The Osage Gospel N’ Soul Community Choir performs the Folk music from the “Other Porches” of Appalachia. Rooted in vocal gospel harmonies and following in the footsteps of West Virginia’s own Swan Silvertones, The Osage Gospel N’ Soul Community Choir create melodious and joyful sounds that are inclusive, and empowering.

Led by “Appalachian Soul Man” Aristotle Jones and featuring Rock N’ Soul legend Al Anderson, the group has been featured on NPR and WVPB’s “Inside Appalachia” and has fostered a regional reputation for building community. All are welcome to join the fun and connect with traditional music from the coal camp communities of Scotts Run. You can find out more information at www.scottsrunresonanceproject.com

Dusty Mallard is a Morgantown-based folk duo featuring Gray Buchanan (of the Hillbilly Biscuits and The Weevils) and Duck Ryan (of Blind House and Blue Ridge Gathering).

With just a fiddle, guitar, banjo, and their creative vocal harmonies, they have been known to have audiences on their feet dancing one minute, and wiping away tears the next.

Ryan Brandenburg is an Appalachian singer-songwriter based in Southern West Virginia. Backed up by his band, the Carlisle Trash Pile (Jonah Henthorne on drums, Niko Kreider on upright bass, cello, and harmonies, and Mark Hare on fiddle) Ryan brings the sounds and feels of the Appalachian mountains to the stage.

The Mountain Music Kids program provides old-time and bluegrass music education to ages 8-15 through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region such as guitar and fiddle, and even singing. These students have such enthusiasm for this musical tradition, and most importantly, love playing together!

This contest is a celebration of Arthurdale’s history of traditional music-making with the goal of encouraging and sustaining traditional fiddling styles in North Central West Virginia. Any fiddler is welcome to compete!

Learn more about Arthurdale’s traditional music-making history here.