The Roanoke Times (local newspaper for this blog’s authors) has a terrific series of articles – and some snappy multimedia content on their web site – about the efforts of the state of Virginia to capitalize on the interest in traditional string music as a tourist attraction for southwestern VA.

Officially named The Heritage Music Trail, the project has been more casually dubbed “The Crooked Road,” for the shape of the trail itself, which joins a number of sites in SW VA with ties to this music.

In addition to Floyd, Galax and Stanley country, stops include the the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, the Blue Ridge Music Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Galax, the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, the Country Cabin in Norton and the Blue Ridge Institute at Ferrum College.

The print series (viewable online) is authored by Roanoke Times staff writer Ralph Berrier, an old time fiddler himself, who does a very thorough and respectful job with this series. The multimedia content (click on the fiddle icon on the left) was created by Roanoke Times Multimedia Editor Seth Gitner. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this region, the origins of our music or the efforts of the state of VA to draw attention to it with tourism in mind.