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Violet and the Newsroom

@newsroom.band
29 followers 16 following 72 posts

Acoustic folk string band | KY, USA Violet on fiddle, @anabelrose.bsky.social on bass + guitar, and @claywallace.bsky.social on mountain dulcimer + mandolin newsroom.band

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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 09/09/2026
It would be nice to see you this week! Catch us Serendipity Public House in Midway Thursday evening (no cover) and at the Appa-Latch-Un Hippy Festival at the Bell County Fairgrounds ($2 admission for a full-day festival)!
Anabel pouts with her arms crosses in front of a sign of Uncle Sam with the printed text "I WANT YOU TO TRY THIS" and a chalkboard underneath. Handwritten chalk says "Being Nice."

Thurs Sept 10 6-8 @ Serendipity Midway
Sat Sept 12 5-6 Appa-Latch-Un Hippy Festival Bell County Fairgrounds
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 03/09/2026
upcoming sticker design courtesy of Violet's dad, Scott Updike (Goldenrod Tattoo, Lexington, KY)
Traditional art, stylized like an American traditional color tattoo. A bouquet of flowers is held within a newspaper cone. The flowers are roses, violets, and goldenrod. The newspaper is titled "VIOLET & THE NEWSROOM" and is tied with twine tied in a bow. The art is on a white piece of paper placed atop concrete.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 03/09/2026
THIS WEEKEND
Poster for a music show. Garish colors (saturated blue and pink-ish orange). Background is a picture of the front of Mortimer Bibb's Irish Pub in Frankfort, but it's mostly obscured by text: "FRIDAY 9/4 @ BIBB'S PUB: 8:00 TYLER DAWSON AND THE MINT JULEPS 9:00 VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 06/07/2026
THIS WEEKEND
The three members of Violet and the Newsroom sit side-by-side on an oversized wooden chair made of red, white, and blue slats. They all smile. Text reads: VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM
FRI 7/10 The Kentucky Hug Bourbon Bar, Frankfort, 7-10 PM
SAT 7/11 Mortimer Bibb's Public House, Frankfort, 7-10 PM
SUN 7/12 Berea Craft Festival, 1-3 PM
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Tyler @tacook.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Frankfort really nailed it by calling this festival Liberty Haller
Liberty Haller flyer for music festival in Frankfort
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/07/2026
The three of us spent last week at Cowan Creek Mountain Music School. Anabel was on hand for emergency instrument repair under the tutelage of our friend Jim Webb, while Violet and Clay were TAs – Violet for Linda Jean Stokley’s singing class, and Clay for Matthew Carter’s mandolin class.
newsroom.band
Downstream of Cowan Creek
Hello, Clay here! Anabel, Violet, and I spent last week at Cowan Creek Mountain Music School. Anabel was on hand for emergency instrument repair under the tutelage of our friend Jim Webb, while Vio…
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 29/06/2026
3 FREE shows coming up! Thursday @ Serendipity Public House in Midway from 6-8 Friday @ Liberty Hall-er in Frankfort. All-day event w/ fantastic musicians across 2 stages, including our friends The Local Honeys and Nat and Jeri! VatN plays from 3-4. Saturday @ West Sixth Farm from 6:30-8:30
Picture with hand-drawn text over it. Image is of Anabel standing at an overlook with her hands on a pair of stationary binoculars. She looks over the top of the binoculars at Black Mountain in the distance. Text over image reads: VIOLET & THE NEWSROOM UPCOMING WEEKEND SHOWS: THURSDAY JULY 2 SERENDIPITY PUBLIC HOUSE MIDWAY, KY 6-8; FRIDAY JULY 3 LIBERTY HALL-ER FRANKFORT, KY; SATURDAY JULY 4 WEST SIXTH FARM FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY 6:30-8:30
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 17/05/2026
Delayed start at Sig Luscher today due to rain. We'll be kicking off indoors shortly!
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 14/05/2026
Violet and the Newsroom will be playing this weekend at: The Beattyville Appalachian Memories Festival at Beattyville Town Square (Friday) Sig Luscher Brewery (Saturday) The Wildwood Faire at Talon Winery (Sunday) See you soon! Photo credit Blake Larson
