2022 STAGE PERFORMING ARTISTS
Lady D & Mi$$ion
Friday, June 17th, 6:30 pm
WV’S FIRST LADY OF SOUL
They call her WV's First Lady of Soul. Her original song “Go Higher” was chosen as the best Obama Inaugural Song and Lady D and MI$$ION were invited to play at the Obama For Change Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C. in January 2009. This, now 21 year career has included some other highlights and lows. She's performed up and down the eastern seaboard, organized her own jazz & blues festivals and hosted a blues radio show for six years. 2020 was the year of the major shift in her writing and consciousness and she released her newest studio album, “Disturbing My Peace.” This reflection of the events and collective emotional trauma that took place in that year is all laid bare in Disturbing My Peace. Now comes … re-invention.
The Flex Crew
Friday, June 17th, 8:30 pm
The Flex Crew has redefined Reggae music. The seven members of The Flex Crew hail from a variety of musical backgrounds, resulting in a versatile and high energy band with a genius array of musical styles. No where else will you hear a comparable mix of Funk, Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Hip Hop and Reggae’s Lover’s Rock, Roots and Dancehall styles. Originating in Columbus, Ohio, this multi-talented band has been blessing the ears of audiences across the country with its unique style for almost two decades.
High Schools That Rock
Saturday, June 18th, 11:00 am
High Schools That Rock is led by Mark Doebrich. HSTR is a free musical program offered for students in grades 1-12 in Washington and Wood Counties.
Ugata
Saturday, June 18th 12:00 pm
This drum performance is led by Lawrence Greene. He is the founder of Ugata, a cultural education and social services organization based in Southeast Ohio. He has been performing and teaching West African drum traditions for 10 years. He uses movement and sound to develop spiritual clarity and inspiration for his students and self. Ugata is a cultural education and social services organization based in the intentions of their ancestors. All of their programs are based in the concept of bio-regional identity, which means you are where you live.
S. H. Kang's Tae Kwon Do Academy
Saturday, June 18th, 1:00 pm
This team trains at the YMCA in Parkersburg and is a branch of Grand Master Sok Ho Kang's Tae Kwon Do Academy in Charleston, WV. Tae Kwon Do is a form of self-defense which includes blocks and punches, while putting greater emphasis on kicking techniques. The translation for Tae Kwon Do is “the way of the hands and feet”. The demo team consists of all ages and ranges in skill levels from beginners to instructors with over 40 years of experience. The team entertains with traditional forms, self-defense routines and free sparring. Most exciting is the breaking demonstrations. The demo is narrated to include the audience through education. This display of discipline and dedication shows that even with personal limitations, anyone can attain their own personal best.
Pipes & Drums of St. Andrew
Saturday, June 18th, 1:30 pm
The Pipes & Drums of St. Andrew, is a civilian pipe band based in Parkersburg, WV. The band is currently under the direction of Drum Major Curt Mitchell and Pipe Major Carl Henson. The band members come from Eastern and North Central WV and Southeast Ohio, and range in age from teens to over 70. The members have many diverse backgrounds but are brought together by their love of Scottish culture and music.
Faire May
Saturday, June 18th, 2:00 pm
The band's four members, Zac Gordon, Jariel Henthorn, Max McGovern, and Jacob Coughlan, collaborate to bring old-world music to the modern world. Since the creation of Faire May in 2019 they have played at various venues around West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. At a Faire May concert you will hear anything from banjos to bagpipes, jaw harps and beyond. You will hear and enjoy music from the 15th century all the way until the 1950s and 1960s. The band is sure to bring a smile to your face using their traditional style, their professional skills, and their youthful nature!
Jensuya Bellydance
Saturday, June 18th, 3:00 pm
Reaching into the soul and unleashing vitality, Jensuya & Bob effortlessly fuse the foreign with the familiar to emerge with a passionate performance that redefines belly dance in America today. With roots in West Virginia and spirit in the Middle East, the couple throws down the gauntlet to stereotypes in their show, Amerikesh Express. You'll behold classic belly dance, participate in quintessential Mid East rhythm, learn to shake your hips raqs sharqi style, and dance the debke Mediterranean folk dance. Bring your kids. Bring your parents. Got a hip scarf or drum? Bring it. Jensuya and Bob performed at MOVMCF in 2013 and 2013 with their family band, TarabRaqs. They have been featured by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Turkish Association, and the U.S. Government-funded Middle east Broadcast Network broadcasting to over 24 million viewers in the Middle East. Learn more about them at Jensuya.com
Henry, and Young Jazz Band w/Matt James
Saturday, June 18th, 4:00 pm
Brice Henry, Scott Kitchen, and Brady Young have brought Jazz to the Mid-Ohio Valley in a variety of forms for several years. Now these three unique perspectives join to present our area with fresh, exciting Jazz combo.
