Photo courtesy of the artist

We could all use a little something to wipe away our winter blues.

Say what you will, T.S. Eliot, but February gets my vote for the cruelest month. So, if you’re looking for some warmth, Gypsy Sally’s has a show for you this weekend.

The Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival highlights the best in local folk, bluegrass and Americana talent. In 2014, the fest boasted more than 13,000 attendees; drawing fans not only from the D.C. area, but from all across the Midatlantic region. This spring, you can bet on even more folks (ha!) flocking to the island than ever before.

Unfortunately, April is still a ways off. We’ve got several more weeks of blustery, dry jacket weather before we can enjoy the April sunshine. Remember what it was like to feel naturally warm outside, to see natural light on your skin? Me neither! Not to worry, though; get a preview of this awesome festival and its springtime wonders this weekend.

With some help from Listen Local First, Gypsy Sally’s will host a kickoff for the festival this Saturday with The Larry Keel Experience and Walker’s Run. The LKE sprinkles a little Southwest Virginia charm on top of the fierce bluegrass playing that’s bred in the area.

Opening the night is Walker’s Run, a self-described “newgrass” band that can translate the best of that traditional sound to a modern style, including punk, jazz, and world music influences. Punk may be dead, but bluegrass is alive and well. To top it all off, the official Kingman Island Festival lineup will be announced.

There’s no warmth quite like the kind that comes from banjo music in a grassy knoll, but in the meantime, the bright lights and friendly vibe of Gypsy Sally’s will do the trick. The show starts at 9 p.m. (but you’ll want to get there early) and tickets are $15-$17.