Mid shot from front-side angle of Violet and the Newsroom. All three are in profile, with Clay playing the mandolin, Violet singing while playing the fiddle, and Anabel on bass. White handwritten text is over the image:
THIS WEEKEND:
FRIDAY MAY 15 BEATTYVILLE 5 PM
SATURDAY MAY 16 FRANKFORT 7:30 PM
SUNDAY MAY 17 LEXINGTON 3:15 PM
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 12/05/2026
Subvert @subvert.fm, the member-owned music cooperative, is officially launched! Go to subvert.fm/newsroomband to listen to our first track, and stay tuned for more (soon!)
Social image with purple background. Image in center is tintype black-and-white photo of Violet and the Newsroom - Anabel standing with bass, Clay sitting with dulcimer, and Violet standing with fiddle. Text above image reads "SUBVERT IS NOW LIVE - VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM IS A CO-OWNER OF SUBVERT"
text below image reads "subvert.fm/newsroomband"
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Subvert @subvert.fm · 08/05/2026
Subvert launches on Tuesday 12 May. We are now just days away. If you are a Member of Subvert, check your email for more details on how we will launch together next week. Not a member yet? These are the final days to join as a Founding Member of Subvert. Join the co-op at subvert.fm
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Subvert @subvert.fm · 26/04/2026
Subvert is a co-op owned and controlled by over 20,000 members. Co-op members are all co-owners. Artists and labels join free. Supporters join for life, once. Co-op membership is not required to listen and purchase music on Subvert. Join today at subvert.fm
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 10/05/2026
Our first studio demo is now LIVE! Free to stream and download on artist-owned co-op platform @subvert.fm - with more to come!
Tintype photo of the three members of Violet and the Newsroom. Anabel stands with an upright bass, Clay sits with a mountain dulcimer, and Violet stands with a fiddle. Anabel and Clay look directly at the camera with reserved, neutral expressions. Violet wears a neutral expression, but looks at her bandmates rather than the camera. Text at the top of the image reads "Violet and the Newsroom The Cuckoo / Ain't No Grave"
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 09/05/2026
CONGRATULATIONS, VIOLET! 💙💛
Violet wears a graduation cap and gown and shakes hands with MSU president Jay Morgan at 2026 Spring Commencement.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 17/04/2026
Friday show!! Also, a slight schedule change - VatN will play from 6-6:30, and Jimmy, Peyton, and Alanabeth will play from 7:30-8. Whole concert will air live on WMMT (88.7 Whitesburg, or stream it on wmmt.org)!
Concert poster. Orange background with a green strip at the bottom with the Martin County Tourism logo. Poster reads: 
Stidham Old Time Spring Concert
Friday, April 17
6:00-6:30 Jimmy Webb, Peyton Byrns &
Alanabeth Duncan
6:45-7:15 John Harrod
7:30-8:00 Violet and the Newsroom
8:15-8:45 Lafferty Brothers
9:00-9:30 Kill Devil Hillbillies
FREE ADMISSION!
Donations support the Stidham Old
Time Music Association.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 03/04/2026
Event poster. Solid red background with text ringed by a border of whimsical vintage illustrations of bugs, critters, foliage, and fairies. Text reads:
HOLLOW HAVEN BAZAAR PRESENTS: WILDWOOD FAIRE
A woodland gathering for Ren Faire & Fantasy lovers
50+Vendors | Live music & performances I Axe throwing | Faerie scavenger hunt |
Face Painting | Food trucks & more
MAY 17" 2026
TALON WINERY & VINEYARDS
7086 TATES CREEK RD LEXINGTON
$8 entry 10 & under free
FAMILY & DOG FRIENDLY
COSTUMES ENCOURAGED
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 03/04/2026
Recording at the KCTM studio for Violet's senior capstone album. 💜 Photos by John Flavell
Foreground: Back of Anabel's head and shoulder as she holds an upright bass.

Background: Violet stands, singing and playing the fiddle into a microphone in a music recording studio.

Photo by John FlavellForeground: Back of Clay's head. He's turned to watch Violet.

Background: Violet stands and plays the fiddle.

