What happens when one mixes ghost stories, a pre-Civil War mansion, the beautiful rolling hills of southwestern Virginia, over 20 live festival shows, four custom-built stages, affordable tickets, great kids’ areas and delicious food?
The perfect holiday music festival
Located near the junction of Interstates 81 and 77, the small sleepy community of Max Meadows will wake up to the sweet music of GrahamFest this Labor Day. GrahamFest guests will be transported back in time as they view and tour the 11,000 square foot Major David Graham home place.
Initially built in the 1830s, this mansion boasts many striking features including cast iron front porch columns that were built in Grahams Forge, a warming oven housed in the kitchen radiator, a dumbwaiter, horse hair plaster walls, ornate Celtic roof crosses atop the original hip-hop slate roof and a secret 1884 interior window etching message.
To add to its mystery, there is a secret third floor where Confederate meetings were held and also, a chilling ghost story based on a real murder that took place on the grounds.
According to the GrahamFest founder, singer-songwriter “Josiah” or J.C. Weaver, “we will have something for everyone in the family. We will have everything from oldies to country to southern rock to bluegrass music, vintage cars, mansion tours, food, and spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, fantastic children’s area, and access for the physically impaired”.
Weaver will donate $1 from every ticket sold to the Mt. Rogers Community Services Creative Healing Programs. He is also hosting a singing contest called “Josiah’s Little Angels” for children ranging in ages from 7 to 12. The Little Angels winners will perform with Josiah and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra during the festival’s grand finale.
“We’ve chosen to have a real mix of music and musicians at GrahamFest”, said Weaver, 1991 Cash Box Country Independent Artist of the Year. “I’ll have my Mountain Rock Music Band and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra backing me up along with good friend Stevie Barr, guitar-man Wayne Henderson, and piano-man Jeff Little”.
GrahamFest will host several bluegrass performers, including Grasstowne, The Harris Brothers, and Jerry Chapman. This year’s festival will also host 1964, The Beatles Tribute Band; Two Step, the Dave Matthews Tribute Band; and Bill Kirchen and his “hot rod Lincoln” band.
Local favorites will include storyteller and singer Frank Emerson, Celtic music by Sunday’s Well, clogging by the Appalachian Hoedowners, and belly dancing by Lara Kendrick’s Samra’s Expressions of Galax.
Sponsors for the event include Media General, FM94!, WYVE/WXBX-FM, BB&T, First Century Bank, Cobra Concrete Pouring Service, Dukes Printing, Pepsi, Rentopia, and Super8 Motel.
Tickets are $20 prior to the event and $25 at the gate with children 12 and under free with a paying adult.
For more information, contact Nancy Hagen, GrahamFest Office Manager at (276) 284-0006 or
, or visit http://www.grahamfestusa.com.
As Weaver puts it,"Come on out to this year's GrahamFest! Let's rock and roll!"
June 2007 Festivals & Fun Community Newspapers of Southwest Virginia
Newsflash 
Initially built in the 1830s, this mansion boasts many striking features including cast iron front porch columns that were built in Grahams Forge, a warming oven housed in the kitchen radiator, a dumbwaiter, horse hair plaster walls, ornate Celtic roof crosses atop the original hip-hop slate roof and a secret 1884 interior window etching message.