on 14 stage the weekend of Sept. 20-21 as the Crossroad Music Festival returns.
TUNES
Loudoun singer/songwriter Teddy Chipouras formed a band with two friends he met in college. Their musical journey continues with major-label recording contract.
TASTE
The county’s pioneering farm restaurant is celebrating 20 years of serving up creative meals with ingredients harvested from the surrounding fields and forests.
HAPPENINGS
Since 1943, visitors have flocked to the historic village of Waterford for an annual fall crafts fair and homes tour. That 80-year tradition continues Oct. 4-6..
BEST BETS
Get Out Loudoun’s top picks for September..
LOUDOUN’S HIGH STREET: W&OD Trail Celebrates 50 Years
BY DOUGLAS ROGERS
Visit Loudoun
Fifty years ago, on Sept.7, 1974, a cyclist took a 1.5-mile ride on a newly paved trail in Fall’s Church, Fairfax. It was the first documented bicycle ride on the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park, a narrow cycling, walking and, in parts, equestrian trail that was being built on the bed of an abandoned railway line in Northern Virginia.
The 45-mile-long W&OD Trail had not yet made it to Loudoun, but 14 years later it would span 20 miles through the county—a spectacularly scenic stretch from Sterling to Purcellville, affectionately known today as “Loudoun’s High Street.”
All of which is to say, there’s no better way to commemorate that first historic cycle ride than by hitting the trail in Loudoun this month, be it on two feet or two wheels.
So, what are the local highlights?
The Loudoun section starts at Mile Marker 24 in Sterling, close to Broad Run Creek, a tributary to the Potomac River. The going is flat, trees and grassland all around, but as it nudges into Ashburn, semi-industrial buildings pop up. Stop here for a craft ale at beloved Old Ox Brewery, just steps from the trail.
A little further on, Carolina Brothers Pit BBQ, a tumbledown wood-floor classic at the Ashburn Road crossing, is a great spot for ribs, juicy brisket and pulled pork.
Just before Battlefield Parkway you come to Tuscarora Creek, trees and foliage to the right obscuring the restaurants and entertainment spots of the Village at Leesburg. Pull in for a coffee, burger or even a movie.
From here the trail does a sharp V-turn under the busy Leesburg Bypass; with tall trees and dense foliage all around it’s hard to believe you’ve entered the town of Leesburg. Park your bike at Raflo Park on Harrison Street and spend a few hours exploring the museums, restaurants, breweries and boutiques of Loudoun’s historic county seat.
Photo by Douglas Graham
The former Purcellville train station marks the western terminus of the W&OD Trail.
From Leesburg the trail climbs steeply for two miles adjacent to Dry Mill Road. You will pass farms and fields to the left and the County Fairgrounds, site of the annual fair, to the right, before cresting at the traffic circle and bridge over the bustling Leesburg Pike. Ease your way down into tiny Paeonian Springs where you can grab a soda at Vino 9 Market just off the trail or some smoked ribs at nearby Jules Caribbean BBQ food truck.
Three miles further on, at the Hamilton Station Road intersection (42-mile mark), cycle south into Hamilton, or north one mile for a cool glass of Viognier at the award-winning Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyard.
You are now in rural western Loudoun, the wind in your hair, smell of honeysuckle all around and it’s glorious: fields of grain and wheat, lush green pasture dotted with cows, horses and red barns, open views of the Blue Ridge Mountains up ahead.
Finally, crossing busy Berlin Turnpike, you come to Purcellville and the 44.5-mile marker.
It’s quite a finale. The trail ends at the restored 1904-built Purcellville Train Station, adjacent to the much-loved farm-to-fork restaurant, Magnolias at the Mill. You’re in the heart of the historic downtown, Catoctin Creek Distillery, Monks BBQ, ice cream parlor Grutos and multiple thrift and antique shops just yards away.
Treat yourself to a craft cocktail—and toast that first cyclist who hit the trail 50 years ago.
Photo by Douglas Graham
The W&OD Trail crosses Leesburg’s downtown historic district.
