The Grundy Jam to Become an Affiliated Venue of The Crooked Road

The Grundy Jam in Grundy, Virginia will be presented with a banner acknowledging this venue’s recent inclusion as a Crooked Road Affiliated Venue. As an Affiliated Venue, the Grundy Jam will be represented in Crooked Road publicity and promotional materials. The Crooked Road will present the banner to representatives of the Grundy Jam on Tuesday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m.

The Grundy Jam was started in 1996 by Clancy Mullins who now lives near Johnson City TN, and plays and repairs banjos. The Jam was originally held in the Grundy Teen center in the basement of the old Ben Franklin building before being moved upstairs. When the building was torn down during the town relocation construction, the Town offered to let the Jam move to the Grundy Plaza where it is currently held every Tuesday night.

Sandy Shortridge, who has often played at the Jam says “Anyone is welcome to come jam and you never know who is going to show up. The music ranges from bluegrass to country to gospel to a cappella songs. The Jam has played an important role in preserving local music heritage because there are several younger musicians who learned from the older generation that now have their own bands out performing.”

“The Jam is also important as a community gathering. This is a place where people in the community can come to socialize and stay connected to their neighbors. We’ve even had a romance or two spring up from the Jam,” says Shortridge.

The Crooked Road recently announced the naming of 12 new Affiliated Venues and Festivals. The Affiliates are all traditional music presenters and include annual festivals and weekly or monthly jams and concerts. A complete listing of the Affiliated Venues and Festivals and the nine Major Venues of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail can be found at www.thecrookedroad.org.

The Crooked Road’s mission is to support tourism and economic development in Southwest Virginia by celebrating and preserving this Appalachian region's unique musical and cultural heritage. The Trail itself covers 330 miles and connects Rocky Mount in Franklin County to Breaks Interstate Park in Dickenson County.

For additional information about The Crooked Road, call 276-492-2409 or send an email to info@thecrookedroad.org. For more information about the Grundy Jam, call (276) 935-2551.