Live Music Any Way You Want It.
Whether you like bluegrass, rhythm and blues, funk or rock, we've got some really cool indie music of all stripes being laid down live this weekend. Here's a look at some not-to-miss shows in the Tri-State this weekend.
Catch The Strange Constellations: William Matheny's 11-song solo record, "Strange Constellations" drops Friday, Feb. 24 on Misra Records. Matheny, who previously was the keyboardist for Athens, Ohio indie band Southeast Engine, wastes no time in sharing those tunes here before heading off across the country. Matheny, and his Huntington-based all-star band of Bud Carroll, Ian Thornton and Rod Elkins, have a CD release party at 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at The V Club, 741 6th Ave., with fellow regionally-traveling Huntington act, Ona (in a rare home show), and Athens, Ohio rocker Adam Remnant. Cover is $10. Go online at http://williammatheny.com/ for more info on Matheny.
Zilla Bash: It will feel like festival season again Friday as there's a six-band birthday blast for Moonshine Crossing mandolin player, Bob Zilla and his music-loving wife Cheri. The annual Zilla Bash has music starting prompt at 8:30 p.m. Friday, at the V Club, 741 6th Ave., with J Squared, Chris Sutton (fresh back from Memphis), the debut of The Tangled Roots, as well as sets by Moonshine Crossing and The Settlement. There will also be tweener sets and late night with locally-based, regionally-known DJ, Charlie Brown Superstar. Go online at www.vclublive.com for more info.
A Night At the Kentucky Apollo: Celebrated Black History Month over in Ashland as over a dozen area singers will perform at Apollo Night at 7 pm. Friday, Feb. 24, at Ashland Community and Technical College. Performances will be in the J. B. Sowards Theatre at the College Drive Campus. This free Black History Month program which also features the Yvonne DeKay dancers, is cosponsored by ACTC, the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center and community organizations and individuals.
My road trip music picks are both in Charleston ... Since last week and for the next month, L.A. rocker, Austin Hanks is out opening up for ZZ Top. In between gigs, Hanks is popping into some pubs for some headline shows. Head out at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 as Hanks , who also wrote and recorded six songs used on the hit show, "Sons Of Anarchy" on FX, and his band headline The Empty Glass, 410 Elizabeth St, Charleston, playing tunes off his new album, "Alabastard," that is produced by Rev Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top). One of West Virginia's best Americana/Alt Country bands, The Horse Traders will be playing, as well as touring musician, Jesse Hunter.
Then on Sunday, Mountain Stage hosts one of the hottest names in Americana music. Margo Price is on Jack White's label, Third Man Records. She was named the emerging artist of the year by the Americana Music Association, Margo Price, and has already played Saturday Night Live. She plays Mountain Stage at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theatre with quintessential Irish-American band Solas, electric folk and roll band Dead Man Winter (feat. Dave Simonett of Trampled by Turtles) and eclectic WV indie rockers The Company Stores and dad country outlaw Jonny Fritz. Advance tickets are $20 and $25 day of show if still available. Available at mountainstage.ticketfly.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Get In The Glow Flow:
There's not one but two glow parties in Huntington this weekend.
Gro Huntington celebrates its one-year anniversary with a glow flow yoga party called Gloga from 9 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at the Bittersweet, 2001 Seventh Ave., Huntington. Get there early at 6 p.m. as there will also be live music from Holly and The Guy, and The Dividends as well as a sharing of success stories, art auction and crafting. Admission is free but a suggested donation of $10 will help Gro Huntington, whose mission is to use gardening and contact with the earth as a recovery tool for community and individual rehabilitation. In the heart of downtown from 10 to 2 Saturday night, Rehmy's Bar and Lounge, 611 4th Ave., Huntington, hosts The Glow, a glow-paint dance party as well, For more info on Gro Huntington email jeanniesoffice@gmail.com or go online at http://grohuntington.org/ and for more info on Rehmy's go online at https://www.facebook.com/rehmys611/
Take A Hike on the Wild Side of Huntington High School:
On the expansive campus that is Huntington High School they have everything from sports fields to even an observatory.
Thanks to local trail builder Charlie Dundas, HHS also has its very own more than three mile trail that is home not only to the HHS cross country team but is also free and open for the public to use.You can check that trail out at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, as the Huntington Area Hiking Club will be hosting a guided hike (led by veteran hiker and Boy Scout leader Robert Wilson)Go online at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/688189807975387/ to find out more about the hiking club which hosts guided hikes year-round in the Tri-State region.
To Show A Mockingbird: As part of the Big Read Grant, the Paramount Arts Center will be showing the 1962 film classic, "To Kill a Mockingbird" on the big screen at the Paramount at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. The movie is rated PG and is free to the public. This event is part of The Paramount Art Center’s Big Read Grant that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and administered by Arts Midwest. The Paramount was one of 75 organizations in the United States to receive a grant for 2017. It has become a staple novel for schools to read and over 1,400 students from over 25 middle and high schools attended the play earlier this month produced by the Paramount Players. Based on the novel by Harper Lee. "To Kill A Mockingbird," follows the story of Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South who defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his children against prejudice. The movie features Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and introduced Mary Badham as Scout. Peck won Best Actor for his portrayal of Atticus Finch and Mary Badham was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
My Roadtrip Pick: My Roadtrip pick is to Canaan Valley, West Virginia, where White Grass Cross Country Ski Center is hosting the 6th Annual Winter Wildlands Backcountry Film Festival from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. The Friends of Blackwater is hosting the films fest which is a night of films that capture the spirit of winter adventure, environment and climate, youth outdoors, and ski culture. White Grass will be cooking up a spaghetti bar dinner, complete with alfredo, meatball, and eggplant parmesan options, as well as a complimentary dessert, no need to pay in advance. Beer, wine, and raffle tickets will also be available on this night of winter revelry and children under the age of 10 get in free. The screenings are $15 for one, or $25 for $25 for two. The dinner is $12. While you are in the valley, take advantage of the two downhill ski resorts Canaan Resort and Timberline Four Seasons Resort both in Davis.
Dave Lavender is the author of "Dave Trippin: A Daytripper's Guide to the Appalachian Galaxy of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia" and his new travel book, "Mo' Dave Trippin" now for sale on Amazon.com and through CreateSpace. Check out the new book at the Red Caboose, Empire Books and News, and now at Camden Park. Lavender covers regional travel. Follow The Herald-Dispatch reporter on Facebook and Twitter @DaveLavenderHD.