Whitewater Whirl
A mini dance vacation in WV’s New River Gorge area. With callers Gaye Fifer and Janine Smith. Music by Hot Coffee Breakdown and Brazenkeys. Register after January 1, 2024, at whitewaterwhirl.org.
Vandalia Gathering
Festival of West Virginia traditional music and crafts.
Concerts, contests, food, craft sales. Indoor and outdoor stages. FREE.
State Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV
Facebook: facebook.com/vandaliagathering
PattyFest
An Old-Time Music Festival
Celebrating the musical legacy of player, teacher, mentor, Patty Looman.
Workshops, Jammin’, Open State, and more!
Info: 304.864.0105.
Facebook: facebook.com/pattylooman
Mount Airy Fiddler’s Convention
Mount Airy Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Traditionally held the first weekend in June, this family friendly event brings together musicians and fans for two full days of competition, jam sessions, dancing, singing, education, and family entertainment.
West Virginia State Folk Festival
- Held on the streets of downtown Glenville and at Glenville State College
- 3 hours of square dancing on the street platform in the center of Glenville
- Free and open to the public
- Focused on old-time music, traditional square dancing, and Appalachian arts & crafts
- Other activities include oral tradition tent, old-time Gospel Sing, concerts, children's activities
and jam sessions wherever they happen around town reminiscent of the old days
- Features many central WV musicians and artists. Glenville, WV (Gilmer County).
This festival always begins on the 3rd Thursday in June. Info: 304.462.8427 or 800.480.8098.
Facebook: facebook.com/wvstatefolkfestival/
Allegheny Echoes
Old-time & Bluegrass music and creative writing workshops held the last week of June each summer in Pocahontas County, WV.
Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Pre-Festival Camping)
Clifftop pre-festival camping (No scheduled events). Lots of jamming.
Appalachian String Band Music Festival
A five-day mountaintop gathering of musicians and friends with contests, concerts, workshops, square dances, camping and vendors.
Rockbridge Mountain Music and Dance Festival
If you love dancing and old-time music in a mellow setting, Rockbridge in Buena Vista, VA is the festival for you. Those who like structure will find plenty to do, while others rarely leave the campground area, choosing to play and visit around the "neighborhood" where a laid-back, low-key air prevails.
Fraley Festival of Traditional Music
An Annual Celebration of the Musical Heritage of Eastern Kentucky at Carter Caves State Resort Park.
The festival attracts performers and music fans from across the United States to share music and swap stories. The annual event attracts champion fiddlers and top players, who share billing with those just learning.
HOTDAM Square Dance
Huntington Old Time Dance and Music (HOTDAM) Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
HOTDAM Square Dance
Huntington Old Time Dance and Music (HOTDAM) Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
FOOTMAD Presents: Dàimh
Dàimh – Gaelic supergroup and un-challenged champions of straight in the eye Highland music are based around West Lochaber and the Isle of Skye.
Formed around the turn of the century and taking the name from the Gaelic word for “kinship” Dàimh (pronounced Dive) have taken their contemporary take of Highland and Gaelic music to over 20 countries, setting audiences alight from Moscow to San Francisco.
FOOTMAD Ceili Dance
Irish Ceili Dance. An activity of Charleston's annual Celtic Calling Gathering. 7:00 PM. Kanawha United Presbyterian Church 1009 Virginia Street East Charleston WV
Celtic Calling Gathering 2024
A 5-day celebration of Celtic arts, culture and traditions. It includes music, dance, education, athleticism, and family fun.
Scottish group Dàimh will be returning for the Saturday evening main stage FOOTMAD concert.
Gardner Winter Music Festival
Shake off those winter blues and come to play or just listen the third weekend of February every year. This festival showcases traditional Appalachian music with continuous on-stage performances, workshops, informal jam sessions, a swing dance, a square dance and socializing. GWMF gives traditional Appalachian music lovers a place to play, listen, dance, and learn in the cold dark of winter.
HOTDAM Square Dance
Huntington Old Time Dance and Music (HOTDAM) Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
Arthurdale Square Dance
Arthurdale Heritage’s first square dance of 2024! Bring your sweetheart and dance in the same space as Eleanor Roosevelt – or just come to hear some amazing old-time music!
FOOTMAD Presents: Old Time Winter Breakdown Concert
This Saturday night concert is the culminating event of our second Old Time Winter Breakdown Weekend. Featured on stage are Bobby Taylor’s Kanawha Tradition with guest Johnny Staats, Jesse Milnes and Friends and the Price Sisters.
FOOTMAD Presents: Old Time Winter Breakdown Workshops
Our second Old Time Winter Breakdown Weekend continues Saturday morning and afternoon with workshop sessions including lap dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, singing, dance calling, storytelling, flatfooting.
FOOTMAD Presents: Old Time Winter Breakdown Community Dance
FOOTMAD kicks off our second Old Time Winter Breakdown Weekend with a Friday night community dance. Fun for all. No experience required. No partner required. All dances will be taught. Live music and caller.
FOOTMAD Presents: Old Time Winter Breakdown Weekend
FOOTMAD’s Old Time Winter Breakdown Weekend February 2 & 3. Regional masters presenting a square dance Friday night, 9 different workshops Saturday morning and afternoon, and concert Saturday night featuring The Price Sisters, Jesse Milnes & Friends, and Bobby Taylor’s Kanawha Tradition with guest Johnny Staats.
