Singer Erin Lunsford’s “Strawberries” tour merges music and activism

VIRGINIA (WFXR) – Erin Lunsford, an award-winning singer/songwriter and Fincastle native, is addressing food insecurity with her new Appalachian community care song, “Strawberries.”

According to the press release, Steeped in the bluegrass and folk traditions of her Southwest Virginia roots, Lunsford blends clawhammer banjo, front-porch storytelling, and pop-savvy hooks to create a sound that is uniquely her own.

Lunsford says she is coupling her release with direct community action through her “Strawberries” Food Pantry Fundraiser Tour. Rather than a traditional album promotion, she’s channeling the celebration of her new single into addressing food insecurity across Central Virginia.

The stops of this tour include:

• Sept 7: @fonticellofoodforest in Richmond, Virginia (5-7 p.m.)

• Sept 21: @leap4localfood Mountain View Community Garden, SW Roanoke (2-4 p.m.) –
  benefiting Salvation Army Roanoke food pantry

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• Sept 28: @harkvineyards Charlottesville, Va (2-4 p.m.) – benefiting the Charlottesville Food
  Pantry

Roanoke nonprofits and schools get funds to boost food accessibility

“The tour reflects Lunsford’s approach to using her platform for mutual aid. By connecting her
music directly to fundraising efforts, she’s demonstrating how artists can embed community care
into their work – turning release celebrations into opportunities for collective support. Each stop
partners with local food systems organizations, creating a network of care that extends beyond
a single performance. This model of artist-led community organizing shows how music can
serve as both creative expression and social infrastructure in our region,” said the Richmond Grid.

Lunsford says “Strawberries” is about the proverbial garden in which we can all share if we work together and care for each other. Lunsford believes we can shift towards a community-centric model of care if we continue to learn and grow together. The song’s lyrics showcase the plants and animals native to Virginia, including persimmons, white tail deer, Joe Pye weed, and, of course, strawberries.

Lunsford said she was inspired to write “Strawberries” after seeing a news story about immigration that implied immigrants are a threat to resources and should be feared.

In her own words, Lunsford said, “I was struck by how indoctrinated Americans are in the scarcity mindset. We are so worried about getting what’s mine and keeping what’s mine. But if we shifted to an abundance mindset, a caring mindset, we would have enough resources to go around. Strawberries talks about the proverbial garden where EVERYONE is welcome, all the plants and animals are native to central Virginia and thriving, and we fight for each other’s freedoms. I care deeply about body justice and autonomy, marriage equality, food insecurity, and I’m learning more and more how deeply intertwined all these battles are. Our freedoms are truly dependent on each other’s freedoms. If we work together, we can all be free! “

Listen to “Strawberries” here, and watch the stop animation music video here.

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