Photo by John Flavell
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 14/02/2026
Next show: Friday, March 6 with our friends Odonian Dream and Cedar Girl at girlsgirlsgirls Burritos in Lexington.
show poster. background reads GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS in pink neon over an ivy lattice. concert info in white letters:
VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM
ODONIAN DREAM
CEDAR GIRL
$10 COVER
OLD-TIME FIDDLE & COUNTRY | FOLK PUNK | EMO FOLK
MARCH 6, 2026
DOORS AT 7 / SHOW AT 8
@ GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS BURRITOS
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 13/02/2026
James E. Webb's obituary, written by musician Phill Barnett. Webb's influence has touched generations of Kentucky musicians, including us.
mountaincitizen.com
Tomahawk icon James E. Webb passes away at 81
James E Webb's legacy as a luthier and educator echoes through the local music scene. Read his remarkable story.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 04/01/2026
TONIGHT at girlsgirlsgirls Burritos THE UNFLINCHING at 9:00 CEDAR GIRL at 10:00 VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM at 11:00
neon sign with pink letters reading GIRLS GIRLS GIRLSchalkboard wall. says: LIVE MUSIC CEDAR GIRL THE UNFLINCHING VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM (newsroom.band)
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 25/12/2025
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Thanks for making this year a special one - we're so grateful for you. ❤️🎄
youtu.be
Silent Night
YouTube video by Violet and the Newsroom
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 24/12/2025
we lied x2! unfortunately, this performance has been canceled due to (minor) injury. we'll be back and at 'em in january!
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 20/12/2025
we lied! one last show before the year's out! catch us in tomahawk, our favorite place to fiddle around!
yellow orange gradient overlays a background showing a wall of banjos on display behind a counter. text reads: VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM DECEMBER 27 SATURDAY 5 PM, JAMES WEBB MUSICAL REPAIR AND SALES 1213 MILO RD, TOMAHAWK, KY 41262
OLD TIME FIDDLE + ACOUSTIC FOLK + ORIGINALS
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 11/12/2025
This Saturday! Two acts, four sets, no cover! Come party?
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 27/11/2025
Thanks to everybody who came out to Tunes for Toys last night. It was a dream come true to get to play at The Burl - see you next time!! 😘
Violet and the Newsroom playing at The Burl. Three performers onstage: Clay, left, sitting on a high chair with a dulcimer in his lap, Violet, middle, standing with a fiddle, and Anabel, right, playing an upright bass. The stage is has instruments for other performers on it, including electric guitars and drumsets. The wall behind them is vertical slats of wood, with a central stained glass window lit from behind. The stained glass is a tree with knotty roots wider than its leaves ringed by a double-headed snake.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 23/11/2025
Concert poster. Yellow-toned background of a downtown street showing the exterior of the venue. Image mostly covered by lemon-lime-green text: “VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM + CEDAR GIR. ACOUSTIC STRING BAND + EMO FOLK. DEC 13. SATURDAY, 8 PM TO 10 PM. MORTIMER BIBB’S PUBLIC HOUSE, 330 ST CLAIR ST, FRANKFORT, KY 40601.”
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 03/11/2025
newsroom.band
Show and Tell
Clay, Violet, and Anabel play at a wedding in the chapel at Pine Mountain Settlement School (photo by Meg Angel) Clay here! Not feeling super wordy at the moment, but I’ve got enough photos t…
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/11/2025
Violet and the Newsroom Concert! Sunday, November 9 from 4pm-6pm at the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe in Frankfort!
Square image. Background is digitally manipulated photo (orange and purple rather than natural full colors) of a pirate skeleton sitting at a bar. Behind the skeleton, a guitar and a banjo hang on the wall. Interior is a photo of the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe. Text reads:
VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM
SUNDAY, 4PM - 6PM
KENTUCKY COFFEETREE CAFE
235 W BROADWAY ST, FRANKFORT, KY 40601
NO COVER & RECORDING LIVE!
ACOUSTIC FOLK STRING BAND
NOV 09
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/11/2025
Last week, we played a wedding at Pine Mountain Settlement School. Thank you Corri for the pictures, and congratulations!
Black and white photo of Clay, Violet, and Anabel sitting on a church pew and playing music. The wall behind them is stone, with a central angular window with square panes. A color photo close up of Anabel’s arm supporting the bass. She holds it with a light grasp, her fingers loose on its neck.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/11/2025
Woolly worm forecast a mild winter!
Violet holds her fiddle out, smiling as if caught mid laugh. A woolly worm has been placed on one of her tuning pegs, where it sits.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 22/10/2025
What are you doing November 9th? We’ll be (god willing!) recording a live show with a focus on originals and old-time faves. No cover, just pop in and grab a drink at the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe in Frankfort between 4 and 6!
A poster on a corkboard with other posters. It’s brown and sepia, with text over a photo of the band sitting in a radio studio (WMKY). Clay and Anabel sit as if working, looking up from their papers and microphones at Violet. Violet sits on the central desk and plays her fiddle.

