Arts, Leisure and Sports
If you haven’t noticed, new scooters have made their way to downtown Roanoke. In order to fill a void left by the scooter company — Lime not renewing their contract — Roanoke City has brought in another supplier, Spin. We could see more of the orange scooters during the warmer months of the year.
After a year of excursions in and around Roanoke, The Wild Way’s Executive Director talks impacts. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more on the nonprofit organization:
Organizers hope an upcoming event at Eagle Landing will show visitors that Wilderness Adventure can be more than just a summer camp. WFIR’s Emma Thomas has more:
ROANOKE, Va. (March 13, 2023) — The Budweiser Summer Series returns to Downtown Roanoke’s Elmwood Park with our first announcement of the season. We’re excited to welcome three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Darius Rucker on June 15, 2023! Downtown Roanoke Incorporated is partnering with The Life Ring Foundation to raise money for its Fighting Kids’ Cancer initiative, whose goal is to include a world-class pediatric cancer treatment center within Carilion’s new cancer center.
General Admission tickets to see Darius Rucker [also formerly of Hootier and the Blowfish] are $60 with $8 from each ticket sold going directly to Fighting Kids’ Cancer. “We are on a mission to improve survival rates for our kids with cancer in the Roanoke Valley. We are so moved that Downtown Roanoke Inc has given us an incredible opportunity to raise money and awareness for this critical cause,” stated Kelly Woolwine, cofounder of The Life Ring Foundation. “We are thrilled to bring another national act to Elmwood Park while helping raise funds for a much-needed cancer facility to be built downtown and serve the entire community,” said Tina Workman, President and CEO of Downtown Roanoke Incorporated.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 17th at 10:00am through ticketing agent, Etix. Full details and ticketing link can be found at www.DowntownSummerSeries.com.
The Budweiser Summer Series is sponsored by Budweiser, Freedom First Credit Union, Amtrak, 94.9 Star Country, WDBJ7, and Coca-Cola. For more information, please visit www.DowntownSummerSeries.com.
UVA :: DUKE ACC TOURNAMENT FOLLOWby Doug Doughty
GREENSBORO, N.C. — After leaving Virginia in February with a sour taste in its mouth, the Duke men’s basketball team could say it had payback Saturday night if that was a consideration. The Blue Devils did not trail at any point in a 59-49 victory in the ACC championship game at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Freshman guard Isaac McKneely gave the Cavaliers a spark with two late 3-pointers, but by then a victory was out of reach. McNeely and Reece Beekman were a combined 8-for-16 and the rest of the team was 8-for-32.
Senior guard Kihei Clark, who was shooting 41.2 percent from the field for the season, was one for nine Saturday night and missed all four of his 3-point attempts. In a regular-season meeting between the teams, Virginia had beaten Duke 69-62 in overtime in Charlottesville in a game that had a disputed finish.
The Blue Devils thought that freshman Kyle Filopowski was fouled and should have had two free throws at the end of regulation. “I’m angry still,” first-year Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said at the time.
Duke had won eight straight games going into Saturday night’s affair, including a Friday win over Miami, 85-78. “They’re [the Blue Devils] playing at a high clip,]”; said Bennett after the Cavaliers’ semifinal victory over Clemson. “Our game was a battle with them at our place.” Bennett said his team’s performance Saturday night was “uncharacteristic”; although UVa kept the Blue Devils’; well under their 72.5 points-per-game; average.
ROANOKE, VA (March 7, 2023)—The Freedom First Down by Downtown Music Festival is excited to announce Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers as the headliner in Elmwood Park Amphitheater on Saturday, April 22, alongside the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon race festivities. A four-day music festival, Freedom First Down by Downtown will take place April 20-23 at venues across
downtown Roanoke featuring dozens of musical performances ranging from country, folk, and blues to acoustic, Americana, and jazz. The festival happens in conjunction with marathon weekend to highlight downtown Roanoke’s vibrant music scene while providing the race community with an entire weekend of live music, fun experiences, and community.
Hailing from Michigan, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers are a Floyd Fest featured artist. They promise attendees a ride on the rainbow across the mountains of Motown, through the fjords of folk, over the archipelagos of Americana, and-at last-into a funky firth, where only the fiercest of friendships can be found. Organizers are thrilled to welcome Joe Hertler for their energy and sound as the crowning touch to one of the best weekends in Roanoke.
“The live show is the purpose of the band. This is why we make music. Playing music is a symbiotic process, the crowd is as much a part of it as the musicians. We give as much energy and love as we can and we can feel that coming from the crowd as well,” says Hertler. “We believe that performance is not a High Art operation, and that you should do anything you can to ensure that the crowd is having a good time. From piñatas to confetti, to fog, to flowers, to drum solos, to strobe lights, to Thor, to sword battles-literally anything goes.” ”This festival is about what makes Roanoke come alive.” Says Kait Pedigo, Event Manager for the marathon and music festival. “We want everyone, both visitors and locals, to explore our beloved downtown venues and connect with the heart of Roanoke’s music culture.”
Opening for Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers are Liv Sloan and the Die Hards followed by Kentucky Ruckus for an evening of rock, jazz, blues, and feel-good vibes. Liv Sloan & The Die Hards are an up-andcoming Martinsville, Virginia-based band. Infusing the sounds of 50’s jazz and classic blues with a 70’s rock flair. Kentucky Ruckus is a bourbon-fueled rock band from the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. A heavy-picked bass style corresponds with the kick drum, and gritty upper-register vocals complete the high-energy, no-rules rock sound that is Kentucky Ruckus. The partnership between Down by Downtown and Freedom First is part of a larger regional economic development initiative of the Roanoke Regional Partnership and Roanoke Outside Foundation, with a
goal to add to the vitality of the community and, in the process, help attract talent and business investment to the Roanoke Region of Virginia.
Participating venues in Freedom First Down by Downtown are Elmwood Park Amphitheatre, Martin’s Downtown, Sweet Donkey Coffee, Big Lick Brewing, The Spot on Kirk, Starr Hill Pilot Brewery and Side Stage, and Twisted Track Brewpub. Tickets for Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers are available for $20 in advance and $25 at the door. You can purchase tickets now at
https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/FreedomFirstDownbyDowntown. Individual venues have varying ticket prices and cover fees for shows; visit downbydowntown.com for a full lineup and links to shows.