THE ROANOKE REGION OF VIRGINIA

Maybe it’s the Roanoke, Virginia Region’s proximity to the roots of Appalachian music. Perhaps it’s the area’s many colleges drawing new acts. Or it’s new venues attracting musicians.

Whatever the reason, we sure like to get a groove on.

From intimate nightclubs with up-and-coming talent to large venues featuring international stars -- and music festivals thrown in -- the Roanoke Region is establishing itself as a music destination with more variety and places to listen than ever.

The burgeoning scene is punctuated by Kirk Avenue Music Hall, newly renovated space in downtown Roanoke akin to being in a musician’s living room. Chairs and tables are arranged depending on the genre, and there’s nary a bad seat in the house. Kirk Avenue features traveling acts, regional bands – even a regular songwriter showcase to give rising starts a chance to shine.

A few blocks away, the Jefferson Center hosts the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Opera Roanoke and touring acts of all genres, from Los Lobos and Bryan Adams to jazz, blues and funk.

It’s also home to the Music Lab, where students can learn how to perform, record and engineer music in a rigorous program that stresses community service. And if you’re ready to step to the mike, the Music Lab provides studios, instruments and recording equipment so you can create the next great song without a record label.

Larger venues in the region, including the Roanoke Civic Center and Salem Civic Center attract touring acts in country, rock, folk, Broadway and more. (Celtic Woman, the internationally renowned quintet, liked Roanoke so much they kicked off their North American tour there after spending more than a week in town rehearsing.)

For those who care for more intimate locations, dozens of restaurants and bars – from upscale to down-home – host a slew of bands every week. And when the weather warms, the region kicks into festival season. Among them: Big Lick Blues Festival Festival in the Park and First Fridays, featuring acts performing on top of an old flatbed rail car.

New this year is the Down by Downtown Festival, a four-day celebration of music spread across multiple venues.

If you prefer lawn chairs over bar stools, the city of Covington’s River Rock Amphitheater offers mountain tunes set in the Alleghany Highlands.

If that’s not enough, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, one of its 2010 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. The Crooked Road is a scenic drive that blends small-town charm with the Appalachian region’s musical heritage along 300 miles ending in Franklin County. Sites along the route play tribute to bluegrass, old time and traditional country music.

To keep up on the region’s music scene, check out the cutNscratch Blog.