Lots of Live Music
You can see pictures of this and other events with "History In Pictures" on the left, or follow this link: Live Music 1 and Live Music 2.
The October 13th Saturday Night Gospel Sing is sponsored by Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home, Staats Pharmacy, Fibernet and Traders Bank. The Saturday Night sing will be held in the Spencer Middle School Auditorium at 7:00pm. The Gospel Sing will feature Squire Parsons, The Squire Parson’s Trio, the David Bowen Family and other Gospel Singers.
2007 Live Music Schedule
Friday, October 12th
| 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Tracy Miller |
| 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Under the Radar |
| 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Weathered Road |
| 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Crossfire |
| 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. | Exxposure |
Saturday, October 13
| 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Tracy Miller |
| 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Lester McCumbers |
| 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Jake Krack |
| 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Country Swingers |
| 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Black Mountain Band |
| 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. | Dave McCormick Band |
Sunday Gospel Sing
The October 14th Sunday Afternoon Gospel Sing will be held in downtown Spencer on the Courthouse Stage from 1-5pm. You will hear the David Bowen Family, and other Gospel singers will be featured.
Gospel Music Schedule
Sat. night. Oct. 13th 7pm - SMS Auditorium
Sunday, Oct. 14th 1-5pm - Church Street
Band Biographies
David Bowen Family
This season's gospel singing family consists of David Bowen, and wife Shelia. There will be other Gospel Sings on stage.
The Bowen family have recorded several songs. One of their favorite songs is “I sing Because.” When there is a Gospel sing and you see their bus pull in, you know you are in for a good time.
Lester McCumbers
We are happy to have the 2005 Vandalia award winner Lester McCumbers of Nicut join us again this year for our Black Walnut Festival™. McCumbers carries on a rich tradition of fiddling, singing and guitar playing that has thrived in his family for generations. He has performed for more than 60 years through out West Virginia and other states with old time and blue grass music groups, appearing at concerts, contests, festivals, square dances, and on radio shows. Linda, his wife, sings with him, his son Tim plays the guitar and Kim Johnson plays the banjo. They will be forming October 13th from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
The Black Mountain Band
The Black Mountain Band originated in the early 70's as a boogie and blues band with all original music. The band reunited in 2004. The band is a local four member band which includes: Allen Taylor on lead guitar and on vocals, Eddie Thornsbury on bass guitar and lead vocals, and Jesse “Mo” Starcher on Guitar and vocals, and Steve Bell on drums. We are fortunate to have them again at the Black Walnut Festival™ Saturday October 13th from 7-9pm.
Jake Krack
At the age of sixteen, Jake Krack was a seasoned performer and recording artist. He began fiddling at the age of six years, focusing his passion on old-time Appalachian music, and has studied under some of the most respected master fiddlers of the Appalachian region including Melvin Wine, Wilson Douglas, Lester McCumbers and Bobby Taylor.
Since 1996 Jake has recorded many CDs: “How Bout That”, “One More Time”, “Two Far Gone”, “Home At Last”, “Wire Fire” and “Hope I’ll Join The Band.”
One year’s schedule included the following: WV Dance Festival in Charleston, International Police Mountain Bike Association National conference in Charleston, Vandalia Festival in Charlston, WV, Mt. Airy Fiddler’s Convention in Mt. Airy, NC, City Park Concert in Parkersburg, WV, Civitan Park Concert in Belpre, OH, Glenville State Folk Festival in Glenville, WV, Multi-cultural Festival in Parkersburg, WV, Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC, Mountain State Arts & Crafts Fair in Ripley, WV, Balance & Spin in Clifftop, WV, Appalachian Stringband Festival in Clifftop, WV, Berea Festival in Berea, Kentucky and the Galax Fiddler’s Convention in Galax. Jake will be at the Black Walnut Festival™ in Spencer, WV on October 15th.
Under The Radar
August 2007 - Charleston based classic rock band "Under the Radar" is coming to the Spencer Black Walnut Festival! Fresh from their headline engagement at the Charleston Chili Fest at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, "Under the Radar" will bring the music of Neal Young, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Hendrix, John Mellencamp, REM, Bob Seger, Little Feat and many others to the streets of Spencer on the afternoon of Friday, October 12th, 2008.
Rockin' the downtown is no stranger to "Under the Radar" who have played two Charleston Chili-fests, the City of Nitro Homecoming and won the 2002 City of Charleston Battle of the Bands in Haddad Riverfront Park. Check out their website (including videos) at the MySpace site "utrlive" (Watch for their forthcoming CD, available this fall, on the website). So make arrangements to come on down - bring the kids, bring Grandma, but bring your dancing shoes and be ready to rock…
Rusty Marks: Lead Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar Charleston, WV
Rusty, in his early 40's, has been a staple on the Charleston music scene for many years. In addition to his work with "Under the Radar", he is also an experienced orchestra/Broadway musical session player playing with the pit orchestras of the Charleston Light Opera Guild and the Charleston Neophonic Orchestra. A guitar collector, Rusty is not allowed to bring them all to a show because there would be no room left for the rest of the band! Rusty is a journalist for the Charleston Gazette.
Bill Robinson: Bass Nitro, WV
Bill, in his mid-40's, in addition to "Under the Radar", stays busy playing for Charleston Light Opera Guild and the Charleston Neophonic Orchestra as well. In addition he is also the leader of instrumental music at his church in Poca, WV. Possessing a degree in music from WV State College, Bill swears it doesn't hurt his playing at all and he's forgotten every bit of it. Bill is the State Recreational Trail Coordinator for West Virginia.
Mark Lanham: Percussion/Sound Nitro, WV
Mark, in his mid-30's, does double duty as both drummer and sound man for "Under the Radar". A veteran of several 80 and 90's heavy metal bands (including one that almost received a recording contract), Mark provides the foundation that keeps the band and its fans rockin'. Mark's one fault is that he tends to listen to music too hard for the rest of the band to play. Mark is a video engineer/television director that produces television shows for the Library Commission.
Weathered Road
The Weathered Road is a concept created by mandolin player and songwriter Eric Barker. To be taken literally, it is named for Weather Ridge Road located in Spencer, WV. This is where the band began and decided to pursue music full-time. Prior to that, the three of them had met at West Liberty State College. The deeper meaning in the name relates to the inherent struggle musicians as well as artists face when deciding to pursue a passion as a career. It is a rite of passage that we all must face regardless of our choices in life. Everyone goes through difficult periods in their life. What matters is how we handle the adversity. We chose this because we love to perform and love to share our music with others in the hopes that they take something with them afterwards. Music can heal.
Members:
Eric Barker: Mandolin, Vocals, Songwriter from Spencer, WV.
Libby Eddy: Lead Vocals, Fiddle from Morgantown, WV.
Christopher Bell: Rhythm guitar, Vocals, Songwriter from Washington, PA.
Tracy Miller
Tracy Miller has been singing since she was 3 years old. She has a strong family background in gospel, bluegrass, and country music. She writes many of her own songs and her new CD features original works as well as traditional songs. You will not want to miss the opportunity to see our life- long Roane County native perform on the downtown stage on Friday and again on Saturday. Tracy resides in Spencer with her husband Tony and two sons, Brett and Brayden.
