WHAT: 21st Annual Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival
WHEN: September 5-8
WHERE: Mercer Street Grassroots District, Princeton, WV
TICKETS: This event is FREE of charge, no ticket required.
INFO: www.culturefestwv.com / 304-320-8833
Princeton, WV – Culturefest World Music and Arts Festival, a 21 year tradition, will return to its roots this year, taking place in the Grassroots District of downtown Princeton, after nearly two decades at Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem. The event began in 2004 in Princeton City Park, so organizers say the return to Princeton in 2024 feels like a full circle way to bring the Culturefest experience back to town. This weekend-long immersion in the creative arts will feature over 25 music and dance performances, unique artisan and retail vendors, workshops, a robust roster of kids’ activities, healing arts, facilitated discussions, and more, and showcase the vibrant venues and businesses in the downtown district. Four stages will feature regional, national and international artists from around the East coast and as far away as Paris, France, with styles ranging from Americana, Appalachian Folk and Bluegrass to Soul, Rock, Funk and World Fusion to experimental genres, plus performance art, poetry, live painting, fire dance and more. Workshops will be offered in yoga, drumming, up-cycled art, and hoop dancing, plus facilitated discussions will explore the healing power of storytelling.
Artisans will vend their wares from handmade clothing to jewelry to fine art and more, with local favorites like Rainbow Art Farms, The Gaia Den, RiffRaff Arts Collective, Mooncraft Botanicals, Copper and Shine, and more. A variety of delicious food and drink will be available for purchase including Jamaican, Thai, Mexican, vegetarian options, Boba Tea, donuts, and more. Downtown businesses like Dream Bean Coffeehouse, Jimmies Restaurant, Holler Gallery, The Hatter’s Bookshop, Daydream Games, The Emporium and more will be open and guests are encouraged to explore everything the Grassroots District has to offer. There will be children’s crafts and other activities each day, a kids’ costume parade, and other activities. Furniture in the park and comfortable indoors spaces make relaxing spots to kick back and relax, and provide shelter so the fun will continue in case of rain.
Venues featuring performances and workshops include The Dream Bean Coffeehouse, Stages Music School, Shine Time Studios, The RiffRaff, and Dick Copeland Town Square. Organizers say they take great care in curating the performance lineup, searching for musicians who have passion and purpose, unique styles and seasoned skills. This year’s performance lineup is, as always, stacked with amazing talent:
Jeremy Nattagh Born in Paris, France and originally a classical flute player, Jeremy Nattagh has explored a wide range of instruments and musical styles including jazz piano, gospel drums, pop rock, and electric bass as well as composing and producing movie soundtracks. Multi-instrumentalist and sound ingenious, Jérémy Nattagh has brought together all his influences and experiences in a unique show, Panoramique. Surrounded by his 4 hangs and his drums played on his feet, he takes audiences into the intoxication of ethnic grooves, acoustic trance and the lyricism of his compositions. “PANORAMIQUE” is an extraordinary album that he produced, mixing serene atmospheres and frenetic rhythms, and bringing together exceptional guests: Adèle B on the didgeridoo and the jaw harp, Tidiane Touré on vocals, Sylvain Barou on the flutes of the world and Cendre Osmoza on vocals. nattagh.fr/index.php/en/
Devante Powell, also known as Bboy Tahu, is a Bahamian-American World Champion breaker based out of Charleston,SC. He has been dancing for 13 years representing his city as well as his crews, the legendary Rock Force and Charleston’s very own Dancing On Air Crew ( D.O.A). He has done so by performing and competing at events and competitions all over the world. Some of those events include: 2014 IBE 1 vs 1 concrete battle champ- Amsterdam, 2020 Mighty 4 1 vs 1 champ – Alaska, 2016 Southeast Bboy championships 3 vs 3 winners W/ D.O.A, 2022 Undisputed masters world championship crew vs crew winners W/ Rock Force. He founded the Dancing On Air Crew in 2010; they have been representing hip hop culture, inspiring youth and showcasing their skills, all across the USA for the last 13 years. Even with some members competing and performing overseas, the goal has always been the same: to show the world what southern breakin’ is all about. Made up of eight members with ages varying from 22 to 28, the code of the crew has always been this, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, you can be whatever you want to be, just start dancing and see what happens.”
