THE BELTWAY OPRY, FEATURING SUNNY@MIDNIGHT, ANNIE STOKES & EMILY WOODHULL
Calling all Country and Americana Fans!
The Beltway Opry is a moonshine-tinged evening out for fans of country, americana, and roots music, featuring performers as real as they come. If you like a little twang in your singer’s voice, a little bourbon in your glass, and have an inclination toward steel guitar and fiddle, this event is for you - so pull on your boots, dust off that Stetson, and get on down to the Opry!
ANNIE STOKES
Raised on the seam of urban and rural living in the foothills of the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains, Annie grew up performing for others. It wasn't until she taught herself guitar at age 21 that she finally blended her loves of storytelling and singing. From there, her budding notion that she was born to share her art with others led her on a meandering journey through the Shenandoah Valley, the evangelical towns of central Virginia, the labyrinth of damp green rooms in DC, sunbaked music festivals, and dozens of rental cars and hotels on the state highways that vein from the Carolinas to Boston. After spending her twenties trying to fit into various boxes and please certain gatekeepers, the experience of motherhood taught her how to surrender to the songs that had been inside of her all along.
Her mesmerizing lyrics and crystalline voice (described by one fan as "Alison Krauss meets Nick Cave") eventually culminated in an EP (2014) and three albums (2015, 2017, and 2021). Her most recent LP, "The One That Gets Away", was awarded "Best Americana/Country Album" at the 2022 Wammies, Washington DC's prestigious music awards ceremony. Annie's music combines traditional country and folk song structure with modern lyrical sensibilities, and her live shows invite audiences into a front-porch conversation about life with biting commentaries about parenthood, heartbreak, and hope.
Her fifth studio project, "Wild Rose EP" -- cowritten and produced with Grammy member Austin Bello -- was released in March 2023. It has been highlighted in numerous publications (see press highlights) and will be featured on season six of The Martha Bassett Show.
She co-writes with her husband, bass player Will Berger. When they aren't making music, they are raising two girls and lots of hell in Virginia.
https://anniestokesmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AnnieStokesMusic
https://instagram.com/theanniestokes
https://www.youtube.com/user/AnnieStokesOfficial
SUNNY@MIDNIGHT
Jeff Smith, a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and the driving force behind Sunny@Midnight, has already made waves in the music industry. His compositions have been featured in popular television programs such as “Young Sheldon”, “Army Wives”, “The Young and the Restless”, as well as an independent murder mystery film titled “Teach Me Tonight”. Additionally, his music has been prominently showcased in an ad campaign for Opel automobiles.
Sherry Stewart, also a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, brings her unique blend of guitar, mandolin, and flute to fill out the Sunny@Midnight sound. Inspired by the harmonies and rhythms of nature, love, and the human condition, Sherry’s songs are delivered with a sassy gospel blues swagger. Her exceptional talent has been recognized the last couple of years, earning three of her songs awards in the prestigious Mid-Atlantic Song Contest national songwriting competition.
Sunny@Midnight’s quintet lineup adds fiddle virtuoso Marcy Cochran, John Werntz on bass, and Ron Goad on percussion. Together, they infuse this music with energy and rhythmic verve, delivering an entertaining and unforgettable musical experience.
Their first recording is out now, Break My Heart, is getting airplay across the country!
https://humanwilderness.com/sunny-midnight
https://www.facebook.com/SunnyatMidnightMusic
EMILY WOODHULL
Born and raised on Capitol Hill, Emily Woodhull has built a loyal and passionate fan base since she began performing at 12 years old. Now 23, Emily escaped the big city to find her truth-and her music- in a small town in Virginia. She has a development deal with a prestigious firm in Nashville where she collaborated with award-winning producers and writers to create an EP that will drop in 2024. A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Emily's music resides at the intersection of Alt-Rock and Alt-Country.
https://www.instagram.com/emilywoodhullmusic
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550704257935