SPOTLIGHT
Every Echo, featuring Emma Rowley, Todd Wright, and Ethan Mentzer, opens the 2024 Crossroads Music Festival on Friday, Sept. 20 with their first-ever live performance.
Crossroads Music Festival Hosts Howard Jones and Many More
BY DANA ARMSTRONG
BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival returns for its fifth year Sept. 20-21. With a stacked lineup of over 40 musicians plus headliner Howard Jones across 14 stages in downtown Leesburg, the event promises to be the biggest yet.
Proceeds from the festival are donated to nonprofits supporting children in Loudoun County. This year’s recipients include Loudoun Youth Inc., Loudoun Education Fund, Dulles South Soup Kitchen, Food for Neighbors, Ryan Bartel Foundation, and the Northern Virginia Diaper Bank.
The festivities kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday with Americana singer-songwriter Juliana MacDowell and the debut performance of indie folk group Every Echo at the Tally Ho Theater. Tickets may be purchased at CrossroadsMusicFest.org.
Made up of Loudoun music icons Emma Rowley and Todd Wright along with Philadelphia-based musician and producer Ethan Mentzer, Every Echo will perform selections from their self-titled 2020 album and never-before-heard new songs.
The following day, on Saturday from 4 to 10
p.m. the streets and businesses of downtown Leesburg will come alive with a wide variety of bands and solo musicians. Each artist will perform a 60-minute set at their designated venue. No tickets are needed for these Saturday Music Showcases.
Saturday’s headliner performance featuring Howard Jones and opener Emma Rowley begins at 8 p.m. at Tally Ho Theater. Tickets are also needed for this seated concert, with VIP tickets sold out last month.
Former child Broadway star and Loudoun native, Emma Rowley got her start in performing pop music by playing at wineries and breweries around Loudoun County. Later, she moved to Nashville to further her music career and released her debut album Orange in 2023.
“The first year that BENEFIT did Crossroads [in 2017], I played at Delirium Café on the back porch. I played a set just me and my guitar and I remember thinking, ‘Someday maybe I'll be playing the Tally Ho.’ How cool would that be?” said Rowley.
“That is the stage you dream of playing if you grow up doing music in Leesburg or Northern
FROM PAGE 6
Virginia. That's one of those places that's on your bucket list. Now I'm actually going to do it!”
Rowley plans to perform a range of original songs including her deep cuts from 2018, favorites from her current album, and even a preview of music to come. While songs from her “Orange era” were bright pop-rock tunes, she teases that her upcoming songs will have a broody, dark academia feel.
She is thrilled for this opportunity to return to Loudoun, reunite with friends and family, and play for a hometown crowd as she attests “there’s truly nothing like a hometown show.” Of course, Rowley is also particularly looking forward to watching Howard Jones set after her own performance.
Audiences may know British new wave pioneer Howard Jones best from his 1985 song "No One Is To Blame." A re-recorded version with Phil Collins released in the following year hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other hits include “New Song” and “Things Can Only Get Better,” which resurfaced more recently in the TV shows “Stranger Things” and “Breaking Bad.”
Along with an impressive solo career, Jones has worked alongside artists including Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, and Eric Clapton, and accompanied Ringo Star on keyboard for a 2001 tour.
Jones joins Crossroads Music Festival fresh off his North American tour with fellow ’80s British alt-pop bands ABC and Haircut 100. His latest album “Live at the O2” recorded during a March 2024 performance at the infamous London arena was released last month.
For his Saturday night performance at Tally Ho, a venue he says "has always been a favorite," Jones will trade in his usual synthesizers and high-tech backing band for a solo piano performance and onstage interview.
“The solo show is an intimate experience focusing on the songwriting. I get to chat and explain a bit more about what the songs are about and play them in their essential form. Lyrics are so important to me, and it’s a chance to expand on the meanings and motivations,” said Jones.
He also appreciates that the Crossroads Music Festival promotes new artists and shares his advice for those early on in their music careers.
