Beginning at 10 am and ending at 10 pm Saturday and 9 pm Sunday, the two-day event at Hinton's City Sidetrack Park, "Festival of the Rivers 2011" remains FREE to the public.The festival features something for every member of the family the City's "Wild Water Express" waterslide and "Railroad Train" swimming pool is opened each day from 11 am till 7 pm.
Shayar Jamaican-born singer-
songwriter leads the reggae band
Krooshal Force. Shayar's bands
played in Jamaica in the 80s.
As a rhythm guitarist, he has
toured the Carribean, the U.S.
and Europe with Burning Spear,
Gregory Isaacs, the Itals and
Anthony B. Shayar has played
in studio sessions with the
Mighty Diamonds, Freddie
McGregor, Leroy Sibbles
and many others.
His original compositions drive Krooshal Force, which he founded in the 80s and which has toured the US coast to coast, and Italy. Since the 90s, Shayar and his band have been based in Beckley, WV. The Mountain State's musical heritage influenced the latest album, Get Up and Try, which was released in October 2009.
Scott Miller is an accomplished percussionist who specializes in rattlin’ the bones. He plays in a wide variety of genres and is a featured performer at living history events, Irish fests, and traditional music festivals. He has performed as a guest artist with nationally recognized virtuoso musicians, including the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Clarke Buehling and the Skirtlifters, delta bluesman “Diamond” Jim Greene, Saint Louis blues prodigy Marquise Knox, and the legendary William “Banjo Billy” Mathews. In the St. Louis area, he can frequently be found playing with the urban-tribal fusion ensemble Raw Earth.
In 2004, Scott won the National Traditional Country Music Association bones contest, earning the title of World Bones Champion. Scott is founder and proprietor of Bone Dry Musical Instrument Company, which has grown to become the world’s leading retail distributor of musical bones, along with other traditional percussion instruments, such as washboards and cowbells. Scott frequently shares his extensive knowledge of bones history and technique at hands-on workshops. “I enjoy passing along this ancient tradition to others,” he says, “and I am happy to jam with any serious musicians who can stand the clatter.”
Roger Netherton Who will be accompanying Scott on stage, first heard live fiddle music at age 11, when he went to a bluegrass festival in Kansas on a family vacation. His response: “You mean my school violin can do that?” He began fiddling on his return home, and hasn’t stopped since. After exploring a variety of genres, including Irish, Scottish, and New England styles, he found his musical home in Appalachian old-time music. At age 12, he began playing for dances in his home town of St. Louis, and by age 13 he was earning enough from his fiddling to pay for his instruments, strings, travel, and other
musical expenses. Now, at 15, Roger plays regularly as the lead fiddle in three bands (Devil’s Dream, Playing With Fire, and The Traveling Waves) or with any old-time players willing to join him. When he’s not performing at dances or festivals, he and his fiddle are likely to be found at a jam, at a local pub’s open mic night, or on a street corner if the weather’s nice. Although Roger is well-versed in music theory and is accustomed to playing piano and classical violin from written music, he learns fiddle tunes strictly by ear, and he seeks out older players so he can learn their versions of traditional tunes by watching and playing with them. During his non-fiddling hours, Roger attends Pattonville High School through the St. Louis regional Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students, and is preparing for a college career in theoretical physics.
Jan Marra is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and whistler
with a lively personality and voice described as "traffic-stopping."
Her original songs are superbly crafted, full of warmth, humor,
and have a perspective described as "Joan Baez meets
Carol Burnett."
A poised performer, natural storyteller and comedienne, Ms. Marra
has a repertoire of over 300 folk, popular, jazz, and original songs
at her command, and captivates with nothing more than her voice
and guitar--and a most pleasing whistle. She won the Kerrville Folk
Festival's New Folk songwriting award twice, and her song
Oh Baby I Love You So has been featured on National Public Radio’s
"A Prairie Home Companion" and sung by host Garrison Keillor.
She has released two albums featuring her original music, and has
performed from Vancouver to Branson to Carnegie Hall, as well as in her ancestral home in Carfizzi, Italy.
Jan toured nationally with Pieces of 8, an eight-member a cappella vocal group, and is on the CD Hook, Line & Sinker, released in 1998. In 2000, Jan was featured on Suite 16, an album of St. Louis songwriters, and is included in several CDs produced by community radio station KDHX-FM. Her first album, These Crazy Years (Flying Fish/Rounder), received excellent reviews in the New York Daily News and England’s Folk Roots magazine. Her latest album of original music, Songs For Collectors, was released in 2002. Several of her songs have been recorded by children's artists and folk singers, and she continues to write regularly and perform.
Holy Cow! was conceived in Charleston, West Virginia in 2004. It is a musical trio whose members are Mike Arcuri (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Keith Lahti (electric slide and lead guitar) and Pam Corey, bass. Probably the best way to describe Holy Cow! is "Extreme Variety”. Although primarily rooted in the blues, the group's music also features elements of jazz, R&B, rock, alternative, folk, pop, and country. The group features gritty vocals, solid rhythm, and soaring slide and lead guitar on all original songs. The two members of the group have over 50 years of combined performing experience.
Kathleen Coffee is a multi-instrumentalist performer, teacher
, painter, and poet. She uses music as medicine, and calls
close the angels to sing when she sings. Her ancestors bring
her songs in dreams. Her heart is her drum. Reaching out to
children who lack guidance and love is her main inspiration
and motivation.
Her first album was made in 2007: a live recording from
The Room Upstairs. She is currently recording her newest
album, "pure" and highly anticipates its release."Pure" will
feature humanitarian photographer Paul Corbit Brown's
work (www.paulcorbitbrown.com) of hearts made in nature.
