Beverly Heritage Center to host Native American music concert
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BEVERLY – Larry Jent and David Locklear will perform Native American music, teach eastern indigenous social dances, and share stories during a free music and storytelling concert today at the Beverly IOOF Grand Hall.
The event is scheduled to get underway at 5:30 p.m., and will be hosted by the Beverly Heritage Center. Guests are invited to a potluck at 5 p.m. and community members are encouraged to bring a dish if possible.
Bringing a dish is optional as everyone is invited to attend the potluck and concert. which is part of the Beverly Live on the Lawn Series, which takes place at the backyard area of the historic 1841 County Jail during the summer months. As the weather changes it moves indoors to the Grand Hall.
Jent, who is an Upshur County resident, grew up with a family of storytellers and has won prestigious liars’ competitions, despite proclaiming all of his stories to be true and some factual. While growing up the stories he and his family shared were known as “swapping lies.” Jent’s stories come from his Cherokee/Welsh and Appalachian heritage, and a few are from his own fabrications.
Locklear, meanwhile, is a Tuscarora musician hailing from Virginia who will share his culture and knowledge during his concert. He has toured with internationally-known musicians, and first visited Randolph County as part of the Indigenous Voices in Appalachia programming with the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area in 2024.
“David and Larry bring energy to audiences of all ages,” said Beverly Heritage Center Executive Director Eleanor Renshaw. “This show offers visitors an opportunity to experience the music that has been shared in these mountains for centuries, and see how it connects to the Appalachian music we hear all around.”
Grand Hall is located upstairs in the historic Beverly IOOF Building, which is located across the street from the Beverly Heritage Center. The building was recently renovated and features a stair chair for accessibility.
The IOOF Lodge Hall was constructed around 1914 for the local chapter of the International Organization of Odd Fellows. The hall served as a central meeting place for fraternal activities, community gatherings, and social events.
For more information, contact the Beverly Heritage Center at 304-637-7424 or info@beverlyhertiagecenter.org.