Henry Wadsworth said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” We need not know the words to the songs to feel the power of the music. We simply need to be in the moment and open to the movement.
Plan to be present at one or more of these 7 music festivals in 2022. Though it may be cliché to say, there really is something for everyone, so find your favorite genre or band and let’s get these parties started!
Shenandoah Valley Music Festival | Orkney Springs, VA
We want to see your best Y. M. C. A. moves this year, so get to the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival on August 13 to see The Village People! Talk about a flash back to fun times … We’re THERE! Tickets for the entire season go on sale April 4. Here’s the full run-down:
- July 22: Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives
- July 23: TBA
- July 29: ABBA the Concert – A Tribute to ABBA
- July 30: The Richmond Symphony Orchestra
- August 12: America
- August 13: The Village People
- September 3: The Spinners
- September 4: Hot Strings and Cool Breezes featuring Bela Fleck, Billy Contreras, Jacob Jolliff, Justin Moses, Bryan Sutton, and Mark Schatz
Staunton Music Festival | Staunton, VA
More than 70 of the world’s best musicians perform across 10 days in a variety of venues in downtown Staunton August 12-21. “Breathtaking” isn’t sufficient a word to describe the amazing talent you’ll be exposed to. Plan your visit to take in what can be a multi-performance day or two. Or, plan to attend the entire Summer Festival, including special dining events and brief lectures. It’s certainly worth it! The concerts are listed below; check the schedule for special events!
- August 12: Handel Extravaganza: from the Rhine to Rio
- August 13: Water Music – evocations of water from the Middle Ages to the 20 century
- August 13: Love Stories – culminates with Brahms’ Symphony No. 4
- August 14: Summer Serenades – Roussel, Berio, and others
- August 14: Children’s Corner – for and about children; featuring Bach, Debussy, Mozart, and Mahler
- August 15: Scenes from Childhood – a family program with works by Mozart, George Crumb, and “a new version of ‘The Nutcracker’
- August 16: Contrasts – Chen Yi and Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony
- August 16: Early Keyboard Extravaganza
- August 17: Heuke Meets Mendelssohn – Composer-in-Residence Stefan Heucke offers new works
- August 17: Take Five – Beethoven, Gabrielli, Brubeck, and more
- August 18: Summer Sounds – Debussy, Britten, and Shostakovich
- August 18: (Neo-)Baroque – culminates with Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms
- August 19: Schubertiade – music of Schubert
- August 19: Baroque Inside/Out – Vivaldi, Monteverdi, and others
- August 20: Serenades at Noon – Schulhoff and Chausson
- August 20: Baroque Lovers’ Afternoon – Bach, Telemann, and more
- August 20: Memories and Roses – Strauss, Beethoven, Neikrug, and others
- August 21: Hello and Goodbye – Haydn paired with new inspiration from Zachary Wadsworth
- August 21: Finale: Haydn’s Creation – a can’t miss!
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ValleyFest | Massanutten Resort
Great bands and great food and beverage vendors make ValleyFest one of the top music festivals in the Shenandoah Valley. This one-day only festival is May 28 from noon to 6:30 p.m. with back-to-back unexpected acts. Entertainment is inevitable!
Start the day with Koda and Marie of Chamomile and Whiskey, an easy blend of Americana, Celtic, and old-time. When Pebble to Pearl take the stage at 1:30, they’re bring an incredible mix of “funky blues rock with hard hitting and flawless vocals” … an impressive set you won’t want to skip.
The Parker/Barrow Project is the group you didn’t know you needed. “Country Grunge” is their genre and they infuse it with blues … it’s a Southern Rock feeling for some of us … and we like it.
Tunnels End caps the festival with a high energy sing-along set to some of your favorite 80s and 90s hits. For sure, you’ll jam out to some Guns N’ Roses, Good Charlotte, My Chemical Romance, and so much more.
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Red Wing Roots Music Festival | Mt. Solon, VA
In the shadows of Natural Chimneys – an amazing backdrop of natural beauty – is the Red Wing Roots Music Festival June 24-26. It’s a family friendly weekend affair complete with on-site camping (and glamping!), kids activities, hiking, biking, yoga, and more. The draw, of course, is the musical lineup, which won’t disappoint. Spread across five stages are more than 50 artists … so many that we can’t list them all. Here are some of our favorites and names you might know …
- The Steel Wheels
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
- Darrell Scott’s Bluegrass Band
- The Way Down Wanderers
- Dori Freeman
- Robin & Linda Williams
- The Judy Chops
- Lizzie No
- The Mojo Parker Express
- Ragged Mountain String Band
Wintergreen Music Festival | Nellysford, VA
The esteemed Wintergreen Music Festival and Wintergreen Resort is “an inspiring combination of full orchestra, pops, jazz, and chamber music featuring big favorites alongside unexpected surprises!” Plus, it’s spread across four weeks from July 6 to 31. Monitor the 2022 Festival Highlights for special announcements to pick a concert or two for a summer music break.
Lime Kiln Theater Concert Series | Lexington, VA
A most unique venue – an actual lime kiln – hosts an annual concert series that has built a dedicated following since its inception in 1984. Now in its 38th year of hosting some of the best musical acts, Lime Kiln Theater recently unveiled their 2022 concert line-up.
- May 21: Aoife O’Donovan
- June 4: Sierra Hull
- June 18: Madison Cunningham
- July 2: Chris Knight
- July 23: Tim O’Brien
- August 27: Dan Tyminski Band
- September 3: Love Canon with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
- September 17: The Milk Carton Kids
- October 8: The Steel Wheels
Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival | Harrisonburg, VA
Celebrating 30 years of amazing musical performance, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival by Eastern Mennonite University will be held June 12-19, 2022. Festival Concert I will be held at 3 p.m. at Lehman Auditorium and will feature J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerts 1 and 3 plus a trombone concerto by Nino Rota, and a Beatles-inspired suite by Leo Brouwer. It continues to pick up steam from there …
- June 13-17: Noon Concerts at Asbury United Methodist Church
- June 17: Festival Concert II at Lehman Auditorium
- June 18: Virginia Baroque Academy Faculty Concert at Martin Chapel
- June 18: Kids Concert – Book Notes! at Massanutten Regional Library
- June 18: Festival Concert III at Lehman Auditorium
- June 19: Leipzig Service at Lehman Auditorium
Rocktown Beer & Music Festival | Harrisonburg, VA
Turner Pavilion & Park is the setting for the one-day Rocktown Beer & Music Festival on April 16, a rain-or-shine event celebrating local craft beer and groovy musical acts you should be ready to dance to. This year the festival will host 40 breweries and entertainment by The Nude Party – cool dudes who “celebrate the clanging frat rock of the ‘60s” – and Abby Bryant & The Echoes – a band who has stepped into their own “in the world of vintage-inspired southern soul rock.”
So where are you headed first? We’d love to see photos and videos of your experience. Won’t you tag us on Instagram at @VisitShenandoahValley?
Header image is Red Wing Roots Music Festival by RubySky Photography.