Rock Out in Marion County This August

Wow. If you love live music, just about any genre, Marion County is the place to be this August. With a multitude of venues in all shapes and sizes, you’ll be sure to find an event to match your musical tastes. Grab a lawn chair and some dancing shoes and hit the road.

Palatine Park FAME Series

Last year was the first for this event series developed by the Marion County Commission and Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission at Fairmont’s Palatine Park.

This year the secret is out, and hundreds of people have been flocking to the park by the beautiful Monongahela River for free music with a family-friendly atmosphere. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the show. Your kids will love the Splash Park open until dusk every day.

Saturday, Aug. 8, three bands will be Rockin’ on the Mon. INTENT starts playing at 4 p.m. Space Honey will follow at 6:30 p.m. The headliner Shadrach, a rock band formed in Grafton, takes the amphitheater stage at 9 p.m.

The following weekend will feature a free concert with Steven Lewis Evolution. The singer and songwriter will play at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.

“Steven Lewis was in the movie ‘A Star Is Born’ with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand. In the movie he auditioned for the lead guitar part in Kristofferson’s band.  As a consequence, one of the songs on the soundtrack is his song. He’s played with Billy Joel. After he retired he decided Fairmont is where he was going to live,” says John Provins, Event Director with MCPARC.

Also on Aug. 15, a Fuzzy Knight Film Festival is planned for 8 p.m. At 8 p.m. George Ramsey will introduce the movie “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.”

“Fuzzy Knight is from Fairmont. He’s a silent movie star. He was in movies with Mae West and a whole line of those old stars,” Provins says.

In a special Friday night concert, Moe Bettah will perform at 6:00 p.m. and Sabor Latino will take the stage at 8:30 on August 21st.

Then on Saturday, Aug. 29, you have a chance to check out some awesome local art and get your live music fix. Performances by Phil Wiseman and Soup Camel Music at 4 p.m. and The Brothers Short Band with Greg Short at 9 p.m.

Prickett’s Fort State Park   

Looking to spend a whole Friday outdoors? Check out the trails or bike ride at Prickett’s Fort State Park and then hang around for an evening of great, free music at the amphitheater. Summer concerts are presented by the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation with financial support from the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, The Marion County Commission and the Town of White Hall.

Tonight, Friday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. Elkins native Jason Hall will play a wide range of tunes, from old-school country to rock to alternative. Aug. 14 will feature the classic country music group Black Horse, founded by John Natale and Ken Homerosky. Then progressive bluegrass band Border Ride will take the stage on Aug. 28. Prickett’s Fort State Park is located two miles off I-79 at Exit 139 in Fairmont.

Sagebrush Round-Up

This venue in Bunner Ridge near Fairmont, six miles east of I-79 at Exit 139, is a true Marion County gem. You can hear country music every weekend, and the building houses the Country Music Hall of Fame for West Virginia.

Every Saturday, the doors open at 4 p.m. with dinner available beginning at 5 p.m. Open stage time is planned from 6 to 6:30 p.m. and then the booked bands pay from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6 to 12. For more information, call (301) 334-8629 or e-mail wjanoske@yahoo.com.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, you can hear The Round-Up Band, Rickey Whipple and Brad Crow & the Cut-Ups.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, you’re in for a real treat, Gene Watson. This year marks the Golden Anniversary of one of the greatest living country vocalists. In 1962, Gene Watson began his professional career by recording his first single.

According to the Sagebrush Round-Up web site, Watson has re-recorded his classic hits on an extraordinary, 25-song collection titled “The Best of the Best.” His ageless voice sounds exactly as it did when he first recorded these songs in the 1970s and 1980s. The legendary Sonny Garrish reprises the steel-guitar playing he performed during the original recording sessions, and the rest of the players recreate the original arrangements.

Also on stage on Aug. 15 are The Round-Up Band, Pee Wee Austin, Ed Netzel and The KnightHawks.

At Sagebrush on Aug. 22 are John Daugherty, Touch of Country and The Round-Up Band. Then Aug. 29 is Bluegrass Night with The National Pike Pickers and Joseph Hott & The Short Mt Boys and Rockfish Trio.

Fairmont First Friday

There are still two more Fairmont First Friday events this season, and one of them is tonight, Friday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m.

of Clarksburg and Tomorrow to Forever, a young and upcoming indie and alternative band from Philippi will be on stage at Veterans Square in downtown Fairmont. You won’t want to miss headliner Stewed Mulligan at 7 p.m.

“Stewed Mulligan blends the old backwoods sound with clever Country Rock to create music that could have been birthed in a basement by the illegitimate sons of The Band. If Fat Albert’s Junkyard band had an Appalachian bizarro group, they would be called Stewed Mulligan,” according to Listen.com.

Heston Farm Winery & Pinchgut Hollow Distillery

The 220-acre farm, located at 1602 Tulip Lane, Fairmont, off Exit 135 of I-79, features wine tastings, moonshine, fine dining and a fabulous Summer Courtyard Concert Series.

The Soul Miners, a vintage soul music band, will perform as part of the concert series at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. They play songs by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Wilson Pickett and Michael Jackson.

Joe N’ Throw Co-Op

Every Friday night there is live local music here at 323 ½ Adams Street in Fairmont from 8 to 10 p.m., a great chance to grab a friend and try some craft beer. A great time to check out the Joe N’ Throw is when Main Street Fairmont hosts First Friday across the street at Veterans Plaza.

Hamilton Round Barn

Hosted by the West Augusta Historical Society, the Hamilton Round Barn, located in Flaggy Meadow in Mannington, is the perfect venue for a bluegrass concert. Tap your toe to the sound of Back Roads, an eclectic group of very talented local musicians while indulging in a delicious BBQ dinner (hence the name BBQ and Back Roads)

August’s concert is on the 29th from 6 – 9 p.m. and September’s concert is on the 25th at the same time.

One thing’s for sure, the hills will be alive with the sound of music! What’s your favorite genera?