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Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk coming to Jefferson Center on June 12

If you don't know, you had better go find out -- and here's a good place to start -- the band's Web site, which streams its music.

I saw this band at last year's FloydFest, and they just plain killed me. Here's my review of the band's nasty Hill Holler stage set.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Show details: 10 p.m. Friday, June 12 (doors open at 9 p.m.) jeffcenter.org, dlpconcerts.com, dumpstaphunk.com.

I'll add ticket prices as soon as dlp sends me those details.

Tickets: $18 advance; $22 at the door.

The Avett Brothers coming to Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre

FloydFest favorites The Avett Brothers, who mesmerized a sold-out Jefferson Center crowd in September, are coming back to Roanoke -- this time to the larger RPAT.

A lot has happened for the band over the past couple of years, not the least of which was hooking up with uber-producer Rick Rubin for a project on American Recordings/Columbia Records. Avett's bassist Bob Crawford talked with us about it before the Jeff Center show.

The show is set for 8 p.m. July 11. Tickets are $25 plus fees. Get yours at the Roanoke Civic Center box office,  tickets.com or (888) 397-3100.

Tickets go on sale Friday.

Turbo Pro Project coming to valleys

Here was one of my favorite under-the-radar bands from last year's FloydFest. North Carolina-based Turbo Pro Project, mixing hip-hop, funk and country instrumentation, does it scratch-grass style. Check out the band on its myspace page, and if you dig, catch the band on these dates in the valleys ...

Apr 23 2009      10:00P
Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill     Roanoke, Virginia
Apr 24 2009     10:00P
Awful Arthurs     Roanoke, Virginia
Apr 25 2009     10:00P
Awful Arthurs     Blacksburg, Virginia

Darrell Scott live at Jefferson Center

See the full print review here.

First, a little something I wrote for the print bit, but had to cut for space. For context, this was almost immediately after the show was over, and people were leaving the recital hall:

> And there was Scott, waiting outside the room to shake hands with the departing audience. He seemed very quiet, almost slight. I guess that’s what happens after about an hour and a half of playing like a giant.

And yeah, he played like a giant. This guy's guitar skills are phenomenal, whether he's playing an electric or an acoustic. His piano playing is very nice, too -- not as deep as his fretwork, but strong. And his sense of time is impeccable.

Still, he's no machine. Every once in a while, you'd think he was making a little mistake, but he would respond to it in a totally  musical way, which to me gave the music even more warmth and authenticity.

He told me during our interview a couple weeks back that he is always improvising, never sure till he takes the stage what he's going to play -- even what key he'll play. I did not know that when I saw him in February. So, hearing him on Wednesday night brought home even stronger what a remarkable player he is.

Quick note about my boy Corey Hunley, because the copy desk cut this from my story. The context, which made the paper, is that quite a few of his tunes were about friends and family. I wrote:

>  That was clear, because he name-checked them before playing the songs they inspired.

Hunley obviously had quite a few of his own fans there to see the show. And I guarantee you that if they know him, they knew about Darrell Scott, because Hunley is a huge fan and loves to talk about his musical heroes. Show promoter Dylan Locke's decision to have Hunley open the show was a good one, musically and synergistically.

Exciting news for Lee Boys fans -- the band will be on Conan O'Brien

A FloydFest favorite, Florida-based sacred steel band The Lee Boys, who delived major soul and funk at FF # 6, will be on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" Dec. 8, according to a bulletin from the band's myspace page.

If you dig Gospel soul and don't think you need to sit still while you're listening to it, these guys are your band. Think Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

William Walter & Co. wins FloydFest's Emerging Artist Series contest

iomusic_0805_williamwalter.jpg

Courtesy crealityweb.com

William Walter

On a myspace.com bulletin, FloydFest announced late Monday night that William Walter & Co. is the winner in fan voting at its Emerging Artist Series.

For winning, the act gets to play a set on the main stage next year. WW&C also won $1000, 15 hours recording time at Red Room Studios and a $500 merchandise certificate from PressPress Merch.

Second place: Alliens.

Third place: Curious Strange.

Some pics of FloydFest folk

Here are some from out S.W. Roanoke County blog ...
http://blogs.roanoke.com/swoco/2008/07/photos_of_swoco_people_at_floyd_fest_2008_1.html

FloydFest final attendance, first estimate

FF organizers said on Sunday that they had estimated between 12,000-15,000 showed up. UPDATE: By Tuesday, the final estimate was about 12,000, according to spokeswoman Linda DeVito.

Even at the low end of that estimate, the festival's 7th incarnation would finish atop its previous attendance figures. An estimated 10,000-12,000 went last year.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to see attendance get much higher. The grounds are on Saturday were pretty full, but not obnoxiously so. There's plenty of elbow room, no frustratingly long lines anywhere -- including most of the food and drink vendors -- and camping is not overcrowded.

I'll try to find out the festival grounds' capacity this week. UPDATED: FF spokeswoman Linda Devito says that organizer believe the grounds would max out at about 14,000 people.

Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band and the Avett Brothers

I was planning to post a lot this afternoon, but my laptop tanked, a power issue at the Internet kiosk just killed an entry, and I want to see the Avetts. So here's a quick post, and the last one today.

First, The Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band just flat rocked it. Four shows here, and the group became the buzz of the festival. Someone has got to bring them in for a date in Roanoke, Blacksburg or Floyd before the next fest. Please.

The reverend's Piedmont blues on acid, wildly varying tempos and musical sidekicks -- his wife on washboard and his brother on drums -- are strengthened by the force of his personality. Peyton wants singalongs on every song, and plenty of new fans at FloydFest complied.

Check this act out!

If you're a big fan of the Avett Brothers, then you know that today's final act recently signed with Columbia/American Records, and their next CD will be a Rick Rubin production. Now I'm going to catch the rest of the band's set, and look forward to what happens with the Avetts and Rubin.

If you're not in Floyd to catch the band, they'll be at Jefferson Center on September 19.

There are a ton of people I'd like to mention here, and I'll try to wrap that up tomorrow. But for now, I'm out.

The McBrooms: A FloydFest family

Earlier this week, I ran into John McBroom, bassist for Blue Mule. Turns out, he's a production honcho here at the fest, and has been volunteering here for several years.

As we spoke, a young woman drove up in one of the fest's many golf carts. McBroom introduced me to his daughter, Melissa, 18.

"She's going to be the youngest production manager at FloydFest," he said.

Since about year two, Melissa and her mom, Chastity McBroom, have been volunteers at the merchandise tent, where Melissa worked for Chastity, or Chaz. The next year, Melissa McBroom was assistant manager at merch. She was 13.

"She absolutely just rocks it, and takes care of it in a beautiful way," mother said of daughter.

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About this blog

cutNscratch is The Roanoke Times music blog. Music reporter Tad Dickens enjoys pickin' and grinnin' and drummin', and he likes to write about music, too. He'll post plenty about local, regional and national music, but it won't be any fun at all if you don't jump in and have your say. So do it! | Read more about Tad.

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    • Tad Dickens: Thank you, Tony. Junior is a heckuva nice guy, on top of it all.
    • Tony Bentley: I enjoyed the podcast with Junior Sisk, a wonderful performer with a super “mountain” voice...
    • Tad Dickens: Thanks for the head-up! That’s why we call it the raw feed.
    • drummer man: 7 mile ford is playing on the 20th of november not whiskey river
    • Patsy Bush (pennylane): I’ve heard Old Crow at several colleges…. much better sound and more room at...