Carnegie Hall’s Taste of Our Towns (TOOT) fundraiser has showcased the best culinary treats in the region. The festival, which takes place annually on the second Saturday of October, has grown to be one of the largest and best-known festivals in West Virginia. Thousands of residents and visitors fill the Lewisburg streets to not only enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon full of delicious food, but also to listen to great music, explore exhibits, participate in children’s activities, and much more. The event is fun for the whole family and will take this year on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Lewisburg.
This year the music moves to the Ivy Terrace Stage and will feature three musical acts: Blue Steel (11 a.m. to 12 noon), Hello June (12:15 to 1:15 p.m.), and The Shootouts (1:30 to 3 p.m.).
Out of the heart of Harrison County, WV, home to coal, glass, and steel, the band Blue Steel creates music for all who would hear. This tight knit family band perform a variety of bluegrass music along with original music they write and arrange. They are all about Faith, Family, and Fun and love to perform for all crowds. With three albums under their belt this band has no plans of slowing down and travel all across the US. From festivals to radio interviews the band excels at making music that people want to hear and have a great time as they try.
Returning for another TOOT is Hello June, who first came onto the scene in 2017 with their EP Spruce. From that EP, “Dance” was featured by NPR Music’s Heavy Rotation and was played on radio stations across the US. In 2018, Hello June was featured as an NPR Slingshot Artist, alongside Phoebe Bridgers, Snail Mail, Mt. Joy, Jade Bird, and 2017 Slingshot Artist, Big Thief. NPR Music premiered their leading single, “Mars,” and the band received glowing praise from both local and national press alike (Paste Magazine, Atwood Magazine, WV Living). Currently, the band is recording their second album in Nashville Tennessee with Roger Alan Nichols (Belltone Recording). The band is set to release a single in 2022 – their first, in nearly four years.
The Shootouts are known for their energetic blend of honky-tonk, Americana, and traditional country. After releasing their acclaimed 2019 debut Quick Draw, the band charted Top 50 on Americana radio and in 2020, and they were nominated for an Ameripolitan Music Award for “Best Honky-Tonk Group.” They have shared the stage with luminaries Marty Stuart, Jim Lauderdale, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Radney Foster, Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak, and many more. Produced by Grammy-nominee and BR549 founder Chuck Mead and released April 30, 2021, Bullseye has been praised by a range of outlets including Rolling Stone Country, American Songwriter, Wide Open Country, The Boot, and The Bluegrass Situation, amongst others. The album has currently spent over eighteen weeks on the Americana Music Association Top 30 album chart, including three weeks in the Top 10. The Shootouts are recording their 3rd album, “Stampede,” with 10x Grammy-winner Ray Benson, lead singer of Asleep at The Wheel, producing. Due out mid-2022.
Stay tuned for more TOOT entertainment.
Boxell Solutions is the 2022 Taste of Our Town (TOOT) Title Sponsor. Greenbrier Valley Automotive and Greenbrier Valley Medical Center are Bronze Sponsors.
For more information, please visit www.carnegiehallwv.org or call 304-645-7917.