Tall Heights at Iota Jan 31

Tall Heights is coming to Clarendon on Friday, January 31 to Iota's stage. This Boston based acoustic duo of Tim Harrington and Paul Wright have been playing catchy folk for a several years and touring the country. Opening for them is one of my favorite local folk singers/guitarists Molly Hagen. She starts at 9pm and there is a $12 cover for both performances.

Charlie Maddox @ Big Meadows Lodge

I had the chance to escape the urban cityscape this weekend and camped out in the Shenandoah Park. It was beautiful weather at Big Meadows campground, which is a park ideal for a city goer like me because they offer full facilities like showers, bathrooms, fire pits, and a lodge with a restaurant and bar.

While taking advantage of the latter I caught some live folk music by veteran Shenandoah musician Charlie Maddox. Charlie specialized in pre-1920s mountain folk music played on guitar, banjo, and the ancient mandrake pictured here.

I'm not big on folk tunes, but I really enjoyed his talent and appreciation for the origins of the music. His piano-like melodies of the mandrake created some beautiful British isle songs.