The text reads: VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM - COUNTRY & FOLK COVERS - OLD TIME FIDDLE TUNES - ORIGINAL MUSIC - NOV 09 4-6 PM - KENTUCKY COFFEETREE CAFE - 235 WEST BROADWAY STREET, FRANKFORT, KY 40601 - NO COVER, RECORDING LIVEBusiness cards on a business card corkboard. A hand (Clay’s) holds a card reading “VIOLET AND THE NEWSROOM” in white over a monochromatic green background of violet flowers. The reverse side (pinned to the corkboard behind his hand) reads “VIOLET & THE NEWSROOM - VIOLET - ANABEL - CLAY - ACOUSTIC FOLK STRING BAND - KY, USA - newsroom.band” there is also a QR code that leads to the same website. Handwritten on the card is: “BOOK US FOR YOUR PARTY, WEDDING, BACKGROUND TUNES”
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 17/10/2025
Tomorrow (Friday!) night! Catch us in Berea with our friend Lucy Becker!
Band concert flyer. Two bands pictured, each with three members. Top picture is a color photo - Lucy and the Love Letters - and bottom picture is a grayscale tintype portrait - Violet and the Newsroom. October 17th, Friday, @ Rebel Rebel, Berea KY.
$10 cover | $5 student. Doors at 6, music 7:30. 440 Chestnut St Berea KY
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 09/10/2025
This week’s blog: rumination on songwriting by @anabelrose.bsky.social 💚
newsroom.band
I’d sew my sweetheart to my side …
Hey all! Anabel here (and our lovely Clay in some spots). Not much in the [Violet and the] Newsroom world this week, so I have a little bit more time to think. After a big gig run these past couple…
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 05/10/2025
The Cuckoo -> Ain’t No Grave (switch over at about 2:15) Thanks to Violet’s mom for the video!
youtube.com
The Cuckoo & Ain't No Grave
YouTube video by Violet and the Newsroom
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 04/10/2025
Thanks again to Walt from Chasers in Lebanon - we’re going to find every excuse to use this, lol!
A picture of a sidewalk in downtown Lebanon, Kentucky. There’s a fence with a few big vinyl (2x8’, if I had to guess) signs on it. One reads “DJ AARON BROCK” and hangs on the fence. On the ground is one for our band, with a large picture of the three of us holding our instruments.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/10/2025
Another one at Liberty Hall in the books! This is our third show in the gardens behind the historic home - and maybe it’s a good time of year to mention it’s super haunted? We captured some live audio from the set that turned out (imho!) pretty clean, so click on through and give us a listen!
newsroom.band
In some lady’s fine brick house, in some lady’s garden…
Violet and the Newsroom playing at Liberty Hall’s Garden Gathering. (Let me out or I’ll break out, fare ye well my darlin’!) Clay here! We’re all a bit busy this week (work!…
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 18/09/2025
There are so many dog pictures in this post. Click and scroll on down. You *have* to meet Whiskey.
newsroom.band
Some will come on Saturday night, some will come on Sunday…
Anabel and Violet packing stuff out of the Liberty Hall garden. (And if you give ’em half a chance, they’ll be back on Monday!) It’s Clay! Had the first of two very busy, very fun…
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 13/09/2025
Heading on out to Whitesburg now! See you there!
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/09/2025
Sadly, this year’s Barefoot has been canceled. We hope to see everyone next year!
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/09/2025
Ten days out!
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 02/09/2025
Violet won an award and we partied in Robertson county! Next up: back to Whitesburg!
newsroom.band
JD Crowe Memorial Scholarship & Turtleback Ridge Brewery
Clay here! First off, a great big shoutout to Violet! Weekend before last, she performed with the KCTM’s Mountain Music Ambassadors at CroweFest, the bluegrass music festival down in Clay Cit…
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Appalshop @appalshop.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
During August, get a digital download of "All Join Hands!: Traditional Music for Square Dancing" by musicians like John Harrod, Jesse Wells, Rich Kirby, and more on our Bandcamp page and name your own price! loom.ly/DnPMMHQ 🎵: "All Join Hands!" Various Musicians, June Appal Records, 2005.
A album cover for "All Join Hands!: Traditional Music for Square Dancing." It features a color photograph of people square dancing.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 18/08/2025
Loving Farm was kind enough to give us a shout-out in their newsletter this week! We look forward to seeing Marietta and Perriee at this Saturday’s show at Turtleback Ridge. 💛
newsroom.band
Loving Farm Shoutout + Looking Forward to Turtleback Ridge
It’s Clay! Opened my inbox this morning to be greeted by the Loving Farm newsletter – with a shoutout for our show this weekend right at the beginning! Check it out! Loving Farm is a fi…
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 14/08/2025
All day October 4 - We’ll be just The Newsroom for this one, because we’re sans-Violet, but we’ll be playing with our very good friend Peyton Byrns!
Poster for Barefoot Festival. Image of two bare feet in front of a forested landscape.
Text:
APPALACHIAN ARTS AND ECOLOGY BAREFOOT FESTIVAL
Local Everything
Presented by:
Renew Appalachia
Kentucky State University
Stidham Old Time Music Association
Sponsored by:
Hope in the Hills
October 4 10am-10pm
Lovely, KY
MUSIC, WORKSHOPS, VENDORS
On A Reclaimed Strip Mine
Music Lineup:
Ditch Lilies • Killdevil Hillbillies
Phill Barnett & The Rockhouse Renegades The Newsroom Band • Something Sandy
Thomas Jude Band • Two of a Kind Jared Goforth • Janean Freeman Ethan Allen • Ange McGillicuddy
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 14/08/2025
September 12-13! (We play at 4 on the 13th, but we’ll be hanging out all day!)
country-western style band poster. old-timey font and a little picture of a cowgirl. Text:

