RONCEVERTE, W.Va. (Hinton News) – New Skyline Productions Inc. has announced that the second annual New Skyline Bluegrass Festival on the River will take place Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, beginning with welcoming remarks at 5 p.m. in the Island Park Amphitheatre in Ronceverte.
The original Skyline Bluegrass Festival took place on a mountaintop farm overlooking the Greenbrier River above the town of Ronceverte from 1976-1985. Over the years, it featured many of the greats in bluegrass music and comprised local West Virginia and regional musicians.
Its purpose was to preserve and advance the tradition of bluegrass and newgrass music in Greenbrier County and beyond. New Skyline Productions Inc. is committed to embracing and continuing this tradition.
The schedule for Friday, July 14, features:
After Jack Band (5:15-6 p.m.), Troubadour Blue (6:15-7 p.m.), Mud Hole Control (7:15-8 p.m.), A Tribute to John Prine from Jim Snyder and His Prime Prine Band (8:15- 9 p.m.) and the evening’s headliner, award-winning musician Trajan “Tray” Wellington (9:15-10:30 p.m.).
From learning traditional bluegrass to studying diverse genres such as jazz, progressive bluegrass, blues, rock and more, Wellington has gone on to play with some of the most accomplished musicians in the world. Before reaching the age of 21, he had received a number of awards and accolades, including two awards from IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association): 2019 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year and 2019 Momentum Band of the Year (with Cane Mill Road).
In 2019, he ventured out to start his own project which began with recording his first EP, “Uncaged Thoughts,” which was recorded and coproduced by banjo legend Scott Vestal.
From there he decided to start his own group, the Tray Wellington Band, which has performed at many premier festivals and venues across the country including a set at the Red Hat Amphitheater during the IBMA World of Bluegrass Street Fest in 2021.
In 2020, Wellington signed to Mountain Home Music Company where he released his first full-length solo album in 2022. Wellington has been featured on several TV shows including an episode of David Holt’s “State of Music,” as well as a 2022 feature on Kamau Bell’s CNN show “United Shades of America.”
Wellington is an experienced teacher of the banjo, as well. He teaches many private lessons and has taught at many premier camps including MidWest Banjo Camp, Augusta Heritage Week and assistant teaching at the 2019 Bela Fleck Blue Ridge Banjo Camp.
Wellington’s playing has drawn the attention of many of the greats in the business who have helped to bring out the best of Wellington’s musicianship and who have encouraged him to continue growing to become one of the best players in the industry.
The second night of the New Skyline Bluegrass Festival on the River on Saturday, July 15, will kick off with Richard Hefner and The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys (5:15-6 p.m.), Blue Steel (6:15-7 p.m.), Greenbrier Grass (7:15-8 p.m.) and Saturday’s headliner, The Gibson Brothers (8:15- 9:30 p.m.).
Admission is free.
Sponsors to date include The James F.B. Peyton Foundation, the Fans of Pat Bauserman’s Retirement Party, and John Manchester. Organizers are grateful to these generous supporters and invite others to assist in sponsoring this exciting community festival. They may do so by contacting Dan Withrow, dan.withrow@hotmail.com.
In addition to great music, a variety of food trucks will be on-site, as well as a number of family-centered fun-filled activities.
Ronceverte, a historic river and railroad community, has successfully embarked on a well-thought-out restoration plan to transform the town into an important cultural and historical destination. A number of new businesses have opened in Ronceverte since last summer’s festival, and more will open soon.
