On September 12th, 2015 from 1pm until midnight. We Are One will present the 4th Annual Reggae Sun.Fest. For the first time, Sun.Fest will be held at Gesundheit Institute. GI! was founded by Patch Adams. The event will take place outside Hillsboro WV, on Locust Creek Road. The previous location, Pretty Penny Cafe, is now closed–owner and event organizer Blair Campbell has decided to move the event to a bigger and better venue. “This year we can offer camping and a more secluded venue,” says Campbell. A place where people can explore this wonderful property and relax in the open air.”
The roots of We are One come from when a racial slur was painted on the walls of Pretty Penny Cafe. Immediately after, employee Allie Erlewine changed her facebook profile picture to the symbolic statement We Are One. Simple white letters in a black circle, and the slogan was born. Campbell received a huge amount of support from her community and saw the true love of the human spirit. The WAO Campaign raised over $3500, held a potluck with over 200 in attendance at Oak Grove Presbyterian church, and are still selling t-shirts, “People just wanted to be able to show support. So this year I decided that we should combine Sun.Fest with the spirit of the WAO campaign. I think reggae music is about love and peace, so it goes together. Every event we have held at Pretty Penny Cafe has been so special to me and just because we had to close our doors doesn’t mean I wanted this event to end. It’s my favorite!” says Campbell
Many of the same bands will return. Lazy Man Dub Band from Roanoke VA will be there for the 4th year as well as headliner, Shawn Owen Band . Shawn is a lifelong friend of Cambell’s; he has shared the stage with The Wailers, Slightly Stoopid, G. Love and the Special Sauce, Dropkick Murphys, Michael Franti and Spearhead and many more. He just released his debut full length LP “Make Money” and is scheduled for a national tour. “Both of these bands and I go way back. I met Wayne, the drummer for Lazy Man Dub, in Charleston about 13 years ago.” says Campbell.
This event promises great food. ‘This year I hope to have at least one food vendor, but no matter what I will be grilling jerk Chicken and Pork, making rice and peas, and curried chicken!” There will also be pottery, jewelry vendors and moon bounces for the kids.
For information contact Blair Campbell at 304.653.4657 or email at blairedecampbell@gmail.com
HASHTAGWV ART & ENTERTAINMENT Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Christina Entenmann-Edwards has been a WV resident since September 2008. She was born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and is no stranger to hard work and the entrepreneurial spirit. In 2006, she graduated from Quinnipiac University (Hamden, Connecticut), Cum Laude, with a B.A. in History. In 2010, she graduated with an M.B.A. from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virginia). In February 2012, Christina launched HashtagWV as the area’s first full-color, free arts and entertainment tabloid + online platform. Christina completed the Leadership West Virginia class of 2021, which is an innovative program that grows, engages, and mobilizes leaders to ignite a life passion to move West Virginia forward.