Gardner Winter Music Festival returns after 2-year hiatus

February 23, 2023

After a two-year hiatus, the Gardner Winter Music Festival will be held in person this year, starting Friday evening and all-day Saturday at South Middle School in Morgantown. This annual festival has brought traditional Appalachian music, song and dance to the region since 1979 and features music in the auditorium, workshops, informal jam sessions, a swing dance Friday, a square dance Saturday night and food — homemade pepperoni rolls, cookies, snacks, drinks and a food truck (Jack Clutter Farms). Workshops include lap and hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, ...

Erik Huey’s solo album a ‘love letter’ to the region

February 11, 2023

BY ALISE CHAFFINS As a child coming from four generations of coal miners, Erik Huey grew up assuming that was his lot in life as well. However, he found his way into music and on Jan. 20, released his first solo album titled, “Appalachian Gothic,” which is a deep dive into his love ...

WV Chocolate Wine & Shine event back at Mylan Park

February 9, 2023

It was 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and while most people were still on their second cup of coffee — Jamie Summerlin was already on the second page of his day planner. “Hey,” he said, laughing, “you gotta get up early if you want to get it done.” Summerlin’s day planner is always ...

“Letters From Home” comes to Morgantown

February 1, 2023

BY ALISE CHAFFINS Erinn Dearth and Dan Beckmann want to change your mind about what a USO show can be. And they’re heading to all 50 states this year to do it in their “Letters from Home” tour, coming to Morgantown Saturday at The Metropolitan Theatre. Twelve years ago, Coast Guard veteran and Erinn’s father, Pat Dearth, suggested that Erinn and Dan begin performing a USO show to honor veterans. In the beginning, it was more of an Andrews Sisters tribute show, but as time passed, it grew into an all-generations show, with a particular emphasis on the Vietnam War era. ...

‘JUNG_E’ questions class and personhood

January 28, 2023

A few years ago, I was absolutely blown away by Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” And in 2021, the whole world was taken by storm with the Netflix show “Squid Games,” also from Korea. Since then, I have made an effort to seek out more films and television programming coming out of Korea. Right now “JUNG_E” from writer/director Sang-ho Yeon is streaming on Netflix. In the 22nd century, Earth has become uninhabitable, so humans have left Earth to man made shelters. The more things change, the more they stay the same, and a civil war breaks out, lasting decades. ...

Singer/songwriter Trevor Cooke brings his passion to the stage

January 26, 2023

BY ALISE CHAFFINS At first blush, Trevor Cooke is a small, unassuming young man. But as you speak to him, you see the big dreams of this Morgantown singer and songwriter. Cooke, who performs alternative pop and hip-hop, has had the desire to be an artist for as long as he can ...