“If it’s what you love doing then keep going and eventually the doors will open for you. Audiences want us to be our unique selves so we must stick to our unique ways of doing things and not be put off by criticism.”
“Remember there is only one of you. We don’t have to try to be someone else. Take inspiration from others but stay true to yourself.”
Tickets for the Friday and Saturday concerts at Tally Ho, as well as T-shirts and other merch with the festival’s 2024 logo, may be purchased in advance online. Tickets start at $10 for the Friday Festival Kickoff Concert and $75 for the Howard Jones headlining performance.
Festival sponsors include Greensorb, Keane Enterprises, Loudoun Now, Music Planet Radio, NDpoint Strategies, Rembert Pendleton Jackson, Town of Leesburg Department of Economic Development, and Visit Loudoun.
The presenting sponsor for the Friday night festival kickoff is Toth Financial Advisory Corporation, and the presenting sponsor for Saturday’s performance is Cara Bobchek.
Festival pass information, performer lineup, schedule, venue information, and guidelines for BENEFIT’s 2024 Crossroads Music Festival can be found at CrossroadsMusicFest.org.
Photo by Simon Fowler
New Wave pioneer Howard Jones will perform during the 2024 music showcase at the Crossroads Music Festival.
Oh Boy, Virginia Band Palmyra Signs with Record Label
Loudoun singer/songwriter Teddy Chipouras formed a band with two friends he met in college. Their musical journey continues with major-label recording contract.
BY DANA ARMSTRONG
Virginia-based folk trio, Palmyra, just had a summer for the books. They were named one of NPR’s “Favorite New Artists of 2024,” played a mainstage at the historic Newport Folk Festival, and recently signed to a major label: Oh Boy Records.
Best of all, one of the members has Loudoun roots.
Teddy Chipouras, originally from Lovettsville, plays guitar and banjo for the band. Although he started playing guitar around age 10, he didn’t start diving into music until his time at Woodgrove High School.
“In high school, I started really discovering music that I loved for the first time. Listening to The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, and The Lumineers made me want to learn those songs. That made me want to start writing songs in high school, and then that led to performing. So, it was kind of just like a big snowball,” Chipouras said.
Chipouras went on to attend James Madison University where he met future bandmates
Mānoa Bell from Norfolk and Sasha Landon from Roanoke. Though they met separately during college, a songwriting class in their second semester of junior year brought the three together.
Like Chipouras, Bell and Landon also credit childhood experiences for shaping their love of music.
Bell’s parents worked at a university that offered a free childcare program where college students taught children how to play instruments. Once Bell became a teenager, he started discovering albums he loved and translating them over to bass. Now, he plays upright and electric bass for Palmyra.
Landon’s love of music stemmed from the Roanoke nonprofit Music Lab at Jefferson Center that offers kids training and master classes from high-level musicians across many genres.
“I got to see what it looked like to have a career in music at a young age, which I think was really important. I don't know that I would be doing this if not for that experience, and I had some great teachers along the way,” Landon, Palmyra’s guitarist and mandolinist, said.
