Montani Semper Liberi – Music & Art has returned in a big way, filling the void created by their postponed March 2020 three day festival, MSL – Music & Art at Oak Glen VI, with six separate events, scheduled for five area venues, over the upcoming months.
First up will be a single day festival to take place on Labor Day, September 6, from noon – 8:00 p.m., at Chester (WV) City Park’s Davis Brothers Pavilion. Billed as MSL – Music & Art in the Park, there will be four Main Stage acts featured throughout the day with the headliners, The Commonheart, scheduled to take the stage shortly before 6:00 p.m. and bring the event to a close.
The Commonheart’s reputation as one of our nation’s dynamic live performing acts will be on full display for all to witness. Their energetic live shows offer “feel-good positivity, Golden Rule messaging, and sweat-soaked performances that nimbly ease through blues, vintage soul and rock.” With frontman Clinton Clegg’s gritty vocals, rock riffs, and horns, The Commonheart delivers an emotion-packed, soulful sound that lights up any stage. The nine-piece band’s hectic summer touring schedule includes stops at prestigious outdoor festivals such as the Denver (CO) Day of Rock and Bristol (TN) Roots and Rhythm Reunion 2021. The band has performed before packed houses from New York City to The Fillmore in San Francisco.
Just before The Commonheart, the event’s next to final performance will feature Hillary Klug, two-time National Buck Dancing Champion, fiddle prodigy and global internet superstar. “Hillary Klug is known for her simultaneous fiddling and dancing. With humble beginnings as a street performer in Nashville, she’s risen from the streets to the symphony thanks to her social media success. (Hillary has 1.2 million Facebook followers.) Since becoming an internet sensation, she’s performed at venues around the world and one of her CDs peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts. Hillary will follow up her Chester City Park performance with a free show the following evening, September 7, at Saddle Ridge Bar and Grill in Chester.
Columbiana (OH) based, The Conkle Brothers will be the second of the four Main Stage acts to perform. The brothers’ journey as young musicians began in Rochester, New York, immersing themselves in “anything and everything involving music,” then took them to two incredible years in Colorado Springs, CO, where they continued to grow as musicians and evolve as songwriters. From there, they moved to northeast Ohio where they’ve settled into and are leading the burgeoning musical scene that is currently taking place in Columbiana.
Kicking off the Main Stage performances will be the ever popular Fred Ludovici-Steve Poole-Joe Ludovici Trio. They’ve long been recognized, throughout their solo and collective careers, at the forefront of the Tri-State area’s most respected musical artists. Fred penned the song, “Mr. Rock n’ Roll” for the PBS documentary “Legends of Rock” and his song “Fantasy” was in the movie “The Balance.” In various collectives and with their band Mad River Men, they’ve performed with and in support of notables such as Kansas, The Outlaws, the Charlie Daniels Band, Blackhawk, The Clarks and many more.
Another highlight of the day’s musical entertainment will be side-set performances by eleven year drumming phenom Asa Brewer, a resident of Chester.
In addition to the full day of music, the works of area vendors, crafters, artists and artisans will be on display and sale. For those interested, vending and visual artists spaces remain available. Chester VFW Post 6450 will be handling the provided food services. All proceeds from vendor fees will benefit Chester City Park.
Admission is free for all ages to attend MSL – Music & Art in the Park. For information or to inquire about a vending space, call 304-374-7474. Attendees are reminded to bring a lawn chair. The address for Chester (WV) City Park is 375 West Carolina Avenue / Chester, WV.