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Blog
Good music and wine await at Chatham Vineyards at Church Creek on April 15 and even better — proceeds from the afternoon concert by The Steel Pennies benefit the Barrier Islands Center.
No advance tickets are necessary for the concert from 2-4 p.m., but donations will be accepted.
The museum that’s just 3 miles from Chatham on Virginia’s Eastern Shore seeks to preserve and perpetuate the culture and history of the Barrier Islands, once home to vibrant fishing communities and elegant hotels. The nonprofit highlights Virginia’s coastal history and tells the stories of the men and women who lived, worked and played on the barrier islands.
Steel Pennies founder Tracy Stover formed the Roots/Bluegrass band in 2021 that pays homage to music with Appalachian roots. The self-taught musician sings, plays guitar, banjo and mandolin alongside Greg Sowell on bass; Julie Lee, occasional vocalist and violaist; and Liz Needham, a vocalist who swaps between banjo and mandolin.
“We like using our music to support nonprofits,” Tracy said. He and his wife, Ginnie (who makes the candles sold in Chatham’s tasting room) are longtime Chatham Wine Club members. The Steel Pennies played their first-ever gig at Chatham last October, a fun fall afternoon for everyone who came.
“Jon and Mills are wonderful, the wine is tasty, and Chatham is a great place to be outside and enjoy a glass of wine while hanging out with friends,” Tracy said.
“The music was beautiful, and people really enjoyed it, so we are excited to offer it again,” Mills said.
Another upcoming cool event: Chatham Vineyards will be part of Art & Music on the Farm on May 27 at the Barrier Islands Center, an event that the Stovers plan to attend. The festival celebrates music and art from across Virginia in a family-friendly setting from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.