TUNES CONTINUED ON 21
Photo by Maggie Ellmore
presents
DOWNTOWN LEESBURG, VA
SEPTEMBER 20 & 21, 2024
Featuring a special, intimate solo performance and interview “Songs and Stories from the Crossroads” with multi-platinum artist
Annie Stokes, Big Bad Juju, Blotto Diablo, Bob Crer ie and the Blast Daddies, Chris Sia, Chris Timbers Band, Dave Goodrich, Dave Goodrum, Dave Mininberg, Diesel River, Domenic Cicala & Thensome, Emma Rowley, Every Echo, Favorite Child , Gary Smallwood, Goodtime Alibi, Honey Trap, Intellect, J oey Bauer, Juliana MacDowell, Laurie Blue, Lenny Burrid ge Band, Loudoun Jazz Ensemble, Lucas Mason, M4TR (Mus ic 4 The Revolution), Max Redding and the Dogwood Gospel , Meisha Herron, Mike McCabe, Mintons Academy of Musi cPurple Voyagers, Mission Road, Mo & Mary Mac, Quent in Walston, RED SAMMY, Ryan Franko, Ryan Jewel, Summer & Eric, Swing Shift, Tavair Dominque, The Wickers, Th omas Hinds, Trevor Toms, Uncle Drew and the Scoundrels
Proceeds benefit charities serving children in Loudoun County
Tickets + limited edition t-shirt at www.crossroadsmusicfest.org
Cara Bobchek Brought
Raymond Martinez III
1 50 West Vineyards 39060 Little River Turnpike, Middleburg 50westvineyards.com
2 8 Chains North Winery 38593 Daymont Ln., Waterford, VA 8chainsnorth.com
24 The Craft of Brewing 21140 Ashburn Crossing Dr., Ashburn thecraftob.com
25 Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Ln., Lucketts vanishbeer.com
26 Water’s End Brewing 1602 Village Market Blvd SE #120, Leesburg watersendbrewery.com
27 Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery 38506 John Wolford Rd., Waterford wheatlandspring.com
1 Stonehouse Meadery 36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com
TASTE
Loudoun’s Pioneering Farm Restaurant Celebrates 20 Years
BY NORMAN K. STYER
Long before the farm-to-fork movement gained traction in the culinary community, Beverly Morton Billand was inviting people to her barn where she served up seasonal meals created from produce grown in her backyard garden.
“I was just growing vegetables and lots of herbs. I literally was sitting in the garden one day and I looked around and I said, ‘Oh my goodness, what am I going to do with all this produce?’” she recalled. “Well, I like to cook, so maybe if I have a dinner once in a while I'll be able to earn enough money that I can continue farming.”
“And it just kept growing,” she said.
Today, The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm is an acclaimed dining destination.
Located on a Catoctin Mountain ridge overlooking the Potomac River near Point of Rocks, the restaurant is renowned for its back-to-nature approach and its “nourish the soul and excite
the palate” mission.
“We never realized that this would be a very successful restaurant in Loudoun County. … We've taken a restaurant and put it in the middle of basically nowhere,” she said. “I think it is the experience that people are wanting.”
In the beginning, she cooked the meals herself in her home kitchen.
“Everything was seasonal and I was just pulling things out of the garden,” she said. “I was doing all the cooking, and I was trying to it figure out. I'm not a chef so it was very interesting because what they can do in one day it took me a week to figure out what I was going to do the following week.”
The operation quickly outgrew the barn space to a patio and tent. When she started making plans in 2000 to build a brick-and-mortar restaurant on the property, the county’s zoning regulators initially balked. Loudoun’s now celebrated “rural economy” had not yet been conceived. The restaurant opened four years later.
With the growth of the enterprise came the
Photo by Norman K. Styer
Beverly Morton Billand stands ready to welcome patrons to the 20th anniversary celebration of The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm.
Loudoun’s Attractions
LOUDOUN HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM
Travel through time to meet the 10 generations of Loudoun County residents who built this county and left their mark on the land. Exhibits include a schoolhouse, general store, Native American artifact display and the American Workhorse Museum Collection.
With a collection of more than 8,000 artifacts, the museum tells Loudoun’s story over its 260-year history, with an ever-changing selection of special exhibits on Native American settlements, World War II memorabilia, the county’s role in the Civil Wars, along with displays of antique clothing and furniture.
16 Loudoun Street SW Leesburg, Virginia 20175 (703) 777-7427 • loudounmuseum.org loudounmuseum.org
MORVEN PARK
Morven Park is a 1,000-acre historic estate on the edge of Leesburg that was home to Virginia governor and agricultural pioneer Westmoreland Davis. Tours of the Greek Revival mansion include 16th century Belgian tapestries, Spanish cassones, hundreds of silver pieces, Hudson River Valley paintings, and Asian treasures. The estate also features the Winmill Carriage Museum, the Museum of Hounds and Hunting of North America, formal boxwood gardens, miles of hiking and riding trails, and athletic fields.
