Chatham Rabbits + Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers at the Blue Ridge Music Center

The Blue Ridge Music Center presents Chatham Rabbits + Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers live in concert at its outdoor amphitheater on the Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 213) just south of Galax, Va., just north of Mount Airy, N.C. and just east of Sparta, N.C.

There is something warm and instantly familiar about roots duo, Chatham Rabbits. Partners in music and life, Austin and Sarah McCombie blend their personal histories through deft songwriting and a history that comes from building a life together. Their artistry hinges on a fervent desire to connect with others through the music that brought the pair together. Steeped in the regional traditions of their North Carolina home, Chatham Rabbits’ musical pursuits represent a new age of roots music. Their songs present a congenial, collaborative spirit that has captured the pure adoration of fans and earned them praise from Garden & Gun Magazine, American Songwriter, and No Depression. The McCombie’s were also featured in the PBS North Carolina series, “On the Road with Chatham Rabbits,” which followed the duo as they toured the country, cared for their North Carolina farm, and navigated their relationship as up-and-coming musicians.

The Blue Ridge Mountains wind through eight states over a stretch of 615 miles. In Virginia, they overlook Franklin County south of Roanoke. Back in the day, bootleggers would refer to the area as “The Moonshine Capital of the World” due to its perfect placement to export contraband. These days, the textile mills of Rocky Mountain and other once cozy-towns have shut down, leaving minimal opportunity and a lot of hopelessness. At the bottom of the Southwest Virginia foothills half-a-mile from the nearest neighbor, Colby Helms resides in an “underground house” built by his late father. He chops wood daily for the stove, hunts, and takes care of his mom. He also pens the kind of raw and real country music that cuts to the bone.

At 12-years-old, Colby endured the loss of his father due to cancer. Beset by sadness and loneliness, he turned to music. He taught himself guitar, banjo, and mandolin by watching local performers and YouTube videos. He amassed a growing record collection, combing through the stacks at flea markets and browsing eBay. Under the influence of the forefathers of country, he listened to dusty vinyl from Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys, and Jimmie Rodgers in addition to embracing modern artists a la Charley Crocket and Tyler Childers. Along the way, he carefully developed a signature style of his own.