By: Rick Landers
A man of many talents, Ken Avis, recently released his first book, A History of Popular Music in Northern Virginia: Superstars, Guitars & Roadhouse Bars, that highlights the diversity and depth of the music scene across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., an area better known for it’s government-centric work, as well as its drama, rather than the diverse cluster of great music it has given roots to and inspired since the early days of our country.
Avis is a very well-respected English musician and Virginia-based entrepreneur, who’s performed throughout the area playing solo gigs, as well as many others with his French Canadian vocalist and wife, Lynn, in their duet that they dubbed VERONNEAU, Lynn’s last name. The two have earned seven Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIES) for their music and have released Top 10 charting albums.
VERONNEAU has performed at some of the areas most favored venues, including the legendary Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Strathmore Music Center, the Creative Cauldron, Jammin’ Java, the Hamilton, the Alexandria Jazz Festival and beyond. Since they met, he and Lynn, as Veronneau have built an international reputation touring the U.S., England, Canada, and Europe.
Ken’s bona fides are impressive and include starting his own recording label and now a publishing company, Antidote Sounds and Antidote Books, respectively, and producing two D.C. focused music documentaries, Bossa Fever and Anacostia Delta.
And now, Ken’s music passion has prompted him to research the history of Northern Virginia’s music scene in a digestible sign post of a book that covers a lot of ground in it’s 71 pages, that inform, entertain and gives readers a better grasp of the area as a hot spot of American music.
Filled with some cool rare photographs related to Northern Virginia’s popular music history to focus on the areas music from the mid-1800’s to the 1990’s
It’s a surprisingly comprehensive piece of work in short form. I figured it would be a an easy read, but I found it impossible to get through it without digging in more into its coverage to learn even more about Northern Virginia’s music and the musicians that impressed not only the locals, but the listening world at large. And that, I’d say is a major point of Ken’s book, to learn enough about the music to nudge you in the direction to want more. His book opens the door.
And speaking of doors, the author points out many of the famed luminaries that lived in the area, including Jim Morrison of The Doors, The Sweethearts, Roberta Flack, John Philip Sousa, Patsy Cline, Elizabeth Cotton, Ian MacKaye, Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dave Grohl and more. It’s a long list, but better to pick up the little tome to enjoy and be repeatedly surprised.
Author, award winning singer songwriter Ken Avis – photo credit: Lynn Veronneau
Ken Avis has done his homework to help us recognize the historic importance of Northern Virginia’s place as the home of many major music influences, that includes key figures in the world of music, who planted their flags in the world of roots music, bluegrass, country, hillbilly, folk, the blues, jazz, soul, rock, go-go, punk and where a diverse melting pot of music often fused or blended together.
A History of Popular Music in Northern Virginia: Superstars, Guitars & Roadhouse Bars is a major work in a small package. An easy fun romp that gifts us with an appreciation of the roots and the development of Northern Virginia’s legendary musicians, both large and small iconic venues, and the music communities that nurtured them and helped them thrive.
Flip some coin to Mr. Avis for this first history of Northern Virginia music, the first in a series he’s planning to release by Music City DC Books. The book educates and informs us in a most entertaining way about one of most vital and still thriving music scenes in America. You won’t regret it!
Rating: FIVE STARS
Title: A History of Popular Music in Northern Virginia: Superstars, Guitars & Roadhouse Bars
No. Pages: 71
Release: 2026
Author: Ken Avis
Publisher: Antidote Books, Arlington, Virginia
Price: $19.99, plus postage
Purchase: Contact Here! https://www.antidotesounds.com/contact
