Americana/Roots Festival Founder Mike Aiken Welcomes David Olney, Elliot Lurie, Bonnie Bishop, Susan Greenbaum and more to Smithfield, Virginia, September 28-29

Mike Aiken, Americana/Country/Roots national recording artist and founder of Smithfield Music's Aiken & Friends Fest, is pleased to announce the lineup of performers for this year's festival which will take place on September 28-29 in Smithfield, Virginia.  Aiken says, "We are excited to be moving the fest riverside to Windsor Castle Park - bigger, better and just a beautiful site.  I'm happy to be bringing in old friends and new ones - from the soulful, bluesy Bonnie Bishop to the legendary David Olney. It will be awesome music."

The 2012 Aiken & Friends Fest will kick off with a writers in-the-round at the Smithfield Little Theatre on Friday, September 28.  Elliot Lurie, Bonnie Bishop and Mike Aiken will perform their compelling original songs in a unique and intimate environment that allows for stories and casual banter in between tunes. The music continues Saturday, September 29, on two outdoor stages with performances by the Bonnie Bishop Band, David Olney, The Muckrakes, Susan Greenbaum, Beaucoup Blue and the Mike Aiken Band.

The festival's educational events are always popular.  On Saturday, September 29 at Windsor Castle Park House, three seminars take place.  Aiken, Lurie and Bishop will host a songwriters' workshop, master guitarist Sam Dorsey will lead a guitar class, and Northwind Records' President Amy Aiken and Lurie will host a Music Promotion 101 session. 

Now in its seventh year, Smithfield Music's Aiken and Friends Fest benefits youth music education through its annual Americana/Roots festival.  A "celebration of songwriters," this rural small-town Virginia event introduces music fans to national, regional and local artists in the rural Virginia splendor along the Pagan River.  Smithfield's very active music scene is due to the efforts of Jim & Elaine Abicht who head Smithfield Music, the nonprofit entity which benefits music education.  The partnership between Mike Aiken, the Town of Smithfield and Smithfield Music is strong, and the festival continues to grow.

Find more on the festival at aikenandfriendsfest.com

Find more on Mike Aiken at mikeaikenmusic.com.