OLD TIME INFLUENCE FEST
SEP 12 & 13 2025

• ADMISSION-$25
• JAMS
• OPEN MIC

AT WILEY'S LAST RESORT


APPALACHIATARI
BENZODRONES
CLOVER LYNN
HONKY TONK WALRUS
MIKE WILD MAN ELISON
LEO SHANNON
VIOLET & THE NEWSROOM 
COOPER!
BRADFORD & URN
WEBB TWINS
MINNIE MOORE
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 12/08/2025
Catch you in Robertson County!
Event poster. Background is photo of a butterfly perched on the stalk of a flowering plant. Over it is text:

VIOLET AND the
NEWSROOM
AUG 23
SATURDAY, 6PM - 8PM
TURTLEBACK RIDGE BREWERY
6769 MT PLEASANT RD, EWING, KY 41039
BACK PORCH SESSION
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 11/08/2025
Rock of Ages from today’s set at Kentucky Native Cafe in Lexington.
youtu.be
Rock Of Ages (Gillian Welch cover)
YouTube video by Violet and the Newsroom
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 06/08/2025
Remember the tintype we sat for at the Elliott County Fiddler’s Convention? Here’s our best resting mean mugs. Thanks to The People’s Portraiture!
Black and white photograph of three people holding acoustic instruments in front of a natural background. One person, Clay, sits in the front with a mountain dulcimer. He is barefoot and looks directly at the camera. Standing behind him to the left is Anabel, also looking at the camera and holding an upright bass with her hands on the strings. Standing to the right is Violet, who looks at Anabel while holding her fiddle to her chest.
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 06/08/2025
See you Sunday!
Poster with text over a photo of the interior of a greenhouse with plenty of foliage and cafe tables.
VIOLET and the
NEWSROOM
AUG 10
SUNDAY, NOON - 2 PM
KENTUCKY NATIVE CAFE
417 E MAXWELL STREET, LEXINGTON, KY
GOOD TUNES TO BRUNCH TO
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Violet and the Newsroom @newsroom.band · 06/08/2025
Biiiiig party at our buddy Jim’s place! You’re gonna want to go ahead and clear out your schedule for the last weekend of July, 2026…
newsroom.band
Tunes in Tomahawk – 2025 Stidham Old Time Music Gathering
Violet and the Newsroom playing at the 2025 Stidham Old Time Music Gathering in Tomahawk, KY. Clay here, recounting an amazing weekend down at our favorite party thrown by our favorite dude down at…
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