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John Morris
2020 NEA National Heritage Fellow 
Photo by Chris Dorst - Charleston Gazette-Mail
Old-time musician John Morris of Ivydale, WV, is one of nine 2020 National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellows, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. These lifetime honor awards are given in recognition of both artistic excellence and efforts to sustain cultural traditions for future generations.
An acclaimed fiddler, banjo player, guitarist, songwriter, and life-long resident of Clay County, West Virginia, John Morris is the living carrier of the old-time fiddle and banjo tradition particular to his rural home county and the surrounding area. Morris continues to play a crucial role in sustaining and promoting West Virginia traditional music and is one of the few fiddlers to continue an older regional style, infusing his playing with all the sounds of Clay County—its environment, its history, and its people. John Morris can be found on Youtube by typing in either "John D. Morris", "John Morris", "the Morris Brothers" and "Where the twisted Laurel Grows". Read more ...
[1] West Virginia Fiddle & Banjo Player John Morris Among the 2020 NEA National Heritage Fellows, the Nation’s Highest Honor in the Folk and Traditional Arts - wvfolklife.org [2] Clay fiddler awarded National Heritage Fellowship for lifetime of music - Bill Lynch Staff, Charleston Gazette-Mail, Jul 4, 2020 [3] John Morris - wvencyclopedia Posted 2020 July 8 HOMEGROWN CONCERTS: Homegrown at Home
A free noon concert series presented by the American Folklife Center and the Music Division of the Library of Congress. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2020 concerts will stream on the American Folklife Center’s Facebook page, Wednesdays from June 24-September 30. Artists will be present in the chat area to say hello and answer questions during the concert and for a few minutes after it ends. Video will also be posted online here and on the Library of Congress YouTube channel. NO TICKETS REQUIRED. See the concert schedule at: www.loc.gov/concerts/folklife Posted: 2020 July 10
Virtual
Wine & Jazz Music Festival Featuring
Guitarist and composer Shubh Saran along with the inimitable Bob Thompson Trio and gypsy jazz group Minor Swing 
Streaming on the Fund For The Arts YouTube channel. Streaming on the Fund for the Arts’ Facebook page The virtual festival is free, but you can donate via an associated GoFundme campaign Support for Fund for the Arts
is support for arts in the Kanawha Valley, including FOOTMAD FundForTheArtsWV.org 
Message from FOOTMAD board of directors Fresh off an online meeting, FOOTMAD board members wish you health and safety as we navigate these uncharted waters of COVID-19. Despite the uncertainty, we stand flexible and prepared to resume our programming when it’s advisable to do so. The 2020-21 concert season, our 40th, has been planned and grants written. We will evaluate the viability of each event as conditions change with our audience's health and safety foremost in our minds. Dances will not restart until we determine it is safe to resume such close physical contact. We are so grateful for the kindness everyone has shown, from the groups we have cancelled to the generosity of our sponsors to our audience understanding about our cancelled events. The pandemic has reminded us how amazing our FOOTMAD community and the traditional music and dance world are! We are thinking about presenting virtual music offerings from our Facebook page and would like your thoughts about this. (Also,) If you have expertise in this area please let us know. The FOOTMAD phone number is being answered at 304 729-4382, so give us a call or email us at kvfootmad@gmail.com with your suggestions. In the meanwhile, stay safe! We hope to see you soon! Posted: 2020 April 19 See the Community Bulletin Board section below For more information about cancellation of events in and around West Virginia. Such as: - West Virginia State Folk Festival - Appalachian String Band Music Festival aka Clifftop Festival Also the Community Event Calendar lists events and announced cancellations.
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Photos FOOTMAD night at Charleston's Live on the Levee
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Bauman photos
Hot Jazz Jumpers, click here ...
Blue Yonder, click here ...
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Bauman photos
Hot Jazz Jumpers, click here ...
Blue Yonder, click here ...
Click image to enlarge
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FOOTMAD Receives 2019 Arts to the Max Award
The Charleston Area Alliance presented 14 awards during its annual “We Love Our Community Awards” event Thursday, March 28 at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. FOOTMAD was honored to receive the Arts to the Max Award – Organization. On hand to receive the award on behalf of FOOTMAD were Donna Graham (President), John Butterfield (Treasurer), Becky Park (Organization Manager), Tessa Dillon and Annie Stroud (board members). Read more, click here ... |
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
Information about music and dance in and around the region
West Virginia State Folk Festival
Scheduled for 2020 June 18-20
CANCELLED!