HOTDAM Square Dance
Huntington Old Time Dance and Music (HOTDAM) Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
FOOTMAD Concert: John Cowan’s Newgrass All-Stars
Modern Bluegrass featuring the “Voice of Newgrass”
John Cowan’s Newgrass All-Stars feature some of the best touring musicians in the genre today, focused on Newgrass favorites with some surprises thrown in.
New River Gorge Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
FOOTMAD Presents: Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer with Chao Tian: FROM CHINA TO APPALACHIA
Unique blend of World and Appalachian traditions
GRAMMY Award winning American Roots artists Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer join with Chinese classical hammered dulcimer player Chao Tian in a show that combines music from China to Appalachia and beyond. Instrumentation includes yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer), gourd banjo, five-string banjo, ukulele, guitars, dumbek, cello-banjo and mandolin.
Fink, Marxer and Tian at the KCPL
Fink, Marxer and Tian at the KCPL
Prior to the evening concert, the Kanawha County Public Library (KCPL) will host a free event for children and families that will feature Fink, Marxer and Tian.
Their program will be held in Room 311C of the library.
December 9 / 2 PM
KCPL
123 Capitol St
Charleston WV
FOOTMAD Community Dance
In the Appalachian tradition, dancing is a social event for people of all ages. Join us for contra, square and circle dances taught by experienced callers. Live bands play energetic traditional tunes. A fun-filled aerobic activity for people of all ages. Family friendly. Newcomers welcome. No experience or partner needed.
HOTDAM Square Dance
Huntington Old Time Dance and Music (HOTDAM) Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
FOOTMAD Presents: Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert
Modern folk with traditional roots
“Together the two have found an interesting common ground that’s one part Woody Guthrie-esque ruminations on the modern world and one part transcendent stringband roots… New songs, old songs, fiddle tunes, it’s all tossed together here in an overarching quest to find an authentic expression from two traditional masters brought together.” - Folk Alley
FOOTMAD Community Dance
Celebrating the traditions of Scotland with music by the St Albans Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and dances of Scotland called by David Mould. In the Appalachian tradition, dancing is a social event for people of all ages. Join us for contra, square and circle dances taught by experienced callers. Live bands play energetic traditional tunes. A fun-filled aerobic activity for people of all ages. Family friendly. Newcomers welcome. No experience or partner needed.
FOOTMAD Wandering Minstrel Concert: The Jeremiahs
One of Ireland’s hottest Celtic bands, the Jeremiahs play exquisite traditional favorites as well as compose original music.
After wowing the Celtic Calling audience in March 2020, FOOTMAD is thrilled to welcome the Jeremiahs back to Charleston.
“Great songs, poignant, emotional vocals, masterful guitar and fiddle/flute conversations that work like fine embroidery – no wonder critics love them. You will too!” — Larry Groce, host of NPR Music’s “Mountain Stage."
FOOTMAD Wandering Minstrel Concerts
Small Concerts, Intimate Venues
FOOTMAD Meet and Greet
Are you interested in joining FOOTMAD’s Concert Committee?
Would you like molding the direction of our 2024-2025 concert season? Volunteer opportunities abound!
We have a back stage vantage point as we book bands, coordinate concerts, and work with local arts and education partners. Learn more by attending a Meet and Greet session in the Taylor Books Art Gallery.
FOOTMAD Meet and Greet
Are you interested in joining FOOTMAD’s Concert Committee?
Would you like molding the direction of our 2024-2025 concert season? Volunteer opportunities abound!
We have a back stage vantage point as we book bands, coordinate concerts, and work with local arts and education partners. Learn more by attending a Meet and Greet session in the Taylor Books Art Gallery.
HOTDAM Square Dance
Huntington Old Time Dance and Music (HOTDAM) Square Dance
Live music and caller. All welcome. No experience required. No partner required. All dances taught. An evening of family fun.
FOOTMAD Meet and Greet
Are you interested in joining FOOTMAD’s Concert Committee?
Would you like molding the direction of our 2024-2025 concert season? Volunteer opportunities abound!
We have a back stage vantage point as we book bands, coordinate concerts, and work with local arts and education partners. Learn more by attending a Meet and Greet session in the Taylor Books Art Gallery.
FOOTMAD Community Dance
In the Appalachian tradition, dancing is a social event for people of all ages. Join us for contra, square and circle dances taught by experienced callers. Live bands play energetic traditional tunes. A fun-filled aerobic activity for people of all ages. Family friendly. Newcomers welcome. No experience or partner needed.
Elk City Records - Touring Artist Concert
Fiddler Mike Gangloff plays free Appalachian music that weaves together improvisation, melodic composition, and traditional tunes learned from older players in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.
Adam Kiesling's favorite thing to do is playing his guitar and backing up a good old-time fiddler. He got his start playing bass as a teenager in south-eastern Wisconsin, and ended up playing more guitar after moving to the Twin Cities in the early 90s, where he fell down the rabbit hole of flatpicked fiddle tunes.
FOOTMAD Presents: Cassie & Maggie MacDonald
Celtic music, song, and dance from Nova Scotia, Canada
Alternating between Gaelic and English, traditional and contemporary, haunting and electrifying, the duo is nothing short of mesmerizing.