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Just last August, we profiled The Corduroy Road, the folk-rock band out of Athens, Georgia, and dubbed them the next big thing to come out of that fabled Southern music city. High praise, to be sure, and well justified, but now we are worried. Have we created a jinx? We certainly hope not, as we [...]

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Hiking West Virginia program in which you are awarded a walking stick merely for taking hikes in the state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas. I’ve found a few other states that offer similar programs. Georgia sponsors the Canyon Climbers Club. The membership fee is $10 and [...]

Officials at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have issued a bear warning for residents of North Georgia due to an increase in bear sightings in that region. The prevalence of bear sightings signals a healthy black bear population and is usually the result of younger male bears roaming the mountains in search of a [...]

The Drive-By Truckers are in the midst of an impressive run. With Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, the band released one of the most critically acclaimed records of 2008. 2009 saw the issuing of a rarities record and—finally—a live CD/DVD combo chronicling the Truckers’ first appearance on the vaunted Austin City Limits stage. 2010 brings The [...]

Vic Chesnutt died on Christmas Day. The apparent suicide of the dark genius isn’t completely surprising, but that doesn’t make it any less sad. The acclaimed underground singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia, seemed to be constantly grappling with demons, but unlike many with the same problems, he was able to manifest it into beautiful art. A [...]

Planning an outing on Alabama’s premier hiking route, the Pinhoti Trail, can be frustrating. Because it is a linear pathway, you either have to do an out-and-back walk or make it a one way trek, which involves the added expense and time of shuttling automobiles. Yet, if you study maps, you’ll discover there are a [...]

City ranked most toxic in nation

Start making plans for how you’re going to bring in 2010. Here’s a list of New Year’s Eve shows in the region: Avett Brothers – Thomas Wolfe Auditorium – Asheville, N.C. Larry Keel’s Mountain Music Family Circus – Grey Eagle – Asheville, N.C. Toubab Krewe – Orange Peel – Asheville, N.C. Widespread Panic – Phillips [...]

With the leaf colors in full “bloom,” I’m directing you to Georgia’s Blood Mountain. It’s the first place northbound Appalachian Trail thru-hikers can look back to where their journey started, Springer Mountain, close to 30 trail miles to the south.  In addition, a short scramble onto the rocks of the 4,461–foot summit provides a nearly [...]

Iconic Southern music venue gutted in fire

While their Southern rock peers Widespread Panic and Drive-by Truckers have gone on to achieve wider acclaim, Bloodkin has been the understated, and often overlooked, constant on the Athens, Georgia, rock and roll scene for the last twenty years. These purveyors of rustic rock, stewarded by the longtime friendship of Daniel Hutchins and Eric Carter, [...]

Since we’re still in the time when streams are at their fullest flow of the year, I thought it would be good to share one more waterfall hike with you before we get into some of the best summertime outings in coming weeks. For now, I’m going to direct you to northern Georgia. Filled with [...]

Slip on your spray skirt: The Southeast is whitewater country. Here are the best rapids for every level of whitewater, from easy class I floats to class V hairboating adventures. Class I The James River, Va. Eagle Rock to Horseshoe Bend For 343 miles, the James River sweeps across the state of Virginia, connecting the [...]

Beale Street Music Festival May 1-3 • Memphis, Tenn. This legendary festival brings together the finest in rock, blues, R&B, and Americana music in historic downtown Memphis. thebealestreetmusicfestival.com World Beer Festival May 2 • Raleigh, N.C. Beer. Reason enough. Come to Raleigh and partake of the brews from over 150 world class crafters. allaboutbeer.com Cheat [...]

Next month, three world-class female ultra runners—Virginia’s Rebekah Trittipoe, North Carolina’s Anne Lundblad, and Jenny Anderson—will attempt South Beyond 6,000, a challenge that requires summiting the 40 peaks in North Carolina above 6,000 feet. The runners will connect the 40 peaks together in a 273-mile journey; they’ll run at least 40 miles of trail per [...]