This event is a part of the Rivanna Roots 2026 Concert Series, presented by The Front Porch and Rivanna River Company. Doors open at 5:30 pm and music runs from 6:30-9:30 pm. This is an outdoor show and all concerts are rain or shine. For more information about what to bring, parking, and policies, check out our FAQS! 

Larry Keel Duo

Larry Keel is an award-winning innovative flatpicking guitarist and singer/songwriter hailing from Appalachia and currently residing in historic Lexington, VA. Raised in a musical family steeped in the mountain culture of the region, Keel began from an early age to forge a distinctive sound, taking bluegrass and classic country music and infusing those styles with a rock edge and elements of improvisational jazz. The Larry Keel Duo, consisting of Larry Keel on acoustic guitar and Winston Mitchell on mandolin and acoustic guitar, are masters of their instruments, drawing heavily from Keel’s catalog of original music and imaginative interpretations of choice covers. 

Winston's love for music started with his dad who was a skilled guitarist, singer, songwriter, and pedal steel player.   Playing mostly electric guitar until his early-20s, he was introduced to the music of Jeff Austin and Yonder Mountain String Band and was immediately captivated by the energy and improvisation coming off of a pile of acoustic bootleg CDs.  After playing guitar in several bands he decided to try out mandolin and immediately was hooked.  With his strongest inspirations deriving from Jeff & Sam Bush’s playing, he worked his way backwards through time to get to the origins of bluegrass. 

One listener likened the experience of watching this act to being backstage while the artists are running tunes, relaxed yet energized, nailing songs while taking musical risks and letting it all hang out. That’s the vibe they bring to the stage, inviting listeners to have fun and be part of the creative process happening before their very eyes and ears.

Brennan Gilmore & Andy Thacker

Brennan Gilmore is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has explored musical traditions across Appalachia, Africa, and the Arab world, including the award-winning "Arab-Appalachian" group Kantara and "New Appalachian" fusion group Wild Common. Andy Thacker (Love Canon) is an accomplished mandolinist equally at home in Bluegrass, Old Time, Jazz, and Rock. Together they bring a rare breadth of tradition and exploration to an intimate acoustic duet of original compositions and Appalachian favorites.

Sponsors

It takes a village to make these magical concerts possible! A huge thank you to our sponsors: Alloy Architecture & Construction, Bottle House, Woodard Properties, Tandem Friends School, WNRN, and C-ville Weekly.

We'd also like to extend special thanks to Random Row Brewing Company and Potter’s Craft Cider, our exclusive beverage partners, and Hogwaller Brewing,  our artist hospitality sponsor. Please support these local businesses – they’re passionate about our community, and we’re grateful to feature them at Rivanna Roots 2026!