ARTS & CULTURE FOR THE Loudoun is a melting pot of musical genres with a burgeoning singer-songwriter scene. The creativity is inspired by the landscape: the rural traditions of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge out west inspire folk, country and bluegrass; the urban east leans toward pop, rock and jazz. Opened as a movie house in 1931, Leesburg’s Tally Ho Theater is a marquee venue showcasing big name acts, cover bands and local stars such as My Kid Brother and Emmet Swimming. The stage at nearby “urban beach bar” MacDowell’s Brew Kitchen has launched many local acoustic careers while Monk’s BBQ features crowd pleasers such as local Appalachian bluegrass foot-stompers the Short Hill Mountain Boys. For more refined audial tastes, jazz songstress Tracy Hamlin’s Sweet Jazz Concert series takes place throughout the year at multiple venues while world-renowned classical musicians from tenor Michael Fabiano to cellist Zlatomir Fung have appeared at the Waterford Concert Series on select Sundays. It’s the wineries and breweries, however, that really drive the scene with live music most weekends. 868 Estate Vineyards hosts the day-long LoCo Fest each fall with pop songstress Emma Rowley and composer-producer Todd Wright usually on the bill, while the annual Tarara Summer Concert Series takes place on summer Saturdays in the natural, open-air amphitheater at Tarara Winery. Nearby, Vanish Farmwoods Brewery hosts original rock, pop, country and blues acts every Saturday and Sunday. Tune in. Juliana MacDowell at 868 Estate Vineyards Tracy Hamlin at the Loudoun Pride Festival Round Hill – Hillsboro Appalachian Trail Festival 26 | VisitLoudoun.org