This granddaddy of West Virginia festivals has announced the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the festival.
"With a heavy heart, we write to inform you of our decision to postpone the 71st West Virginia State Folk Festival until June 17-20, 2021.
As we all know, our festival is much like a family reunion. It is one that promotes physical contact through dance, sharing and exchanging of crafts, and just good old-fashioned fellowship such as handshaking and hugging. ... We must do our part in social distancing so that we can indeed gather again soon! We are already looking forward to planning a big celebration for next year, so mark your calendars now!" - Megan Darby, Folk Festival President. Visit the festival's Facebook page for the full version of the cancellation notice.
More info ...
wvstatefolkfestival.com
facebook.com/wvstatefolkfestival/
Posted: 2020-04-09
Scheduled for 2020 June 18-20
CANCELLED!
This granddaddy of West Virginia festivals has announced the cancellation of the 2020 edition of the festival.
"With a heavy heart, we write to inform you of our decision to postpone the 71st West Virginia State Folk Festival until June 17-20, 2021.
As we all know, our festival is much like a family reunion. It is one that promotes physical contact through dance, sharing and exchanging of crafts, and just good old-fashioned fellowship such as handshaking and hugging. ... We must do our part in social distancing so that we can indeed gather again soon! We are already looking forward to planning a big celebration for next year, so mark your calendars now!" - Megan Darby, Folk Festival President. Visit the festival's Facebook page for the full version of the cancellation notice.
More info ...
wvstatefolkfestival.com
facebook.com/wvstatefolkfestival/
Posted: 2020-04-09
Appalachian String Band Festival 2020
CANCELLED!
From Lisa at the festival office, 2020-06-02
It is with sadness and regret that the Department of Arts, Culture and History has decided to suspend the Appalachian String Band Music Festival for 2020.
In these uncertain times, although we cannot predict what the status of the Covid-19 Virus will be in less than 60 days from now, the Department of Arts, Culture and History believe that this action is necessary and prudent to protect the health and safety of all participants, as well as the health and safety of the Fayette County community and those individuals attending festival activities.
To all who have supported us in the past, we thank you and we look forward to the 2021 Appalachian String Band Music Festival to an even better festival than before!
Once again, thanks to all and we will see you in 2021!!"
Posted: 2020-06-05
CANCELLED!
From Lisa at the festival office, 2020-06-02
It is with sadness and regret that the Department of Arts, Culture and History has decided to suspend the Appalachian String Band Music Festival for 2020.
In these uncertain times, although we cannot predict what the status of the Covid-19 Virus will be in less than 60 days from now, the Department of Arts, Culture and History believe that this action is necessary and prudent to protect the health and safety of all participants, as well as the health and safety of the Fayette County community and those individuals attending festival activities.
To all who have supported us in the past, we thank you and we look forward to the 2021 Appalachian String Band Music Festival to an even better festival than before!
Once again, thanks to all and we will see you in 2021!!"
Posted: 2020-06-05
Charleston Acoustic String Jam
Every Wed
CANCELLED until further notice.
Visit the Facebook page for information when the jams will resume.
7:00 to 9:00 pm.
All welcome. Come to play. Come to listen. Come early (6 pm) and join the pre-jam dinner gathering of jam friends who each week meet to chew and chat. Sam's Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St, Charleston.
More info: Wednesday Acoustic String Jam event page on facebook.
Every Wed
CANCELLED until further notice.
Visit the Facebook page for information when the jams will resume.
7:00 to 9:00 pm.
All welcome. Come to play. Come to listen. Come early (6 pm) and join the pre-jam dinner gathering of jam friends who each week meet to chew and chat. Sam's Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St, Charleston.
More info: Wednesday Acoustic String Jam event page on facebook.
Support FOOTMAD when you shop
Generate donations to FOOTMAD when you shop at a Krogers store. Easy, simple, automatic. No cost to you. Find out how to generate Kroger rewards ...
Generate donations to FOOTMAD as you shop. Easy, simple, automatic! No cost to you.
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FOOTMAD appreciates Fund for the Arts major donors (10,000+) who keep culture strong in the Kanawha Valley: City of Charleston, Cecil I Walker Charitable Trust, Daywood Foundation, Spilman Thomas Battle, PLLC.
kvfootmad@gmail.com
304-729-4382
304-729-4382
Update: 2020-07-08
