Play It Again at The Purple Fiddle

Appalachian melodies rain down upon patrons at The Purple Fiddle and along with the harmonic showers comes a new respect for simple fun.

This stomping ground in Thomas, West Virginia, hosts a toe-tapping good time on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. Performers with acoustic instruments―banjo, mandolin, and, of course, fiddle―in hand strum out folk, gospel, and original songs. From the stage, musicians peer out on a mix of fans―blue hair and Mohawks, tykes in SpongeBob pajamas, teens in AC/DC shirts, and D.C. politicos with ties slung loosely around their necks. The crowd is as diverse as a swarm of new drivers at the DMV.

Owner John Bright is grateful for the mix of customers. "We call this a living room atmosphere," he says. "We wanted a place you can take your 5-year-old son, watch him dance, and feel comfortable―feel safe."