Beats, Brews & Buddies

AREA 581 is a professional band from Roanoke, Virginia serving live shows consisting of new and classic rock hits from the 60’s through today. Our five members have decades of experience and love to perform musical rock favorites you probably have never seen live.

Danny Galyen & Cory Schmitt

Kevin Jones, a native of Toronto, Canada, has spent more than 30 years working in professional theatre as an actor, musical director, director, and choreographer. His many credits include the Broadway first and fourth national tours of Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, the Asian tour of Annie, the European tour of Annie Get Your Gun, three productions of Evita, and two of Phantom. Recently, Kevin ser...

Meet Addie Levy, a captivating American bluegrass-country artist who effortlessly weaves tradition and vision into exciting, progressive movements. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Addie has emerged as a true multi-talent in the world of music, captivating audiences with her powerful vocals and exciting mandolin improvisation.  From the early age of 10, she has been a powerful pe...

It is a 288 page historical novel that tells the 60+ year history of The Embers....remember "Far Away Places", "I Love Beach Music".  Short Synopsis: The Embers: The Bobby Tomlinson Story The Embers: The Bobby Tomlinson Story is the compelling memoir of Bobby Tomlinson, the legendary drummer and founding member of The Embers, one of the most iconic bands in the history of Carolina Beach Music. Spa...

Allen Thompson is a Nashville-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer best known as a founding member of the band LadyCouch. With deep roots in Southern rock, Americana, and soul, Thompson's music blends diverse influences into a distinctive sound. As a key figure in LadyCouch, he plays a crucial role in crafting the band's harmony-rich, genre-blurring style that pulls from funk,...

Born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kayla Renee Jones is singer songwriter currently based out of Roanoke Virginia. With a diverse cover selection ranging from the Goo Goo Dolls and Pearl Jam, to Etta James and Billy Joel, her emotive and brutally honest voice captures audiences. Her main influences include Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Phoebe Bridgers, Radiohead, Cocteau Twins, Fiona Appl...

Vander Warner first picked up the guitar at age ten and began taking lessons from Tim Martin through middle school and his junior year of high school. After a few early band attempts, he joined  Relinquish  (2009–2010) and later  Savannah Shoulders  (2010–2012), all while playing regularly in church. Following a few years away from performing, Vander rediscovered his passion for music after moving...

Soul/rock/reggae artist The Ambassador stands out among others by displaying a strong, soulful vocal presence combined with addictive, upbeat rhythms. His music flows seamlessly from stock reggae beats to bluesy grooves infused with rock and hip-hop. The Ambassador couples catchy hooks and danceable music with intelligent lyrics and a positive message bringing fans of all ages and walks of life. T...

Foster Burton is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Salem, VA, known for his soulful, roots-driven sound. Blending elements of folk, rock, and Americana, his music is shaped by the storytelling of John Prine, the raw grit of Tom Waits, and the improvisational spirit of Jerry Garcia. Whether performing solo or with bands like Mountain Walrus, Mad Iguanas, and Dead Reckoning, Foster brings an au...

Mike Feamster was born in West Virginia, where his early years were shaped by a love of sports before music became his greatest passion. He played his first gig at just eight years old and went on to perform in cover bands throughout his youth in West Virginia. A 1989 graduate of Greenbrier East High School, Mike also developed a strong interest in Drum Corps International (DCI) during that time....

Eve-lynn is a Salem, Virginia native and a lifelong musician. Weekly piano lessons all through school and the strong arts programs at Community School and Community High School are the foundation of Eve-lynn’s musical talents. Community High School fostered Eve-lynn’s unique singing style through John McBroom’s Rock Band class. Eve-lynn is the lead singer for the Phat Anchovies, a local/regional r...

McFadden and Friends Band was formed in 2018 and brings together five seasoned musicians with more than 150 years of combined experience. With deep roots in Jazz and Blues, the group calls the Roanoke and New River Valley home and has become a familiar presence in the region’s live music scene. Over the years, the band has performed at a variety of popular venues and events, including Fatback Soul...

Matt Shay is a Roanoke native and lifelong musician. He started playing the drums at a young age and surrounded himself with music throughout high school, taking multiple band classes and performing in the marching band. Currently, he plays with his jazz fusion/funk and soul group, CopyCat Syndrome, the occasional jazz dinner gig at the Hotel Roanoke, and with whoever needs a drummer!  Peyton Gent...

John Pence is a Roanoke, Virginia-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music advocate. Born in 1993, he grew up on mix CDs, Tony Hawk soundtracks, and early MySpace uploads. After graduating with a BA in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music in 2015, he returned home and became deeply involved in the local music scene. He went on to help launch and eventually manage The Spot on Kirk, a...

Doug Settles | Beats, Brews & Buddies | S4 EP12

Candace Blair has been sharing her love of music with kids and families for over 20 years, and she still lights up every time a student discovers the joy of making music. From her days studying Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University to teaching in Roanoke’s studios and classrooms, Candace has always believed music should be fun, accessible, and full of heart. She’s certified through t...

Marie-Claire Evans is a singer/songwriter based in Roanoke, VA. Originally from Hampton Roads, she comes from a musical background of classical piano and vocal training but found a love for writing and performing indie/folk/rock music. Known for her wide vocal range and smoky lower register, her songs incorporate intimate lyrics and wistful melodies to produce a simultaneously powerful yet easy-li...

Like many musicians, Kerry started singing and performing when he was a kid in church. At age 7 he was singing solos in front of the entire congregation. Then came piano lessons to learn to read and write music. He really loved to sing though, so he concentrated on his vocals. He performed all throughout his school years, all the way up through college at George Mason University. The West Coast wa...

Bonus episode featuring our host, Travis Schmitt!

William Seymour is a singer-songwriter originally from Snow Hill, NC but currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. His sound can be described as a mix of Country, Blues, Soul, and Americana. His influences come from artists such as Jackson Browne, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, and more. William plays bass and tours with the rock n roll band Caitlin Krisko The Broadcast. He has rece...

Episode 7 from Season 4 is out now! Featuring Paul Salvey.

Inspired by the Classics you know and love, Glam'r Kiti is the nation's premiere 80's Rock Tribute Group. Based in the Mountains of Southwest Virginia, They've rocked sold-out shows along the East Coast, and become community favorites in their base city of Roanoke, Virginia. 

Brandon, known to friends and family as "Bt," is a dedicated drummer from Covington, VA. A proud father of two, his passion for drumming began at an early age—he likes to say he was born with drumsticks in hand. His journey as a musician started in church, where he developed his skills and built a strong foundation in rhythm and performance. For nearly eight years, Brandon has been the d...

Adam Hill was born in Roanoke and has been playing music in the area for over twenty years. He began as a drummer before transitioning to keyboards. He performs with the award-winning Solacoustix band and leads his own project, the Adam Hill Trio. Currently, he also works as a pianist at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs.