Yarn, Josh Shilling join forces for 'Rooster Walk Revue' this Sat

Two of Martinsville’s most beloved musical acts will join forces Saturday night when Josh Shilling and Yarn team up at the Rives Theatre.

Shilling, a Bassett native and lead singer for bluegrass band Mountain Heart, will sit in on keyboards and organ with Yarn for the full length of the concert. It will add a new layer to the sound of the roots rock band from Brooklyn, N.Y.

“It’s gonna add a whole new dimension. It’s gonna be amazing. It’s gonna be unique. It’s gonna be a party on stage,” said Blake Christiana, lead singer of Yarn. “We’ve done a few shows with an organ over the past couple years, and it’s been fun, man. It’s super cool. It’s just more fun for us onstage, and definitely more fun for the audience.”

 The members of Yarn have never met Shilling in person. Both sides were aware of each other, however, and fans of the other’s music.

“When I first heard Yarn, my thoughts were, these guys have rock, folk, blues, and Americana elements, and they REALLY know how to take each song to the next level! My next thought was, they don't have a keyboard player...I want in!” said Shilling. “I expect Saturday night to be a night to remember. I'm going to back them up throughout the night on keyboards, but at some point, I plan to sing a few of my own tunes for the folks back home. I might even break out a song or two about Martinsville and Henry County!”

Doors to the theatre will open at 8 p.m., and music will begin at 9. All tickets cost $15; season passes will not be accepted. Tickets are available in advance from Woodall’s Music & Sound, the Daily Grind in uptown Martinsville, and ONLINE HERE.

“This Saturday’s show may sell out, so we’re really encouraging folks to purchase their tickets in advance,” said Shane Pinkston, president of Arts at the Rives (ART). “Yarn has a very strong following in this area, and Josh does, too. It’s going to be a packed house, and a really cool musical collaboration on stage. The Rives is the place to be for music lovers this Saturday, that’s for sure.” 

The concert, billed as the “Rooster Walk Revue,” is designed to give a glimpse of what’s to come at the Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival next month. Yarn will perform on May 22 and 23 at Rooster Walk 7, which will take place at new festival venue Pop’s Farm in Axton. Shilling, a current Nashville resident, will perform on May 24 with Mountain Heart. 

Other bands playing RW7 include nationally touring acts Yonder Mountain String Band, Lake Street Dive, Steep Canyon Rangers, Donna the Buffalo, Southern Culture on the Skids, Particle, Dangermuffin and Stop Light Observations. Bands on the bill with regional ties include The Mantras, BIG Something, After Jack, The People’s Blues of Richmond, Big Daddy Love, Mipso, Lizzy Ross, Junto, Mason Via, Left Hip Pocket, Morgan Wade Band and Maya Burgess. In all, roughly 40 bands will perform approximately 60 sets of music over the course of the weekend. 

ART is a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining the historic Rives Theatre as a community space for music, art and education. To learn more about ART, visit www.rivestheatre.wordpress.com.

Rooster Walk is a community nonprofit dedicated to promoting music, art and education in Martinsville and Henry County. Festival proceeds help fund the Penn Shank Memorial Scholarship Fund at Martinsville High School, as well as a band instrument donation and repair program for local public schools. To learn more about Rooster Walk, including the festival’s full band lineup, visit www.roosterwalk.com.