Organizers of the 11th annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival released their “sneak preview” music lineup today, with Shovels & Rope at the top of the early band list.

The Charleston, S.C., roots/rock duo were joined on the bill by progressive bluegrass acts Billy Strings and Mountain Heart, festival mainstays Yarn, Charlottesville jam/rock band Kendall Street Company and rising rock act C2 & The Brothers Reed.

Scenes from “An Evening with Shovels and Rope” include: A baby’s carriage in front of a tour bus adjacent line that wrapped around the block; the look of confusion from fans as they pile in to find this general admission show to be completely seated; and Carrie Ann Hearst and Michael Trent taking the stage in pink velour matching dress and suit.

Shovels & Rope does what they want.

Critically acclaimed husband & wife duo Shovels & Rope will bring a special performance to Boulder Theater on March 9 as part of their intimate spring tour. "An Evening With Shovels & Rope" is a limited run of shows specially curated for smaller, more intimate venues that allow the band to take their time and stretch out musically.

Little Seeds, the electrifying New West Records bow by Shovels and Rope, finds the award-winning South Carolina duo of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst exploring fresh dimensions in their sound with a brace of bold, candid, highly personal new songs.

The Newport Folk Festival may not be a monster fest on the order of a Bonnaroo or a Coachella, but it has rejuvenated itself over the last half dozen years into a premier summer stop for a broad range of alternative, indie, country-rock and folk acts. Much of the rejuvenation has been the result of a conscious decision by festival organizers to loosen the definition of “folk” to include a much wider swath of bands – really anybody who could plausibly include an acoustic guitar at least somewhere in their set list.