Written By: Abigail Amor
Fall is coming down on us, the leaves are changing, the air is getting brisk as day turns into night- all meaning festival season is coming to end. It is sad, I know. So what are you going to do for your last show outside under the stars? My festival season capper will be Groovin with the Groove 3, hosted by a long time favorite Fletcher’s Grove. This is one of my favorite events of the year; talk about loving small festivals – this will be a gathering of a few hundred of the coolest people in and around West Virginia. You will make your way through the valley, through the hills, past the mountains, past the mills – to find yourself about 30 minutes south of Morgantown in Phillipi, West Virginia – where the aliens and freaks roam the mountain sides spreading love, laughter and of course the sounds of music.
The lineup is always a showcase of West Virginia’s finest, sprinkled with a few big hitters. This year’s headliner (other than multiple sets from Fletcher’s Grove) is my favorite trash grass band Rumpke Mountain Boys. While the next may not be from West Virginia, he sure loves this state and we love him back– good ole Larry Keel Experience (we love you too Jenny). If that doesn’t call for a jar or two of moonshine, then you might not be familiar with these bands; prepare yourself for a rowdy time. Speaking of drinking – did you know Groovin is always BYOB? Bring your homebrews, fill your growlers from your favorite breweries, or just crush cans of Keystone light; you can fill your cooler however you’d like.
This year, just as in the past, there is something for everyone on the bill. Fletcher’s Grove is known for being an Appalachian jam band with a hint of bluegrass- check out their newest album, Waiting out the Storm to hear some of that bluegrass sound they have been sprinkling into their latest shows. That doesn’t stop them from filling their festival with all spectrums of music. I am super hyped to see Dinosaur Burps – they are a hip hop/ rap group that I haven’t seen in years based out of Charleston! The Settlement– based from Huntington- are super fun and funky that do amazing covers as well as originals. I remember getting down to their versions of “Toxic”- they are guaranteed to get your feet moving. A new up and coming bluegrass band The Five & Dime, based out of Fairmont- will dose ya with some bluegrass, folk & Americana. Then the Haywhacker String band will take that bluegrass up a notch for more of a foot stompin’ and hollering route. Beggars Clan and the returning of Rasta Rafiki will rise your vibrations with their Rastafarian light. Habatat is an awesome rock/funk band that is always a good time based out of Pittsburgh. I am waiting to catch The Tangled Roots and White Wolf, because they will be new to me and I haven’t attended their shows yet. Eek! I swear they know how to hit all my comfort zones, while still introducing me to new bands. I’m so excited just by writing this up! To check out the full lineup go to groovinwv.com.
The party goes throughout the night with a community fire pit that will be burning all weekend, which is one of my favorite spots to chill while I wait for the sun to rise while enjoying all the rogue musicians and watching the freaks come out and play late at night. Oh, and you know I’m one of the freaks! Fletcher’s Grove has one of the best followings of people – fun, kind, and they love to get down! If you have not made plans for the weekend of September 27th and 28th, come meet the family down here in the hills of West Virginia.
