Sonic Highways – The Series

Episodes 1 – 5: The Blue Ridge Parkway

Here they are, folks! Our first videos for "Sonic Highways: Musical Immersion on the Roads of America."

These videos were made to showcase how wonderfully a piece of music can enhance your surroundings, and vice versa...whether it be at a venue, or on the festival grounds, or even in the comfort of your own car. These first five were taken on several trips down the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Cherokee and Asheville, and show several different facets of the scenic byway's natural beauty.

In the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy these traipses down America's favorite woodland byway while treating your ears to the dulcet tones of some excellent music. Lezzz Go!

Episode 1: Sunday Country (Blue Ridge Parkway I)

Our quest begins as we leave Great Smoky Mountains National Park and enter the Blue Ridge Parkway at it's southern end. We sail beneath the canopy of trees, breaking every now and then to welcome bursts of sunlight.

(music: "Country" by Empire of the Sun from Walking on a Dream, Colombia Records, 2008)

Episode 2: Cloud Dusting (Blue Ridge Parkway II)

We continue now with a quick trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and as we make a little pit stop, we discover that clouds are not as slow and lazy as they may seem...

(Music: "Lalibela" by Caribou, from Swim; Merge Records 2012)

Episode 3: Tides of the Sky (Blue Ridge Parkway III)

The serpentine path up the BRP to the summit of Mt. Mitchell is dramatic as it is, but throw in a cold wind and some condensation - as well as some epic ambient electronica - and you have the makings of a truly sensory and emotional experience.

(music: "Black Sea" by The Field, from his 2013 album Cupid's Head, Kompakt Records)

Episode 4: Swallowed (Blue Ridge Parkway IV)

The fog closes in as we meander through the mountains, showing a rather treacherous side to one of the world's most beautiful roads.

(music: "Ice Age" by How To Destroy Angels, from An Omen, Columbia Records 2013)

Episode 5: Verdant Voyage (Blue Ridge Parkway V)

Part I: Sea of Green & Part II: Disembarkment

All roads must come to an end, as does our journey down the Parkway. We cruise through the sea of leaves before detaching ourselves from the BRP and heading back into the bland necessity of civilization.

(music for Part I - "Amor Fati" by Washed Out, from Within and Without, Sub Pop 2010;
music for Part II - "P.H.U.K.U." by Orbital, ACP Recordings Ltd., 2018)