Roots-folk-rock trio The Wood Brothers and renowned pedal-steel act Robert Randolph & The Family Band were added to the bill of the tenth annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, set for May 24-27, 2018 just outside of Martinsville, Va. The two bands joined JJ Grey & Mofro Tuesday at the top of the RW10 lineup, along with new additions TAUK, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Zach Deputy, Colter Wall, Dangermuffin, The Last Yaltz (a Yarn-hosted tribute to The Band’s legendary “Last Waltz” performance), Cris Jacobs, Front Country, Kat Wright, Songs From The Road Band, Sanctum Sully and Fireside Collective.

In addition to JJ Grey & Mofro, the festival had previously announced the Marcus King Band, Billy Strings, The Jerry Douglas Band, Yarn and The Commonheart as RW10 performers.

Presented by title sponsor Bassett Furniture, Rooster Walk has been named one of the top five festivals in Virginia by the Richmond-Times Dispatch. The event’s final band lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The Wood Brothers have consistently been one of the most requested bands by our fans over the past few years, and Robert Randolph & The Family Band has been on our band wish list since the very first festival,” said Johnny Buck, who along with William Baptist, co-founded the festival in 2009. “We feel really fortunate to be able to add so many amazing artists to the band lineup as we prepare to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We can’t thank the fans, volunteers, sponsors and festival staff enough for growing this thing into the incredible celebration of life that has become.”

Comprised of brothers Oliver Wood (electric guitar), Chris Wood (upright bass) and multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix, The Wood Brothers mix folk, blues, gospel and jazz. Chris Wood toured for many years in legendary avant-jazz-funk band Medeski Martin & Wood, but in 2005 The Wood Brother recorded their first album. The band’s following among music fans has grown rapidly in the years since, and the group released its sixth album, One Drop of Truth, to critical acclaim last week.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band’s most recent album, Got Soul, was nominated for a 2018 Grammy Award as the Best Contemporary Blues Album. On Got Soul, the band displays its virtuosity within the context of a dozen smartly crafted tunes.

In addition to four days of amazing music on five stages, the family-friendly Rooster Walk will offer a wide variety of kids’ activities, craft beer, food/arts vendors and beautiful on-site camping.

Rooster Walk Inc. is a community-nonprofit dedicated to promoting music, arts and education in its home of Martinsville/Henry County. A portion of festival proceeds go to the Penn-Shank Memorial Scholarship as well as the Rooster Walk Music Instrument Program for entry-level band programs in Martinsville/Henry County public schools. The festival is proud to have Bassett Furniture return as its title sponsor once again.

Rooster Walk Inc. has donated more than $150,000 to local and regional charities since its first festival in 2009.

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.RoosterWalk.com.

Marcus King and Billy Strings, two of the hottest names on today’s music scene, will join forces for a world-debut “King & Strings” set on May 25th at Rooster Walk, the festival announced today.

King will join Strings and his band for the duration of a late-night, 2-hour set at RW10, and iconic drummer Jeff Sipe will also sit in for the latter portion of the performance.

The two have never met, let alone played together, but each calls himself a fan of the other’s music. The current plan involves an unscripted jam that will begin in the bluegrass/acoustic world native to String, before evolving into something more electric and rock-based, with Sipe on the kit.

“I think that will be the most fun, if we showcase a little bit of both. We’ll get Marcus some on an acoustic and then get me on an electric with Marcus,” said the 25-year-old Strings. “We’ll kind of do both of our worlds and make them clash.”

Already a veteran of the special guest sit in, King has played with the likes of Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Greensky Bluegrass, to name just a few. He said he’s looking forward to the improvisational set at Pop’s Farm, which will also feature Billy’s band (banjo, fiddle and bass.)

“I think it’s gonna be a hoot man. If I can be frank, I think it’s a great idea, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun with it,” said King, just 21 years old.

Festival organizer Johnny Buck did not try to hide his enthusiasm.

“The word ‘excited’ would be a gross understatement,” Buck said. “To think that these two musicians will meet and play together for the very first time at Rooster Walk 10? Man, we’re just honored to host ‘King & Strings,’ and I use that word literally. It’s an honor for Rooster Walk to host this very special collaboration.”

Rooster Walk 10 will take place May 24-27, 2018 at Pop’s Farm in Martinsville, Va. Headlining bands include The Wood Brothers, JJ Grey & Mofro and Robert Randolph and the Family Band. The festival’s full band lineup will be announced Thursday, March 8. To buy tickets or learn more information, visit www.RoosterWalk.com.