Bluegrass beginnings: Loving Dolly Parton may have gotten Irene Kelley kicked out of her first rock band (she was fired for bringing a Dolly album to practice), but in the 30 years since, her bluegrass sensibility, songwriting talent, and instrumental know-how have made her an accomplished musician. Moving from Pennsylvania to Nashville at the start of her career, Kelley worked on the famous Music Row and penned songs for Alan Jackson, Ricky Skaggs, Sharon White, Loretta Lynn, and Trisha Yearwood, but her own project, 2016’s These Hills, reflects her early inspirations. “Bluegrass is the last frontier of country music,” says Kelley.
Related stories
“The 39 Steps”
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 thriller The 39 Steps, based on John Buchan’s 1915 novel, brought the director international recognition and launched his Hollywood career with its themes of love, death, and crime intertwining in a frenzied plot that moves at the speed of a bullet train. Heritage Theatre’s production of the hilariously suspenseful whodunit will leave […]
Shrek Rave
Grab your ogre ears, green glow sticks, and Lord Farquaad cape for the Shrek Rave. If you let out a hoot and holler for the Shrek 5 movie announcement, this party is for you and your fellow swamp-dwellers. Be the shooting star that breaks the mold in a glittering set with DJ mixes that allow […]
Deau Eyes
Richmond-based alt-indie rock and pop performer Deau Eyes has made a name for herself, winning awards like the Newlin Music Prize for best album. The foundation of her success is rooted in a Southern upbringing and an exploration of country music that’s prodded cross-genre experimentation within her discography. Emerging from the same scene as Boygenius […]