The Gardner Winter Music Festival: An Interactive Folk Music Experience

 

Worley Gardner's picture on the 
auditorium stage

On Saturday, February 22, I had the opportunity to visit the Gardner Winter Music Festival in my hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia, at South Middle School. This festival offers a variety of unique and fun experiences, such as workshops in a variety of different types of traditional Appalachian music, jam sessions, a square dance, and live performances by local West Virginia musicians. This was my first time attending this festival, so I was not sure what to expect from it. I am so grateful that I was able to attend for the first time this year, because the experiences that I had are like no other. Worley Gardner is unique to other music festivals I have been to in that, rather than only watching others perform, visitors to the festival are given the opportunity to fully participate in and create music as well. This is such a fun, magical, and whimsical event that anyone of any musical skill or knowledge level can enjoy. 

We first arrived to the festival in the early afternoon. Upon walking into the festival, I was met with the sound of a happy fiddle tune coming from somewhere in the building, and everyone seemed so carefree and happy. There was an Appalachian foot dancing class being taught in the middle of the floor where visitors first walk in. People of all ages were standing in a circle to learn a dance, and occasionally someone would jump into the middle of the circle. I did not participate in this workshop, but it was so fun to watch!

The live performances from local musicians were held in the school’s auditorium, where people were free to duck in and out of throughout the day. After the Appalachian foot dancing concluded, we decided to head inside and check it out. We watched performances by Walter Hojka, Lackawanna Longnecks and the Kennedy Barn String Band. As the name suggests, the Kennedy Barn String Band was made up of several fiddle players who played various folk tunes.

Walter Hojka playing in the auditorium

  

After watching a few of the performances held in the auditorium, we decided to head to one of the classrooms to participate in one of the workshops for ourselves. We joined in on a singing workshop with local musician Mary Linscheid, who led us in singing Amazing Grace, Farther Along by Dolly Parton, among other songs from a variety of different genres. Similar to the Appalachian foot dancing workshop, the singing workshop included people from all different age groups and generations. I feel that I shared a beautiful experience with all of these strangers by singing these songs together. This is just another example of how this festival has a unique talent for bringing people together, in a way that other events may not be able to. Aristotle Jones also led a singing workshop in soul music. 

To conclude our time at the Worley Gardner Music Festival, we made our way back to the auditorium to catch performances by Turkey Hollow Barn Jam, Bill Schilling, and Aristotle Jones. Turkey Hollow Barn Jam is a group of several musicians who played happy folksy tunes. Bill Schilling is a folk musician who plays a variety of different instruments, such as the mountain dulcimer, banjo, and the guitar. Aristotle Jones, also known as the "Appalachian Soul Man", is a local musician from Osage, which is just outside of Morgantown. 

We had a great time at the Gardner Winter Music Festival! It was an immersive and fun experience that people of all ages can enjoy. It was my first time ever attending this festival, and I can say that I had a wonderful time, and plan to come back next year. I hope to see you all there too!