17195 Southern Planter Lane Leesburg, VA 20176 703-777-2414 • morvenpark.org morvenpark.org
oatlands.org
OATLANDS HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDENS
The 415-acre Oatlands estate, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, offers tours of the historic mansion, extensive gardens and outbuildings that include the oldest standing greenhouse in the South. Exhibits focus on the lives of the Carter and Eustis families who building the estate, as well as the lives of enslaved people who lived and worked there.
20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg, VA 20175 703.777.3174 • oatlands.org
TASTE FROM PAGE 14
hiring of professional chefs to continue its evolution and elevation.
For the past two years, Colby Janowitz had led the creative effort. The Carrol County, MD, native arrived on the farm after rising to sous chef positions at the 3 Michelin starred Singlethread Farm Restaurant and Inn in Sonoma, CA.
“Colby brings a whole new dynamic to it. He has a lot of Japanese influence in what he does. I think every chef brings something new, but Colby, of all the chefs, has really raised it to a new dynamic,” Billand said.
Janowitz said an important part of his focus is to get people more connected to their food and build connections with the past.
“It’s as close as we can get to how our ancestors had to create their meals,” he said. “I enjoy the fact that all the inspiration starts with the ingredients.”
And those ingredients are constantly changing— controlled not just by the seasons, but also by the peculiarities of weather patterns.
This year, the farm’s fig trees will be producing fruit earlier than expected and more than usual. That means his fig-based creations, which started with the use of fig leaves in the spring,
will move from appetizer bites to dessert plates, with some of the fruit preserved for servings this winter.
Likewise, a staff favorite from the summer menu, the tuna and watermelon entrée, will be replaced by a Spanish mackerel dish pickled and served with plums.
Most of the ingredients are grown on the farm or sourced from area growers. An exception on the current menu is the bison, which is raised on the Great Plains and favored by Janowitz both to help sustain the once-endangered species and because of its high nutritional value.
As she and her team celebrates the restaurant’s 20th anniversary, Billand reflects on the markable journey.
“I had no idea that this would turn out to be an award-winning restaurant. I was having so much fun. We took a chance. We built this, and we hoped that it would be successful, and it's been successful beyond my dreams,” she said.
“I'm still excited to be doing this. I think it's an honor for me to be able to continue to do this restaurant and to have so many people that are not guests of ours, but they become our friends, too.”
Learn more at patowmackfarm.com.
Photo by Norman K. Styer
Chef Colby Janowitz talks a diner during last month’s 20th anniversary celebration for The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm.
Loudoun’s Dining
FORDS FISH SHACK
Consistently voted Loudoun residents’ favorite place for seafood, Ford’s offers fresh seafood in a family-dining atmosphere at three locations, as well as a catering arm and a food truck operation.
Ashburn-44260 Ice Rink Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147 (571) 918-4092
Lansdowne-19308 Promenade Dr., Leesburg, VA 20176 (571) 333-1301
South Riding 25031 Riding Plaza, Chantilly, VA 20152 (703) 542-7520
SPANKY’S SHENANIGANS
Known as one of the Loudoun’s favorite bars, Spanky’s Shenanigans is a popular destination from its morning breakfast menu to its ample roster of live music performers.
538 E Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 777-2454
LIGHTFOOT RESTAURANT
tuskies.com
Inside an historic bank building in downtown Leesburg, the Zagat-rated Lightfoot provides both a fine-dining experience and a gathering place for locals. Executive Chef Ingrid Gustavson serves up American cuisine with southern and ethnic accents.
11 North King Street Leesburg, VA 20176
703-771-2233
TUSCARORA MILL
Known by locals as Tuskies, the restaurant is located inside a restored 19th century grain mill in Leesburg’s historic district. Offering everything from locally sourced fine dining to a casual bar experience, it’s been a dining destination for more than three decades.
203 Harrison St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 (703) 771-9300
HAPPENINGS
Middleburg’s downtown taps into the Oktoberfest season Sept. 21 with a full day of traditional German food, live music, and festival games—and beer.
