Husband-and-wife duo Josh and Julie Kinn weave octave mandolin, bodhrán (Irish drum), and smooth vocal harmonies into their Celtic folk music from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From sea shanties and working songs, to trad tunes and Old Time favorites, Kinnfolk’s fresh take on classics blends seamlessly with their original compositions. They share stories as enduring as tartan, spinning yarns steeped in Appalachian charm, while enjoying playful banter with the audience. Their shows feel like a kitchen party, where everyone is family, and there’s always room for a dancer.

Kinnfok will lead a community jam session open to all ages, instruments, and skill levels. Come and listen, or join in and jam!

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Kinnfolk is rooted in tradition, lore and ancestry—and began with a story of love and romance in the misty mountains of their home in Roanoke, Virginia. After meeting over a shared passion for folk music at an Irish music session, Josh and Julie found a harmony of the heart. They began making music together, and soon after became kin—and Kinn (with two Ns!). In the heartland of Appalachian music—an American style with Irish and Scottish roots —where the lilt and twang intertwine like a Celtic knot, Kinnfolk has brought this musical lineage full circle.

Since forming Kinnfolk in late 2018, the pair have played at festivals and listening rooms with a quickly growing following across Canada and the United States. In 2023 Kinnfolk won the Robinson Emerging Artist Showcase, earning them a Main Stage appearance at Canada’s premiere Celtic event, the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival. They have been featured on the cover of the largest traditional music magazine in the world — Irish Music Magazine — and named one of the top Celtic folk bands to watch in 2025 by The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

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This project was supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, for accessibility inquiries or general questions, call (276) 376-4520 or email contact@proartva.org. For weather related updates, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for real-time information.

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Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and Mountain Empire Community College.

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