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ELKINS -- The Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College has planned several events and activities for the upcoming summer months. Not only will the Augusta Festival be making a triumphant return in July, but a live concert series is planned along with some virtual classes for those seeking to learn from traditional master artists from around the world.
"Because of this whole COVID situation, we've moved our educational programming online this summer," said Seth Young, executive director of Augusta Heritage Center. "In a normal year we would have people from all 50 states and about 13 to 18 different countries come in, but it was just not going to pan out that way this year. So we have 75 master artists submitting lessons that you can enjoy on your own time and then in July we will have a series of live Zoom events."
The online portion of Augusta's offerings features musical lessons from over 75 traditional master artists. Each instructor will teach a 30-minute recorded class that students can enjoy in their own time. The live Zoom sessions will allow students and teachers to interact with each other in real-time. All Zoom sessions will also be recorded for later viewing. Members will have access to lessons from June 7 to Nov. 1. Registration is based on a sliding scale donation of your choice. Learn guitar, singing, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, percussion, and much more. For more information, visit AugustaArtsAndCulture.org.
The live concert series will begin on June 24 when grammy-winning guitarist and former Old Crow Medicine Show member Chance McCoy takes the stage at the Elkins Rotary Amphitheatre. Also performing will be traditional acoustic blues artist Justin Golden.
Then two nights later on June 26, bluegrass favorites The Seldom Scene will perform two sets of music at the Amphitheatre. Suggested donation to support the events is $10 to $20.
"Because you can safely have a single-day outdoor event, we wanted to have a concert series that engaged our immediate community," said Young. "These concerts will be a great way to reconnect with your local arts community and soak in some wonderful music. So grab a camp chair and come on down."
In July, Augusta will return to its roots with an Augusta Festival that celebrates traditional Appalachian craft and music. Over 40 vendors have already signed on to showcase their creations. The festival will also host classes and activities for kids and adults, music jams and delicious food from around the state.
On both Friday and Saturday night of the festival, Augusta has partnered with El Gran Sabor to host a two-night "Augusta Block Party" on the 400 block of Kerens Avenue in downtown Elkins. On Friday, July 23, an outdoor performance by St. Louis-based roots group The Hooten Hollars is scheduled. Then on Saturday, July 24, an outdoor honky-tonk concert and dance with longtime Augusta artists Thomas Bryan Eaton and Miss Tess, and locals Jesse Milnes and Emily Miller, will take place.
Augusta would like to thank the national, state, and community sponsors that make all of this summer's activities possible. Augusta has been awarded grants from The National Endowment for the Arts, The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the West Virginia Humanities Council.
Community sponsors include Davis Medical Center, Davis Trust, Our Town Inc. and Holiday Inn Express. The Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College is dedicated to uplifting and celebrating the traditional arts of the highlands region of West Virginia and beyond.