It all started with a guy and his guitar… he loved to play, so much so that he began to teach others how to play too. And here we are.
Joe Madison of Blue Star Music has been teaching children and adults to play music since 1988, and has been steeped in songwriting and performance for most of his life.
Joe has had a hand in both the technical training and in the inspiration needed to make music happen of nearly every soul that has ever brushed up against a guitar in Nelson County...every soul that dreamed of playing in a band...every soul that heard music in the silence of their mind…
And if you're not one of those souls, odds are that you've heard music made by one of them.
Joe helped us create Rapunzel’s. For twenty years he hosted our monthly Open Mic Nights and every special huge event, like our annual Christmas parties or the Songwriters Contests. He coined our catch-phrase "You never know what you're going to see at Rapunzel's..." due to the variety of acts that happen at our Open Mics. We would certainly not be here without his support - and for him showing up, bringing his students, changing broken guitar strings backstage mid-song, and cheering on local acts and friends playing - whether it was their hundredth performance or their first time on stage.
Joe is as much a part of Rapunzel's as the Rapunzel statue and our veritable wooden floors. The influence he has had on music in this area ripples out, further than we may ever know. What we do know is that we are incredibly lucky and blessed to know this guy. And we want to acknowledge his accomplishments and contributions the way we do it here best: it’s party time!
The Nelson County Historical Society has been working on documenting the journeys of Nelson County musicians. There have been several programs and people they have already featured (with more to come as well) and now here in the spring of 2024, we are collaborating to celebrate together with an exhibit at the museum and a show at Rapunzel’s for Joe.
Please join us on Saturday, March 30th - at the Oakland Museum - 5365 Thomas Nelson Highway, Arrington, VA 22922
11:00 am to 12:30 pm
Rhythms of Yesterday and Today: Unveiling of Joe Madison exhibit panel and video
Tribute to Joe Madison, a guitar teacher of Nelson County. Members of the Madison family and Joe's students will attend. Open to the public.
Followed by a tribute show at Rapunzel’s Coffee and Books in Lovingston from 2pm-4pm
The Joe Show at Rapunzel’s will feature Joe and friends playing some songs, as well as current and past students of Blue Star Music.
Joe and Alda will start our event at 2pm
Acts to follow include performances by Sally Rose Monnes, Kai Crowe-Getty, Kat Somers, Jimbo Cary, Chris Carter, John Eggleston, Cailin McCool, and more…
emceed by Zach Bullock
Saturday, 3/30
doors 1pm
show 2pm
$10/cash, $12/card cover at the door
kids 14&under or 80&better get in free
