As a husband and father of two young children, I don’t often make it large festivals like SXSW, Bonnaroo or even Merlefest. So when a festival appears in my backyard, you better bet I’ll be there. This weekend marks the tenth annaul Old Dominion Beer Festival. It features over 50 breweries from around the country and it always has great music. Even better, one of my current favorite bands, Last Train Home, appears year after year.
If you’ve never heard of Last Train Home, do yourself a favor and check out their web site or MySpace profile. Led by singer/songwriter Eric Brace, you could describe LTH as an americana or roots-rock band with a ton of soul. They’ve got a proclivity for country but can also rock. Two of my favorite tunes from their last album, Bound Away, are “Gravedigger’s Blues” and “Hendersonville”. The first is a really bluesy song with some incredible guitar work provided by Jeff Lang. The second was written by Eric Brace soon after Johnny Cash passed on. Inspired by a visit to the gravesite where Johnny and June lay side by side, it poignantly refers to a love greater than life itself. I could go on and on, these guys are truly great. If you missed it before, check out my list of Best Albums of 2005 where Bound Away can be found in the top 5.
Besides Last Train Home, the festival will feature a bunch of other great acts including Sarah Borges, Robbie Fulks, The Waco Brothers and several other bands I hope to get to know better. If you are any where near the Northern Virginia area, you’ve got to come check it out. If you can swing it, look for me and don’t be afraid to stop by and say hi. I’ll be there listening to great music and drinking my favorite kind of beer… cold beer.
technorati tags:lasttrainhome, olddominionbeerfestival
About the author: Tom is a Design Director for Viget Labs currently living in Northern Virginia with his wife and two kids. 
