Ever been to a small town rodeo? Neither have we. But we can guess what you’d find there. Friendly faces, local food and drink, down-home entertainment, and a little sense of not knowing exactly what might happen next. When Small Town Rodeo fires up, tucked away somewhere in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, you can pretty much expect the same things...with less likelihood of someone getting thrown from the stage. 

Singer and flat picker Joe Simpson fronts this foursome, having grown up in a family steeped in bluegrass from his earliest days. Lauren Gordon brings fiddle chops and an angelic voice honed during her stint as a Nashville singer and songwriter. On mandolin and vocals is Seth Morrison, who recently found his way to Central Virginia by way of Charleston SC and Jackson MS, mastering every string instrument he found along the way. Hank Wells spent years playing in rock and blues groups and even a 50s band before finding his happy place on upright bass and backing vocals. 

Far more than a traditional string band, Small Town Rodeo wrangles a perfect mix of bluegrass, outlaw country, classic rock, americana and newer roots music to please cowboys and city slickers alike. Rich vocal arrangements breathe life into old favorites, and twangy tunes you know by heart go down smooth as a cool beverage in the afternoon sun. Like many of the unexpected pleasures of life in a small town, this isn’t something you want to miss out on.