Short Takes: Marty Stuart, Floydfest and WWE Coming Up in Tri-Cities

MARTY STUART
Only one man has recorded with bluegrass legend Lester Flatt, country legend Johnny Cash, blues legend B.B. King and rock legend Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.
That’s Marty Stuart. The rambling man of music will appear for free during Kingsport’s summer-long series Twilight Alive on July 24.
On the road since age 13, Stuart is something of country music’s Waldo. Look at a picture and find Waldo. Hear a song and listen for Stuart.
He’s backed Andy Griffith on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. Performed on Indian reservations, in honky-tonks and for presidents.
He’s a member of the Opry and married to Opry star Connie Smith.
He has hair like a gray-headed rooster, plays guitar like Luther Perkins’ more talented offspring and sings like a man who means every word. He does, you know.
Hear for yourself.

IF YOU GO
Who: Marty Stuart
When: July 24, 7 p.m.
Where: Twilight Alive, Broad Street, Kingsport   n Tickets: Free
Web: http://www.martystuartmusic.-com

FLOYDFEST
There’s not enough space and not enough time to list all the acts at this year’s Floydfest.
Slated for July 24-27 in Floyd County, Va., Floydfest 7 offers shoulder-to-shoulder music from bands mostly left of the traditional. Per years past, Floydfest offers music for folks whose ears are not tuned to one style of tunes.
As their motto goes, “Sun, rain or hurricane, Floydfest rocks.” Indeed.
Amid a smattering of traditional bluegrass such as Michael Cleveland emerge such genre-bending acts as the David Grisman Quintet, Tony Trischka and Donna the Buffalo.
There’s Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk alongside the Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, Crooked Still and the Cashmere Jungle Lords and dozens more. 

IF YOU GO
What: Floydfest
When: July 24-27
Where: Rte. 720 Castle Gorge Road, Floyd, Va.
Tickets: $40-$60 per day, $130 for a three-day ticket, $140 for a four-day ticket, $8 for kids’ one-day ticket, $15 for kids’ weekend ticket
Info: (540) 745-3378
Web: http://www.atwproductions.-com

WWE
Muscle men and knuckleheads with names like Big Show and Bam. Fists and fights, turncoats and turnbuckles, drama and downright silliness fuel World Wrestling Entertainment.
Wrestling fans can shell out the bucks to see the stars of Vince McMahon’s WWE Smackdown on Aug. 2 at Freedom Hall in Johnson City. They, in turn, will see orchestrated melodramas built on flamboyance and overkill of men gone supposedly wild.
Among the ringside stories on tap, Triple H and The Big Show will vie for the WWE championship. Also look for Matt Hardy and Mark Henry to grapple with Jeff Hardy and Shelton Benjamin.
Sound inviting? Then mark your calendars and whet your wild side for a night of WWE.

IF YOU GO
What: WWE Smackdown
When: Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Freedom Hall, 1320 Pactolas Road, Johnson City
Tickets: $22.50-$62.50
Info: (423) 461-4884
Web: http://www.wwe.com

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .