On the Rocks is perfect for Afton winery

By Mary Alice Blackwell

Published: July 31, 2008

If memory serves, a varietal is a wine made of mainly one variety of grape.
Cardinal Point Vineyard and Winery, however, has harvested a wide variety of talent for one pretty tempting blend of music.
For rock fans: Andy Waldeck — who has toured with Egypt and Earth to Andy — will be at the Afton winery with his rock and roll band.
For bluegrass fans: The new-school bluegrass stylings of Six Day Bender certainly seem appropriately named for the venue.
For pop and folk fans: There is a dash of Junior Moment and the Fun Thieves in the brew.
For country fans: After opening for the likes of Dwight Yoakam and Randy Travis, Jim Waive and the New Divorcees are ready to roll out the barrels and their 10-gallon hats.
For African drum fans: You only need two words — Darrell Rose.
Forget the aging process. This blend, labeled Reading Rocks, will be ready to serve on Saturday afternoon. For six hours, these five local favorites will entertain and, hopefully, raise awareness for what could become an annual fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle.
“We are thrilled with the lineup,” said Beth Golden, who is the executive director of LVCA.
Literacy Volunteers, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, helped about 250 local men and women learn to read, write and improve their literacy skills last year.
“There are very few resources available for adults as it relates to literacy,” Golden said. “As funding from other sources become tighter, events like Reading Rocks become a crucial means of support.”
Those in the know, might recognize Golden’s name … from her other gig.
Golden and her husband, Steve, make up half of Junior Moment. But she plays that down, more interested in putting the focus on the festival.
“It’s going to be great,” she said. “Cardinal Point has hosted a number of benefits, so it is a really nice setup and we have had good participation from the community.”
It also doesn’t hurt that she had a few ins with her fellow musicians.
“I have gotten to know them over the years,” she said. “I picked bands that I felt would do it right off the bat and would also be a good draw for the community. I think that is definitely going to be the case.
“When I called them up and said, ‘Hey, would you do this?’ they all said ‘yes.’
“There are familiar names. Some have been around for a while, and you have bands like Six Day Bender that have just come on to the scene and have gotten really popular in a short amount of time.”
The winery also will be setting up a special tasting for festival attendees, while Botali’s Catering is bringing the eats. Local artisans also will be sharing their wares, while the North Branch School has planned some activities for the young ones.
Golden said that it’s pretty shady, if you are worried about the heat. And they are unpacking a big tent.
“It should be a lot of fun,” she said.  “I feel it is a really good combination lineup … and they are doing it for a good cause.”
Ah, 2008 should be a very good year.

Details
Reading Rocks
Cardinal Point in Afton
3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, doors open at 2 p.m.
$22, $10 if younger than 18, $45 for a family pass.
www. readingrocks.org
977-3838