OLD FARM HOSTS LO-CO WINE FESTIVAL
Continuing the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the county’s wine industry, the Lo-Co Wine Festival will be held Sept. 14-15 at Old Farm Winery at Hartland.
The event features offerings from 10 of the area’s top farm wineries, including Loudoun’s first, Willowcroft. Also participating will be Walsh Family Wine, 8 Chains North, Carriage House Wineworks, Casanel Vineyard & Winery, Domain Fortier Vineyards, Iron Will Winery, The Vineyards & Winery at Lost Creek, Williams Gap Vineyard, The Winery at Bull Run and Honor Brewing.
Guests will receive a LoCo Wine Festival wine glass and tasting pass. In addition, there will be live music, craft vendors, food trucks and craft beer for sampling or purchase.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Special Olympics of Loudoun County.
The festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine.
The cost is $35 per person, with tickets expected to sell out in advance. Learn more at locowinefestival.com.
BLUEMONT FAIR MARKS 54 YEARS
The 54th Annual Bluemont Fair will be held on Sept. 21-22, attracting thousands of visitors to the Blue Ridge Mountain village for a community festival that includes crafts, music and food.
The fair features traditional crafts, local art and authors, craft and farming demonstrations, live music, a children’s Fair, blacksmithing and stone wall building demonstrations, homemade food, antiques and more.
This year, the Plaster Museum of Bluemont Heritage will offer a special exhibit on the history of Native Americans in the area.
The fair is sponsored by the Bluemont Citizens Association and proceeds go toward paying for the village’s street lights, providing student scholarships for local students, making improvements to the village’s historic buildings, supporting community beautification, and aiding neighbors in need.
The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 and Sunday, Sept. 17, rain or shine. Admission is $10 for adults with visitors nine and under are free.
Learn more at bluemontfair.org.
MIDDLEBURG READIES FOR OKTOBERFEST
Middleburg will be closing streets and tapping
File Photo
kegs Sept. 21 for its fourth annual Oktoberfest celebration.
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., South Madison and Federal streets will feature two biergartens, traditional German food, live music, and festival games. Beer, wine, cider, and traditional Oktoberfest foods will be available for purchase from local vendors.
There will be an Artist's Alley, coordinated by the Middleburg Arts Council, exhibiting artwork for sale from local and regional artists. Regional artisans will exhibit of fine art, pottery, jewelry, wearable art and more.
Learn more at middleburgvaoktoberfest.com.
LEESBURG AIRSHOW TAKES FLIGHT ON SEPT. 28
Leesburg Executive Airport will host its popular annual Airshow on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Beginning at 1 p.m., aerobatic performers will take to the skies. The event will feature the Flying Circus Jumpers, Scott Francis MX Aerobatics, RJ Gritter, Chef Pitts, and Warbird Thunder Airshows.
Throughout the day on the tarmac, visitors will get a chance to see a variety of modern and antique aircraft up close
Throughout the day on the tarmac, visitors will get a chance to see a variety of modern and antique aircraft up close. Special this year will be the display of the Douglas C-54 Skymaster "Spirit of Freedom." The plane was part of the allied Berlin Airlift following World War II. Today, it is a flying museum.
Attendees will also enjoy aviation-related displays, educational activities and exhibits, inflatable slides for the kids, and a variety of food and beverage vendors. Craft beer will be available for purchase.
Admission is free. Gates open at 11 a.m. Event parking will be at Heritage High School, at 520 Evergreen Mills Road; and Segra Field, at 42095 Loudoun United Drive. Complimentary shuttles will run continuously from 10:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
For more information, go to leesburgairshow.com.
