Homegrown Music Festival

Mar 20 – 22, 2015

We’re proud of our roots. Come enjoy a great weekend full of live music from West Virginia artists. We’ll have on-snow games right outside Shavers Center and local musicians playing all day and night. Come up for a great day on or off snow! Also, Sunday is WV Ski Free Day – We’re giving out free lift tickets to all residents of West Virginia.

Featuring music by Paul Gold, Bud’s Collective, Greg Short, Deer Run Drifters, Halftime String Band, Shawn Owen Band, Fish Wallet, and the Tom Batchelor Band

Bud’s Collective is a powerful group of pickers from the hills of West Virginia. While their music reflects roots firmly planted in Bluegrass tradition, they do not hesitate to add to it in ways all their own. Playing a tasteful mix of front man Buddy Dunlap’s original material and popular hits ranging from Stevie Wonder to Alabama and all points in between, Bud’s Collective has been making waves in the music scene since the inception of the group in 2012. These guys and gal have been playing music together informally for over a decade, and their music speaks of the years spent adapting and blending with one another’s styles. Only a few months after the band was formed, Bud’s Collective won first place in the DC Bluegrass Union Mid-Atlantic Band Competition. They also competed at the SPBGMA International Band Contest, placing 2nd. They host their own concert series called Bluegrass in the Barn which continues to grow into one of the most popular events in the West Virginia Panhandle, peaking at an audience of 400 after just a year and a half. Bud’s Collective has recorded a Live Album and Studio album, both to be released in spring 2015.   What truly sets them apart from the rest, however, is the energy that fills the spaces in which they play – captivating audiences and leaving them wanting more. The band is made up of front man Buddy Dunlap, a born entertainer, on guitar and lead vocals; Cody Brown on bass; Gina Clowes on banjo; and Jack Dunlap on mandolin.

The Deer Run Drifters, a stringed quintet from a small mountain town in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia. The group, playing an Americana – Country sound, brings energy and strong songwriting to every stage they play. They are currently finishing their brand new, full length album, “Appalachian Blues”. The new CD brings much anticipation for the future of the band.

The Halftime String Band has entertained audiences from coast to coast with their unique blend of acoustic Americana music. Often described as “jam grass”, the band, while having a strong bluegrass influence, does not include the standard elements of a traditional bluegrass band. (There is no banjo or fiddle in the group), and the song selection covers a wide array of musical styles. In addition to an eclectic song selection, the band also performs a number of original compositions. Halftime String Band consists of: Jason Jaros (guitar and vocals), Fred Crozier (mandolin and vocals) and Bob Spangler (upright bass and vocals). A “Halftime” show brings audiences to their feet and puts smiles on their faces.