The Floyd Radio Show:
Live at the Floyd Country Store! The Floyd Radio Show, broadcast (streamed) live from the Floyd Country Store, has rapidly found a place in the varied landscape of Floyd’s wonderful, creative culture. Several years ago, the owners of The Floyd Country Store had the idea of starting a local radio show. It would be a variety show that was light hearted, fun and showcased local music and stories. When a couple of young old- time musicians, Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle, asked if they could perform at the store, that vision began to grow into The Floyd Radio Show: Views from Buffalo Mountain. Anna and Elizabeth had developed a program for use in schools and community venues. It weaved together traditional ballads, songs and fiddle and banjo tunes with storytelling, handcrafted images and pieces of theater. When the Country Store owners saw the show, they realized that it contained many of the elements they had envisioned for a radio show and that these two young performers had the energy and charisma needed to direct a show for the store. The show premiered at The Floyd Country Store on September 3, 2011 with a packed house and continues on the second Saturday of each month (taking a break for the months of June, July and August, when many performers are busy with music festivals). “Anna & Elizabeth are such talented musicians,” says Heather Krantz, special projects coordinator for the store. “People are drawn to hear them sing and play, and when you put them on stage with all these other amazing musicians, it makes for a really fantastic, old timey radio show experience”. Each month, Anna, Elizabeth and other cast members construct a unique show. They write scripts packed full of hilarious skits, imaginary tales and true stories of Appalachian life and perform them with little time for the cast to 26
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rehearse. What comes out is a truly authentic, off the cuff experience for listeners and participants alike. As an extra treat for those who attend the live performance, the performers put on an informal concert after each show. Podcasts and highlights from past shows can be found on The Floyd Country Store website. As active members of the old time music scene, Anna and Elizabeth have convinced some of the most talented musicians around to perform. In the first season alone, musical guests included award winning flatpicker and guitar maker Wayne Henderson, banjo player Riley Baugus, West Virginia storyteller Jimmy Costa, singer Carol Elizabeth Jones, and a host of local favorites including Mac & Jenny Traynham, Janet Turner, Chance McCoy (now of Old Crow Medicine Show) and the Black Twig Pickers. Martin Guitar Company recently stepped up as the show’s first major sponsor. After hearing about the show in a National Public Radio documentary about Elizabeth LaPrelle, they expressed an interest in helping to keep alive and promote this type of authentic, traditional music. In each show, the cast will thank Martin with a specially written skit and a call-out on our podcast of the show. Hotel Floyd is another sponsor to be featured on the May show. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the show, contact Heather Krantz at heather@floydcountrystore.com. Visit www.FloydCountryStore.com for information about upcoming shows. Tickets for the shows are only $10 and can be purchased at the store, by phone 540-745-4563 or online. This story was written collaboratively and submitted by The Floyd Country Store - Photo Credits: Snowberry Studios
Spring/Summer 2013