Traditional Mountain Music

Traditional Mountain Music

Traditional mountain music plays a large role in the history and heritage of West Virginia.

Virtual Concerts & Jam Sessions

Experience the sounds of the mountains online. There are plenty of opportunities to listen to traditional music of West Virginia from the web.

The Kanawha Valley Friends of Old Time Music and Dance (FOOTMAD) have been hosting Facebook Live concerts, on top of special themed virtual Zoom classes on a wide variety traditional music topics.

Relive the magic of Mountain Stage and listen to recordings of previous live performances. Find them on their website or wherever you download and listen to podcasts.

Festivals

Traditionally, the Mountain State is home to numerous festivals and events that highlight this influential genre of music. Learn about these festivals that celebrate West Virginia’s musical heritage.

The Vandalia Gathering rounds up every element of Appalachian culture into a giant jubilee on the capitol lawn. The festival has been held each May since 1977 and highlights old-time and bluegrass music along with dancing, fan-favorite foods, and quilt-making demonstrations.

Another annual tradition, the Appalachian String Band Festival is a five-day music festival held in Clifftop at Camp Washington Carver. Not far from Babcock State Park. The festival typically draws thousands of old-time music lovers from across the world and has been a staple of West Virginia festivals since 1990.

The charming Pocahontas County Opera House is home to traditional old-time music and bluegrass. Part of the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail, it has a regal beauty but an informal style.

The West Virginia State Folk Festival gives visitors a chance to get a taste of true folk tradition. It has commemorated the Mountain State’s birthday every June since the 1950s.