KRITYA ENSEMBLE
Saturday, June 18th, 5:00 pm
Their mission is to share the values and tradition of Kuchipudi dance, to support a comprehensive practice, to instill the foundational principles of wholesome dance technique, and propagate Kuchipudi repertoire based on the foundations laid down by Kuchipudi masters and gurus such as Maestro Vempati Chinnasatyam. They teach standard and traditionally-inspired repertoire and offer complete support for anyone who would like to immerse themselves into the study of the most refined, enjoyable and profound aspects of Kuchipudi dance!
Tom Carroll
Saturday, June 18th, 6:00 pm
Tom has been a mainstay in the Central Ohio music scene for 35 years. He co-led the jazz trio, Organic Chemistry, with Hank Marr starting in 1979. That friendship and collaboration continued for over 25 until Hank’s passing. He has held long term engagements over the years. He performs regularly with violinist Andy Carlson. He plays solo guitar and co-leads the following groups: Tom Carroll/Andy Carlson Duo; SpeakEasy; Organic Chemistry; and The Recliners. He teaches at Denison University where he is a guitar instructor and Coordinator of Jazz. As an affiliate artist with the Jazz Arts Group, Tom maintains a full schedule of performances at clubs, festivals, private and corporate events.
Sidewalk Sideshows
Saturday, June 18th, 7:00 pm
UNIQUE CIRCUS ENTERTAINMENT
Sidewalk Sideshows emerged in May 2020, during the height of the COVID shutdown. When most venues closed and events were canceled, many performers found themselves out of work. They decided to start hosting free community shows in Benton Park in St. Louis, MO. These shows brought a slice of normalcy to a very uncertain time. Since then, they have continued performing throughout the St. Louis region. We can’t wait to entertain you!
Grupo Fuego
Saturday, June 18th, 8:30 pm
Grupo Fuego, which translates to “The Fire Group,” formed in the fall of 1999 as a six-piece Latin band with Afro-Cuban leanings and urban flair. They describe their music as “tropical music full of hot rhythms combined with cool melodies to the sounds of merengue, reggaeton, bachata, salsa, and balada.” It’s hot stuff. With a wide range of styles, GF appeals to a broad range of music fans, with an energy filled approach to style and rhythm and a sound that’s ultimately inspiring of dance. With a spicy set list that ranges from slow-burning to crowd-pleasing dance numbers. these guys have taken local Latin music to an all new level. Time to get your groove on.
Kritya Ensemble
Sunday, June 19th, 12:30 pm
Their mission is to share the values and tradition of Kuchipudi dance, to support a comprehensive practice, to instill the foundational principles of wholesome dance technique, and propagate Kuchipudi repertoire based on the foundations laid down by Kuchipudi masters and gurus such as Maestro Vempati Chinnasatyam. They teach standard and traditionally-inspired repertoire and offer complete support for anyone who would like to immerse themselves into the study of the most refined, enjoyable and profound aspects of Kuchipudi dance!
Steve Free
Sunday, June 19th, 1:45 pm
Steve Free is an Internationally Acclaimed Award Winning singer/songwriter whose music is drawn from his Native American (Shawnee/Cherokee ) and Appalachian roots. He has won numerous Music Industry Awards including 9 ASCAP Awards, a Platinum Record, a 2016 Grammy nomination, and 3 Americana Music Award nominations. He has charted over 50 songs on The National and International Charts including 21 # 1 songs and is one of the most popular Folk/Americana Artist on European and International radio.
Roxana Havaii
Sunday, June 19th, 1:30 & 2:45 pm
PERSIAN DANCE
Backporch Alibi
Sunday, June 19th, 3:00 pm
Local Americana Band
