It’s the middle of Winter, and most of us are experiencing the February blahs. So to cheer you up a little, let’s look forward to some Summer music adventures along the Mountain Music Trail this year:

JUNE – Allegheny Echoes Music Workshops in Marlinton, June 24-29. For the 22nd year Allegheny Echoes Summer Workshops presents annual study and celebration of West Virginia and Appalachian culture and heritage. It is an opportunity for students to join accomplished, honored performers mountains for a week of instruction and fun in beautiful Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

In addition to learning in an intimate workshop setting, students will be invited to participate in exciting outdoor activities in the heart of the mountains that provided inspiration for some of the greatest work of West Virginia musicians and writers. Participants will be exposed to a type of interactive, collaborative instruction that is fresh and unique, yet preserves the honesty and emotional legacy of the culture.

Allegheny Echoes is the concept of a group of West Virginia musicians, writers and artists who wish to promote, support, preserve, and teach their art in a traditional way in a traditional setting. Their goal is to provide an accurate representation of West Virginia art that is not packaged and altered to appeal to a specific market. There is a strong emphasis placed on West Virginia style with an acknowledgment of the encompassing Appalachian culture. The Summer Workshops offer a chance for students of all ages and abilities to come together to learn, appreciate, and enjoy our West Virginia ways.

Plus it’s a lot of fun, with jams every night, a square dance on Tuesday and concerts Thursday and Friday at the Pocahontas County Opera House. Whether you come as student for the whole week or just stop by for an evening, it’s a great experience. See more at alleghenyechoes.com

JULY and AUGUST – Augusta Heritage Workshops in Elkins

The Augusta Heritage Center of Davis and Elkins College offers week-long programs featuring instruction in many traditions of music, dance, crafts and folklore. Concerts, dances, a festival and other heritage arts events are also part of the Augusta experience. The schedule for this Summer includes (two workshops each week):

July 22-29: Old Time Music – Blues and Swing

July 29 – August 3: Cajun and Creole – Classic Country

August 5-10: Bluegrass – Vocal Music

Plus Workshops for kids and Arts, Crafts, & Folklore Workshops run each week July 22 through August 10. For more information go to augustaheritagecenter.org

JULY 31- AUGUST 4 – Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival in Tucker County. Voted the Outstanding Bluegrass festival in the USA in 2017, the 2018 lineup includes: Lonesome River Band, Seldom Scene, Blue Highway, The Gibson Brothers, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Darrell Webb Band, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.

Meanwhile, to chase those February blues, here are some events coming up this month:

Through February 23 – Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg has two music-related exhibitions: In the OLD STONE ROOM GALLERY “Live From Carnegie Hall: 35 Years of Performances”, a collection of classic show posters, and WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME “The Art of Music in West Virginia”, posters, drawings and artifacts from members of our state’s music hall of fame. You can visit during regular business hours or in the evening if you attend a show – like the Melissa Aldana concert at Carnegie Hall on Friday, February 16th. 

Friday, February 2 – the Steel Wheels at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas

Every Thursday in February – The Elk River Ramblers at the Inn and Restaurant at Elk River, Slaty Fork – and they’ll be at The Purple Fiddle for afternoon shows Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th

Sunday, February 11 – at 2:30 – Singers of the Songs: A folk singing workshop with Michael and Carrie Kline, D&E College Chapel, Elkins. The Klines say: “Come share in the old-time, eye-to-eye and knee-to-knee singing of an ancient repertoire of songs and ballads collected in the Allegheny Mountain region of West Virginia over the past forty years. We learned the imagery and haunting plot-lines of ballads and laments from members of families like the Hammonses, Carpenters, Messangers, Stovers and others whose collective memories are reflective of the vastness of history itself.”

Thursday, February 15 – Mountain Music Trail Open Mike night at the Monroe County Library, Union WV. This event happens the third Thursday of each month.

Saturday, February 17 – the annual “Opry Night” at the Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton – with Juanita Fireball and the Continental Drifters and young banjo whiz Trevor Hammons (featured photo).

– Gibbs Kinderman. Hashtag #98. February 2018.