Songs from the Center of the Universe Concert on the front porch of historic Hanover Arts and Activities Center
Ashland has long inspired music in the hearts of those who stroll its picturesque streets—but now, the town’s unique charm will be immortalized in song. Join us for the Songs from the Center of the Universe concert on Saturday, September 27 at 11 AM on the front lawn of the Hanover Arts and Activities Center, where the Ashland Song Contest winners will perform their original, Ashland-inspired anthems—live and on the record.
Bring your blanket or pull up a folding chair provided by the Center, and become part of history as Free Jambalaya professionally records each performance for distribution across all major streaming platforms and airplay on K101.2 POP Richmond. It’s a free celebration of music, community, and the stories that make Ashland sing.
Sarah Forti recording her Ashland Song Contest entry
🎤 Live Music from Ashland’s Brightest Songwriters
This hometown concert features the winners of the Ashland Song Contest, each of whom captured the spirit of Ashland through melody and lyrics. From laugh-out-loud tracks to soulful serenades, the lineup includes:
Sarah Forti, whose humorous “Don’t Drive on the Tracks” warns:
Please don’t drive down the railroad tracks, my friend /
They won’t get you where you’re going, in the end /
If you’re not driving a train…Kevin Fergusson, who sings of Ashland’s wonder in A Day and Night in Ashland:
I saw the Center of the Universe on view, /
Out here in the small and precious town of Ashland.Beloved local musician Victor Gottlieb, who says, “I got never-ending support and inspiration all the way through this fun contest.” Victor’s songwriting nearly became a full album dedicated to Ashland itself.
Vendors set up at historic Hanover Arts and Activities Center during the Songs from the Center of the Universe Concert
✨ More Than a Concert—It’s a Celebration!
In true small-town style, the concert will be accompanied by:
🍽️ Farm-to-fork food trucks serving local eats
🛍️ Art, craft, and business vendors offering handmade and hometown goods
🎯 Lawn games and family-friendly fun
🚂 Arrive in style by taking Amtrak Virginia to the Ashland station—just steps from the concert—or crack open a cold one from Center of the Universe Brewing Company to toast to Ashland’s musical milestone.
Simultaneously, Ashland will welcome hundreds of Virginia Girl Scouts for Ashland Girl Scout Day, who will be exploring all the wonder the “Center of the Universe” has to offer—including this concert that adds melody to our history and helps share it with the next generation and beyond.
🎶 “We’re always delighted to discover how many people are inspired by Ashland,” says Louise Keeton, Director of Operations for Downtown Ashland Association. “It is our goal to provide a platform for these artists to be heard—not only in the Center of the Universe, but to pull everyone into our orbit. We’re so thankful to Free Jambalaya for bringing professional production to these original songs and sharing them with the world.”
Songs from the Center of the Universe Concert
📍 Hanover Arts and Activities Center Lawn – 500 S Center St, Ashland
🗓️ Saturday, September 27, 2025
⏰ 11 AM – Free and open to all!