July 3, 2010
Mountain Keepers Fest Celebrates WV Freedom
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Dawes, WV (HNN) - On Saturday, July 3rd and Sunday, July 4th, the annual Mountain Keepers Music Festival will be held at Kayford Mountain's Stanley Heirs Park. The two day event will feature then local and regional musicians playing a variety of bluegrass, gospel, country and old time music, as well as poetry, pot-luck meals, and a special appearance by leading NASA Climatologist James Hansen. This is a free concert that will celebrate Appalachian life and attendees are encouraged to bring a covered dish.
The purpose of the concert, according to local citizen activist Larry Gibson, is to “bring family and friends together for a weekend of celebrating West Virginia’s heritage and freedom. July 3 and 4 will see people from all walks of life, bound by their common love of our mountains and people. This will be a safe festival as festival organizers will have trained security present and all are invited to peacefully enjoy this Festival.
The festival will feature many emerging artists who celebrate their homes and heritage. Charleston musician T. Paige Dalporto will perform songs on West Virginia’s coal heritage and struggles that have been reviewed as, “beautiful, simple, and sincere.” Popular local band 600 Lbs. of Sin will be performing their energetic style and will specifically be performing a song written to commemorate the 29 miners lost in the Upper Big Branch Disaster. Legendary and Award Winning West Virginia musicians Michael & Carrie Kline will be singing old time West Virginia folk songs and ballads. Crystal Good, 2004 Winner of the Governor’s Innovative Artist Award, of the Affrilachian Poets will also perform her unique poetry.
This year’s festival will be hitting a high point when Ben Sollee performs on Saturday evening. He is a renowned celloist who defies convention by mixing in a soulful voice which earned him a place in National Public Radio’s list of Top Ten Unknown Artists in 2007. His performance on Saturday night will lead into a Sunday morning of gospel singing, led by up and coming artist Rebekah Jean, and a Sunday Service. Sunday afternoon will feature great Latin music from Charleston’s Duo Divertido, beautiful songs from singer songwriter Patricia Ansley, and ballads from Sara Lynch-Thompson.
Stanley Heirs Park is located near Dawes, WV, which is about 35 minutes south of Charleston off of Interstate 64. Anyone attending is encouraged to bring a covered dish for potluck meals. Camping is available for free. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact MtKeepersFestival@Gmail.com or call 304-542-1134. For complete online information on the festival, please visit www.myspace.com/mtkeepersfest.
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Mountain Keepers Fest Celebrates WV Freedom
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Dawes, WV (HNN) - On Saturday, July 3rd and Sunday, July 4th, the annual Mountain Keepers Music Festival will be held at Kayford Mountain's Stanley Heirs Park. The two day event will feature then local and regional musicians playing a variety of bluegrass, gospel, country and old time music, as well as poetry, pot-luck meals, and a special appearance by leading NASA Climatologist James Hansen. This is a free concert that will celebrate Appalachian life and attendees are encouraged to bring a covered dish.
The purpose of the concert, according to local citizen activist Larry Gibson, is to “bring family and friends together for a weekend of celebrating West Virginia’s heritage and freedom. July 3 and 4 will see people from all walks of life, bound by their common love of our mountains and people. This will be a safe festival as festival organizers will have trained security present and all are invited to peacefully enjoy this Festival.
The festival will feature many emerging artists who celebrate their homes and heritage. Charleston musician T. Paige Dalporto will perform songs on West Virginia’s coal heritage and struggles that have been reviewed as, “beautiful, simple, and sincere.” Popular local band 600 Lbs. of Sin will be performing their energetic style and will specifically be performing a song written to commemorate the 29 miners lost in the Upper Big Branch Disaster. Legendary and Award Winning West Virginia musicians Michael & Carrie Kline will be singing old time West Virginia folk songs and ballads. Crystal Good, 2004 Winner of the Governor’s Innovative Artist Award, of the Affrilachian Poets will also perform her unique poetry.
This year’s festival will be hitting a high point when Ben Sollee performs on Saturday evening. He is a renowned celloist who defies convention by mixing in a soulful voice which earned him a place in National Public Radio’s list of Top Ten Unknown Artists in 2007. His performance on Saturday night will lead into a Sunday morning of gospel singing, led by up and coming artist Rebekah Jean, and a Sunday Service. Sunday afternoon will feature great Latin music from Charleston’s Duo Divertido, beautiful songs from singer songwriter Patricia Ansley, and ballads from Sara Lynch-Thompson.
Stanley Heirs Park is located near Dawes, WV, which is about 35 minutes south of Charleston off of Interstate 64. Anyone attending is encouraged to bring a covered dish for potluck meals. Camping is available for free. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact MtKeepersFestival@Gmail.com or call 304-542-1134. For complete online information on the festival, please visit www.myspace.com/mtkeepersfest.
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