Part of the money raised from CD sells will fund Brown's trip
to Africa, to work more with building shelter for street children
in Rwanda. Another part of the CD sales will go towards
funding musical instruments for Maggie Doyne's school in Kopila Valley, Nepal. (www.blinknow.org)
Look forward to the reaching out! Grow Love! Give Love! Receive Love!
Option 22 is a progressive world folk ensemble with a revolutionary vibe. Fierce and passionate female vocals dance atop a healing groove of instruments from around the world including didgeridoo, shamisen, djembes and other hand drums. Positive lyrics streaming from the soul convey a message of unity and understanding and transcendental melodies elevate listeners' consciousness.
Dubbed by one listener a “new age jam band,” their flavorful style is flexible, ranging from funky and rhythmic sounds to mellow and melodic, with each member bringing into the equation affinities for world sounds, funk, folk, jamband music, newgrass, trance, reggae and rock. Full- out drum jams send energy bouncing off the walls of any venue. Another listener dubbed the sound “hippie hop.” The only category that truly seems fitting is “Other.”Based in Princeton, West Virginia, Lori McKinney (vocals, djembe, spoken word), Robert Blankenship (guitar, banjo, shamisen, hand-drums, didgeridoo), and Albert Perrone (guitar, hand-drums) have been writing and playing music together since early 2004. Brandun Dunn (bass) recently rounded off the mix.With backgrounds in theatre, performance, healing arts (yoga/meditation), and visual arts, the group comes together with an artistic mind-set and a vision for a better world. They founded Culturefest in 2004 in order to bring a multi-cultural arts experience to the region.
The Carpenter Ants have been around - with virtually the
same line up - for more than 16 years. The Ants have
defied the odds and outlasted most of their peers for a
number of reasons. First and foremost, regardless of
the occasion, the band never fails to have a good time.
And, after more than 2,000 performances, the members
still like and respect each other - and you can feel it in
their music.Having evolved into WV's premier rythm &
blues group, the band has unearthed a wealth of classic
and forgotten American music. The Ants wail through
classic R&B, country-swamp and gospel-soul with equal
conviction. A few years back, the band caught the ear
of famed singer/songwriter/producer/rock'n'roller
Don Dixon. The upshot was the band's second record,
the all-gospel Picnic with the Lord. Last year Dixon
anxiously signed on to produce the groups third effort,
Ants in Your Pants, and steered the band to Scott Beal's
Gaff Music. The disk will be released in spring 2004.
The core of the group consists of guitarist Michael Lipton,
drummer Jupiter Little, bassist Ted Harrison and vocalist/saxophonist Charlie Tee. A revolving cast of auxillary Ants include singer/songwriter Larry Groce, host of the internationally syndicated radio show "Mountain Stage," ex-NRBQ guitarist Steve Ferguson and Robert Shafer, one of the Country's premier Telecaster slingers and two-time national flatpicking champion.
The group's trademark sound -- rich, soulful harmonies, stinging solos, and a rock-solid rythm section -- captures that rare, loose-but-tight feel, and has won the band international as well as regional fans. The Ants have traveled to Moscow. The trips found the group performing at a variety of venues including the 3,500-seat Russia Concert Hall, the city's most prestigious room, a letter-styled TV show with a national audience of 100 million(!!), funky clubs and gaudy venues.
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is the county seat of Summers County WV. The town and county are rich in outdoor activity with superb fishing, two state parks, rail and coal history, and home of the Legend of John Henry, The Steel Drivin' Man. For more information on Hinton and the surrounding area visit the Summers County Convention & Visitors Bureau website. Beginning with the Gay 90's of the nineteenth century, the community experienced explosive growth. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the historic district includes over two hundred architecturally distinctive buildings. Styles encompassed are American Gothic, Classical, High Victorian, American Foursquare, and Greek Revival. The community is literally a living architectural exhibit.
Flannagan-Murrell House
The free festival is held by the Flannagan-Murrell House, Inc. (FMH),
a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to using the arts for the
benefit of the people of Hinton, Summers County, and West Virginia
in general. FMH is maintained through community support and staffed
by volunteers. For more information on the organization please call
publicity coordinator, Fred Long, at (304) 466-0005.
Flannagan-Murrell House, Inc. (FMH) was founded in 1990 with the
purpose of preserving the oldest extant house in the Hinton National
Historical District. A group of concerned citizens of Hinton and Summers County banded together and obtained a loan to purchase the abandoned house in order to save it from being razed. The cost of an annual membership in the organization is $15 for an individual, $25 for a family, or $50 in in-kind donations or services. FMH also offers lifetime memberships for $1000 and welcomes support for the continuing restoration of the building and program development in the arts. For more information contact Dwight Emrich 304-466-1401
Festival of the Rivers is sustained through the ongoing support of the State of West Virginia, corporate sponsors, and private donors.
- Individuals or companies interested in vending at the festival should contact vendor coordinator, David Williams, at (304) 890-4602 or email by davesele@hotmail.com . The vendor fee is $25/day and spaces are limited. Click here for more information about vending or to apply online.
- Anyone wishing to be considered for this year's festival should contact event and publicity coordinator, Dwight Emrich, (304) 466-1401.
Held on Labor Day Weekend, Festival of the Rivers is a two-day music festival featuring Grassroots Appalachian music in celebration of our rivers and railroad culture. Blues, Roots and Traditional musicians join us to showcase the influence Appalachian music has had on the world. This free festival is located in Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia at the confluence of the Greenbrier, Bluestone, and New rivers. As the "Gateway Community" for the New River Gorge National River, the community and festival are near both the National Park Service's New River Gorge Visitors Center on Interstate 64 and the breathtaking beauty of Sandstone Falls.
