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The Crooked Road: Southwest Virginia's Heritage Music Trail

A place of beauty – a place of song. This is The Crooked Road.

Experience first-hand how music is woven into the rich tapestry of tradition in Southwest Virginia. The variety is amazing - old-time string bands, a cappella gospel, blues, 300 year old ballads, bluegrass, and more.

Abingdon is home to The Crooked Road's headquarters, inside The Southwest Virginia Cultural Center & Marketplace. There you'll find interactive exhibits, information on traveling the Crooked Road, and an official gift shop. Heritage music is highlighted every Thursday night at Heartwood's Open Jams.

Visit more than 92 attractions, 244 outdoor recreation sites and enjoy tons of music alongside the Crooked Road. Virginia's Heritage Music Trail follows the region's music history along Route 58 in Southwest Virginia. Other highlights of the Crooked Road include Appalachian crafts and coal mining heritage. Early ethnic groups that settled in these regions included the Cherokee Indians, the Melungeons (Portugese, Native American and African-American), the Germans and Scots-Irish.