Now Showing
Magic and Mischief with the Professor and the Con Man
September 13, October 11, November 8, & December 13
Chanteussy - Live Music Drag Concert
September 27
Death Comes to Dinner - NEW! Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre
September 21, October 12, November 2 & 9 at Oatlands
September 28, October 13 & 27, November 10 at Ambiance Restaurant in Ashburn
October 17 at The Branch in Leesburg│October 19 at Ono Offshore in Chantilly
October 25 at Creek’s Edge Winery in Lovettsville
October 26 at HIllsborough Vineyards and Brewery in Hillsboro
November 16 Fundraiser for Help 4 Our Children at StageCoach Theatre Studio in Ashburn
The Woman in Black - Haunting Drama October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27
▪ Silly Friends Magic for Kids ▪ Improv ▪ And More! All performances at StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn unless noted. Registration is open for Fall After School Classes for ages 5 - 19 plus Adult Classes
20937 Ashburn Road Suites 115 and 120 Ashburn, VA 20147 571-477-9444
80 YEARS OF THE WATERFORD FAIR
Since 1943, the Waterford Foundation has welcomed visitors to experience one of the country’s most unique fall crafts and arts fairs and tour some of the historic homes in the charming village.
This year, the Waterford Fair takes place on Oct. 4-6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with an early bird ticket available for entry on Friday, Oct. 4 at 9 a.m.
The weekend features 79 of the artisans, many from Loudoun County and the Mid-Atlantic— many nationally known—who will demonstrate their crafts and sell their handcrafted pieces. In addition, there will be performances of traditional music and dance; historical interpreters and Virginia-specific talks; and a fine arts exhibit.
New this year is a collaboration with John and Bonnie Branding of the Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery who created beer especially for the fair’s the 80th anniversary.
The fair’s entertainment lineup includes local favorites The Danny Knicely Trio, The Plate Scrapers, Fiddlin’ Dave Van Deventer and Morgan Morrison. Also performing are Ashlee Watkins and Andrew Small, a duo from southwest Virginia known for their strong harmonies
and skills with the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitars. They took first place with The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee at the 85th Annual Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention and won first prize in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at the 29th Annual MerleFest.
There are children’s activities throughout, including a chance to earn a Waterford Explorers badge upon completion of a village scavenger hunt. Children may also help to make a penny rug, a stenciled floor cloth or try their hand at the potter’s wheel and make a clay pot. There’s a magic show, a chance to play in a jug band and tours of the schoolhouse.
Other features of the fair include three floors of juried handcrafts and home baked goods by 68 artisans for sale in a restored brick mill; vintage barns full of fine art and dried flower arrangements & wreaths for sale, traditional music and dance, and historical interpreters.
Tickets are on sale at waterfordfairva.org or by calling 540-882-3018. Tickets at the gate are $25 per adult per day, $20 for seniors, military and students per day, and free for Waterford Foundation member and children 12 and under. Early Bird tickets, three-day passes, and group rates are also available. All musical performances are included in the ticket price.
File Photo
Nearly 80 artisans will be showing off their skills during the annual Waterford Fair to be held Oct. 4-6.
TUNES FROM PAGE 10
During college, the trio bonded over their shared love of folk and Appalachian-inspired sounds, so much so that they decided to pursue music together. When the COVID-19 pandemic cut the members’ graduation year short, they uprooted from Harrisonburg to try out the music scene elsewhere.
“In the summer of 2020, we didn't know how long the lockdown was going to last. So we moved to Boston and ended up spending pretty much the entire year inside. Every morning we would play together, and that was kind of the start of Palmyra,” Landon said.
Around the spring of 2021, once the members were vaccinated and pandemic restrictions eased, the band hit the road on tour and has rarely stopped since. Over the years, they’ve played all around Virginia, up and down the East Coast, and into the Midwest with their original music.
In that time, they also released two records. Their 2022 album “Shenandoah” is an acoustic ode to folk music, humbly recorded in their living room and filled with simple yet lush string arrangements and rich, storied lyrics. Standouts include “Park Bench,” a beautifully vulnerable exploration of Landon’s queer identity, and “Saratoga,” a Noah Kahan-reminiscent send-off to a lost love in New England.
In contrast, their 2023 EP “Belladonna” showcases the unbridled side of Palmyra. Recorded in a three-day studio session, the work brings in pedal steel and electric guitars, fiddle, and drums— played by Jake Cochran of the Harrisonburg-born alternative rock duo Illiterate Light.
