Bluegrass legend Junior Sisk is returning to Salem’s annual Pickin’ In The Park concert this summer. This marks the fourth straight year that Sisk and his group of amazing pickers and singers are headlining the Longwood Park Amphitheater show with their fast playing and uplifting harmonies.
This year’s free event takes place on Saturday, Aug. 17, and it also features local favorites Wound Tight and New Standard. Thanks to Sisk and our regional bands, Pickin’ In The Park has become one of Salem’s most popular events.
Sisk’s band features an array of talented musicians including Heather Berry-Mabe, who grew up near Staunton and Waynesboro in the Sherando area. She is joined by her banjo playing husband Tony Mabe, upright bass performer Curt Love and mandolin picker Jonathan Dillon.
For the past year, the Ferrum resident and his bandmates have been riding the wave of their successful single, “The Long Hard Road (The Sharecropper’s Dream)”. Acclaimed Nashville artist Rodney Crowell wrote the song, and the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band first recorded it in 1984. It was a number one hit on the country charts for the band 40 years ago, and Sisk’s version landed in Bluegrass music’s Top 5.
In 2021, Sisk’s dad was in the crowd in Salem and both of Sisk’s parents have had strong influences on his musical career and are big reasons why he has stayed so true to traditional bluegrass. Sticking to his genre’s roots and never getting above his raisin’ paid off big time back in January of 2022. Sisk’s “Load The Wagon” album earned Album of the Year honors and his “Just Load The Wagon” single was named Song of the Year from the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. The album spent six months at the top of the bluegrass charts.
In 2013 and 2017, Sisk was named the IBMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year, and he has been honored numerous times by the IBMA for producing the song of the year and an album of the year.
Pickin’ In The Park attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy the complimentary concerts. Food trucks from Bootleg BBQ, Dale’s Diner, The Tailgate, Wicked Lemon, and Sweet Surrender Ice Cream will be onsite selling a variety of concessions.
- Patrons are permitted to bring in outside food, but no alcohol is allowed to enter the premises from the outside.
- On-site vendors will be selling adult beverages.
- Children’s games will be set up for that age group, but please remember that pets are not allowed at this event.
Performance schedule:
5:30 p.m. – New Standard
6:30 p.m.— Wound Tight
7:30 p.m. – Junior Sisk
-The Salem Times-Register
Sisk and his band
Courtesy photo