Adama Dembele is a master djembefola (djembe player) from the Ivory Coast, West Africa. Born into a family of musicians, he has toured several continents with various major acts such as Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Affou Keita, Sogona Djata, and many others. Adama has played in several drum and dance companies such as Yelembad’abidjan, Ensemble Koteba, Congoba, and many more. In 2002, in collaboration with Siriki Sanogo, Adama founded Djembeso CI Drum and Dance Ensemble. “Djembeso” in the West African dialect Bambara means “the house of djembe.” Adama chose that name because his family has been playing the djembe for 33 generations and his native home was known as the house where the djembe is played. In 2005, Adama moved to the U.S. to perform and teach the sacred art of West African drumming. Since then he has played in major cities all over the United States. Currently, Adama resides in Asheville, NC, where he frequently performs and teaches authentic rhythms from Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea, West Africa. theleaf.org/product/west-african-drumming
Songs From The Road Band Hailing from Asheville, NC, Songs From The Road Band is a bluegrass supergroup featuring Mark Schimick (mandolin), Charles Humphrey III (bass), Sam Wharton (guitar), James Schlender (fiddle), and Gabe Epstein (banjo). The band takes flight with virtuosic picking, singing, and Grammy award-winning songwriting. Several of their most recent singles have gone to the top of the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. They have 6 studio albums available at all musical outlets. “The Western NC quintet is this band of melodic pirates, roaring down the highways and backroads of Southern Appalachia in search of a stage to play, perhaps another kindred spirit to collaborate with in the sacred art of songwriting and creating something (beautiful and permanent) from nothing (thin air and momentary inspiration).” songsfromtheroadband.com
Option 22 – The music project of festival founders and arts entrepreneurs Lori McKinney and Robert Blankenship, this infectious, eclectic Americana groove is led by her powerful, yet soothing vocals dancing atop his smooth, soulful flow. Positive lyrics inspire unity and call for change. Based in Princeton, Lori and Robert have been writing & playing music together since 2004. Now infusing the mix are the highly skilled & ever-flowing bass lines of Brandon Dunn, the rock-solid, hard-hitting rhythms of Ary’an Graham (drums) and the soulful guitar stylings of Jacob Brooks (lead guitar). As a group, they understand the power of music to heal & transform, and they use their creative gifts to make a positive impact on the world around them. Robert & Lori live and work within a multi-purpose creative zone they created in downtown Princeton, The RiffRaff Arts Collective, which is revitalizing a once dark, depressed area with color and life. They also founded and run this festival. The other musicians orbit around the collective, bringing their talents and spirits around often, forming a sphere of creativity and good vibes. option22.net
Other WV acts include James Hart & Old Soul Reunion, The Charleston Rogues, The Mud Larks, Spencer Elliot’s SE3, Je’Dah Madison, Jordan Furrow, Jon Bolt, Shine Resonance, and Tim & Maggie. Out-of-state acts include Teso McDonald, Melissa McKinney, Fred Nez-Keams, Infinite Third, McKinney, and Aire & Sol. Featured live painters and visual artists include Shannon Shine, Leah Towler, Luanna Harrison, Eric Thompson, and Emlee 100.
Attendees will also have the chance to participate in music-making during facilitated workshops in West African drumming, hoop dancing and flow arts, yoga and meditation, as well as drum circles. A popular Culturefest tradition is the community art boards, which will be available throughout the weekend, and anyone is welcome to leave their mark. These spontaneous, collaborative works of art are a vibrant centerpiece of the festivities.
There is No Charge to attend! All activities are free and open to the public. Visit culturefestwv.com for more information.
The event is presented by The RiffRaff Arts Collective and LLyniuM entertainment in cooperation with the Appalachian South Folklife Center and made possible by these sponsors: WVU Medicine/Princeton Community Hospital, Explore Summers County CVB, Country Inn & Suites, Sleep Inn and Suites, Hampton Inn, Princeton Rescue Squad, Princeton Storage, FMRS, Ramey Toyota, Princeton Health Care Center, Southern Highlands, and a host of advertisers. The program is presented with financial assistance from Mid-Atlantic Arts Council and the West Virginia Division of Culture & History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
Additional information can be found online at culturefestwv.com and by calling 304-320-8833.