“[‘Belladonna’] formed after we had started touring, whereas “Shenandoah” was at the beginning of our touring. So, you're getting more of those feelings of what our day-to-day looks like as musicians who are traveling all the time. Sometimes it's pretty hectic and sloppy and tiring, and so many adjectives for ways to say, exhausting, really. So, the music is informed by those feelings,” said Bell.
“Belladonna” captures some of the raucous, live energy of Palmyra’s shows. The upbeat, bluegrass-inspired opener “Happy Pills” with its fun-loving hollers and twangy strings is an instant earworm. The closing “Burnt Bridge” is equally catchy, transforming their well-loved encore song
into a silly anthem ripe with gang vocals, hip-hop drums, and a brash reflection on losing friends.
Just this year, Palmyra played at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada and was on a mainstage at Merlefest. But perhaps the band’s biggest feat to date occurred during their set at Newport Folk Festival in July where they dropped a big announcement.
“At the end of the set, Jody [Whelan] and Fiona [Prine] of Oh Boy Records came up and announced that we were going to be signing to Oh Boy for the rerelease of “Belladonna” and also release our next full-length record that we're working on right now. It was a really special time,” Chipouras said.
Oh Boy Records is an independent label based in Nashville and run by the family of the late country-folk singer/songwriter John Prine, the label’s founder.
“One thing we're stoked about with our partnership with Oh Boy Records is getting the music in front of more people. They're a really cool label; it's artist-friendly and champions good, honest songwriting. To get to be a part of that family is sick and I’m excited to see where that goes from here,” Landon said.
Palmyra’s new album is expected to be released next spring. In the meantime, they’ll continue performing both independently and as an opener for separate tours with the bands Mipso and Illiterate Light.
So what can audiences expect from this new chapter of Palmyra?
“Certainly high energy [songs]. We're so proud of [the upcoming album]. It's incredibly complex, beautiful, and also intimate. We have put over a year of work into it, probably over hundreds of hours recording, and every sound you hear on the record is intentional,” Bell said.
“It really feels like we’re living in a dream. I’m just excited to keep being in this band and playing shows.”
Palmyra performs at High Moon Sanctuary in Bluemont on Sept. 15. To see more tour dates and updates check out their website palmyratheband.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram (@palmyratheband).
GETOUT Best Bets
09.6
Mostly Fab Friday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. Hillsboro Old Stone School oldstoneschool.org
An evening of incredible Beatles harmonies with an incredible group of local musicians—Cal Everett, Todd Wright, Tom Lofgren, and Chris Martin.
09.8
Juliana MacDowell & Mike Ault Sunday, Sept. 8, 2-5 p.m.
The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards thebarnsathamiltonstation.com
An afternoon of original songs and classic Americana by two local favorites.
Los Lonely Boys Sunday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
The Grammy-winning multiplatinum trio of brothers brings a night of Texican rock to the Leesburg stage.
A night of classic southern rock with ’70s hits from Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers Band, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws and more.
September ‘24
09.15
Dunlap & Mabe/Serene Green Sunday, Sept. 15, 2:30 p.m. Lucketts Community Center luckettsbluegrass.org
The new season of Lucketts Bluegrass kicks off at the old school house with a special free show featuring two popular regional bands. Seating is on a first-come basis with door open at 1:30 p.m.
09.20
Ludacris
Friday, Sept. 20 Ion Arena ionarena.com
The legendary rapper and actor brings the house down with hits including "Southern Hospitality," "What's Your Fantasy," and "Stand Up."
09.28
The Legwarmers Saturday, Sept. 28 Tarara Winery tararaconcerts.com
The Tarara Summer Concert season closes out with a performance by one of the area’s favorite ’80s dance bands.
Halloween Hootenanny
Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m. Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, The Pietasters & Sunny Ledfurd for a night of music benefiting the veteran’s support efforts of Mission 22.
