×

Publisher’s letter: Music to our ears

Robert O. Rolley.

There is nothing like a great song to soothe my spirit.

Rock and roll, blues, country, smooth jazz, bluegrass, doo-wop, swing, rhythm and blues … you name it.

I love them all.

We are blessed in this now wonderfully green, mountainous region of the world to have some of the best music festivals.

There are so many that we simply cannot feature them all in this, your Summer Edition of West Branch Life magazine.

But here are some of the bigger and growing venues we offer on some of the following pages:

3 Billtown Blues Music Festival.

3 Smoked Country Jam Bluegrass Festival.

3 Endless Mountain Music Festival.

3 LHJams Music and Arts Festival.

Enlighten yourself on these events.

So far as we’re concerned, these attract world-class musicians.

They run the gamut of music genres — or at least the more popular types of music.

The organizers mix it up each year, bringing in new performers to blend with the old.

There is nothing like sitting outside on a warm day, glass of wine or brew in hand, listening to some sweet tunes that take you back, pick you up, make you sing or cry.

We all need more music in our lives.

We all want to find those things that sing to us … that fill our hearts and minds with joy.

Most of the time artists conceive their songs with lyrics. The best musicians make their words sing … sing as in offering profound meaning.

There are plenty of reasons for pessimism in these times. But I believe there are more reasons for optimism through faith, friendship and fellowship.

“You can’t always get what you want,” The Rolling Stones’ lyric goes. “But if you try sometimes you might find … you get what you need.”

Yes, the best songs relate personal stories of hope and triumph, redemption, rising from the ashes and … loss.

I hope that, as we all continue to recover from the past two years, we have not and do not ever fall into this complacency where we sacrifice direct interaction with each other and instead rely on social media, texts or emails.

It’s not the same, folks, nor will it ever be.

The pandemic has changed the nature of our social interaction.

Nowadays, too many of us (mostly the younger generation) are less likely to talk directly to someone, or even go somewhere to do something.

Quit talking to and through your cell phone.

We cannot be lazy. So get out with your fellow community members and enjoy the music of life.

As they say, life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today