Fairfax County Live!

Local music fans who enjoy a hometown success story and who haven't checked out Northern Virginia's Melodime might want to see the band tomorrow night at Royal Lake Park. Who knows how long it will be before the group's momentum carries its musicians to bigger things than playing free outdoor shows in their own back yard?

Not that critical praise, respectable record sales and an expanding fan base would be enough to lure Melodime from home. After all, the group's debut album, "Memories in the Form of Sound," features a song called "NoVa Love" and another with lyrics extolling the musical inspiration the band members get from making "sweet Virginia" their base. But when a band this good starts attracting attention, it doesn't pay for those who want to say, "I saw them way back when," to procrastinate.

"There was a time when we were seriously considering moving," said Melodime's main songwriter, singer and guitarist Bradley Rhodes, who grew up in Vienna and graduated from Oakton High School. Rhodes said the band had considered relocating to Nashville but scrapped that plan when things began to fall into place locally.

Staying close to home is fine with him, Rhodes said. "I feel like D.C is great place for bands to grow. I really like the area and the opportunities we could have here. Things are really starting to pick up at this point," he said, noting Melodime's busy concert schedule. "We are seeing the fruits of our labors."

The group, made up of keyboardist Sam Duis, drummer Tyler Duis, bassist Nate Thomas, violinist Katie Shanta and part-time vocalist Rachel Beauregard, mixes a refreshing musical cocktail from rock, country, blues and folk influences. Melodime got its start in 2005 and released its first CD last year. The band's song "Sweet Contentment" was featured on the Fox network's show "So You Think You Can Dance" last summer.

Melodime's appearance at Royal Lake Park comes during the second week of the Fairfax County Park Authority's Braddock Nights concert series, which will continue through the summer with performances on Fridays at Royal Lake in Fairfax and Lake Accotink Park in Springfield and Sundays at Ossian Hall Park in Annandale.

-- C. WOODROW IRVIN

Royal Lake Park is at 5344 Gainsborough Dr., Fairfax. 703-324-7496. The performance will be canceled if it rains. For information, visit http://www.myspace.com/mymelodime. The park authority offers summer entertainment at more than a dozen locations throughout the county. A schedule is availabhttp://le athttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances.