Music of Virginia

Virginia has played a big role in shaping American music. The state has helped create many different kinds of music, including Piedmont blues, jazz, folk, brass, hip-hop, and rock and roll. One of the most important moments in music history happened in Virginia during the Bristol sessions, where Appalachian Virginians helped start country music.

Music from Virginia comes from many places. Big cities like Richmond have their own sounds, as do college towns such as Charlottesville and Fredericksburg. Even in the countryside, like the areas along "The Crooked Road" in Southwestern Virginia, people have created beautiful 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, and it now has a special status called emeritus. From January 2006, "Oh Shenandoah" was used as the interim state song, and 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. The other song that almost won was "Virginia, the Home of My Heart".

Birthplace of Southern shape note music

In 1816, Ananias Davisson from Rockingham County published a tunebook called Kentucky Harmony. This book had special symbols to help people learn folk melodies he collected while traveling. While musicians in the North were looking to Europe, Davisson's work focusing on local music became very popular in the South.

Notable music artists from Virginia by genre

Virginia has produced many famous musicians across many different types of music. Some of the well-known names include country singer Patsy Cline, who is celebrated in towns like Gore and Winchester. The Golden Gate Quartet, started in 1931, helped shape the sound of many vocal groups with their influence in gospel, jazz, blues, and more.

Other notable 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

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.

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 well-known music festival held near Floyd County in Patrick County. It started in 2002 and offers camping along with many types of music such as bluegrass, rock, reggae, folk, and more.

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

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

The MACRoCk festival takes place every April in Harrisonburg, VA, and has welcomed 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 among several locations each year and featured 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 every year, which started in 1935 and 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 played an important role in the history of country music. Famous singers like Patsy Cline and popular groups such as the Carter Family and the Statler Brothers all came from Virginia.

Bristol, which is in both Tennessee and Virginia, is known as the "Birthplace of Country Music." In 1927, a music producer named Ralph Peer traveled there to record local musicians. During these recordings, the Carter Family began their journey, and Jimmie Rodgers also made his first records. These sessions are called the "Big Bang of Country Music." Today, groups work to teach people about this important history.

Every September, Bristol holds the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, a big music festival that celebrates the city’s link to country music. Many people come to enjoy the music and learn more about this special part of Virginia’s culture.

Hardcore punk and heavy metal

Further information: hardcore punk

Richmond, Virginia, has a very active punk rock scene. The city is famous for the band Gwar, known for exciting and wild performances. Gwar started from a band called Death Piggy, which followed other local bands. As the punk scene in Richmond grew, many bands formed, including Avail, Inquisition, Fun Size, and many more. Small venues like Benny's near Virginia Commonwealth University helped support this growing scene.

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