Subterranean Sound: Chamomile & Whiskey

Subterranean Sound at Grand Caverns is our exclusive concert series deep within the cave. With only 75 tickets available for each performance, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy local libations and a live show within a sonically surreal, subterranean setting.
Subterranean Sound presents Chamomile & Whiskey on January 23rd, 2026.
Cocktail Hour/Doors Open @5:30 PM
Drinks provided by Brothers Craft Brewery
Show @7:00 PM
Tickets are $55, no refunds or exchanges. Tickets go on sale December 17th, 2025 @ 8:30 AM EST.
~Chamomile & Whiskey Bio below~
Koda Kerl and Marie Borgman have never much cared for the word “genre.” The founding members of Chamomile and Whiskey continuously let the sound of the band carve its own path. With over a decade of touring under their belt and four full length albums, the group seems comfortable with change. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, we aren’t the same people we were in our early twenties, literally... the lineup has changed numerous times!” Kerl laughs. “Different people bring different influences and taste to the table... we’ve always tried to let the songs lead and follow what feels right... I remember being told once, many years ago, that I shouldn’t play piano on a song because it didn’t fit our brand... and that’s a mistake I’ll never make again.”
After years of establishing themselves as one of central Virginia’s premier party bands, the group has settled in a bit since the pandemic. “We made our 3rd album, Red Clay Heart with Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo) at the end of 2019... we signed with a new agent and were ready to take it to the next level. Of course, 2020 didn’t play out as we hoped but there were some silver linings... I had so much time to write.” Kerl and the band used the downtime to write and start recording themselves, something they had never tried before. It was during this time that bassist Brian Gregory joined the band. “We were looking for a new bassist and Stuart had played with Brian for years in the Wrinkle Neck Mules... he started by adding parts to some demos I was playing with. The first time we all jammed together, I knew he was the perfect fit.”
As the band eased back into touring, they started to work on their fourth album, 2024’s Put It All Together, which was co-produced by the band and BJ Pendleton. “I was a little more forthcoming with my opinions on this one but at the same time it was very collaborative... Brian and I would usually be the last ones in the studio late at night... I’m on like my 5th rewatch of The Sopranos and I call him my consigliere. It was cool to see how everyone worked off each other. Marie had hit a wall on one song, and Brian showed her a bass idea that he had scrapped... they went outside and worked it into a fiddle part, while Drew laid down a guitar solo. That’s the kind of stuff we live for.” As the band prepares to release new music, they have taken to calling what they do “Blue Ridge Mountain Rock and Roll.” A description Kerl hopes will stick, if nothing else than to save time. “We felt like that was a decent way of describing ourselves... we’ve got plenty of Appalachian and Irish influence and southern rock and country and blues... but I just don’t care about the branding that much... it’s probably not a good thing professionally but I find it exhausting. We’ve got friends that playHonky-Tonk, and I love it and I’m glad is easy for them to describe what they do... but it isn’t for us, and I don’t want it to be. I get bored easily.” Like the drink they created and named their band after, Chamomile and Whiskey like to experiment and sometimes shoot from the hip. Their ever-evolving sound has always been grounded in powerful songwriting and energetic live performance. It’s a cocktail that brings folks back, looking forward to the next round.

Info: Seating starts at 6:30 pm which includes a tour of Grand Caverns as you walk 10-15 minutes underground on well lit, level, gravel pathways. Navigating stairs necessary. Not ADA accessible.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

5 Grand Caverns Dr, 5 Grand Caverns Drive, Grottoes, United States

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