A Laid Back Celebration! The Kentucky Headhunters Invade Whitesburg For Their Levitt Amp Series
Wow! If you missed Thursday’s kickoff event for this year’s Levitt Amp Whitesburg series you missed an absolutely stellar good time in Whitesburg, KY! If you weren’t there, you missed the return of live music to the Mountain Heritage Stage and the return of free weekly concerts from the Levitt Amp Concert Series. But don’t worry because for the next 9 Thursday’s there will be free music from national and regional acts. All different styles of music, so there should be something for almost everyone’s tastes.
Have I mentioned the huge crowd? I’ve not? Well shame on me! This is the start of my third year covering the Levitt Amp Whitesburg Series and last night was by far the biggest crowd I’ve seen for one event! I’ve seen some big crowds at the Mountain Heritage stage but they are generally during the annual Mountain Heritage Festival (Goose Creek Symphony comes to mind) so when you combine the year that was 2020 with Laid Back Country Picker and The Kentucky Headhunters that is going to equal a huge enthusiastic crowd! After the terrible, terrible year that was 2020, it seems a lot of people were ready to get outside to celebrate some Kentucky music.
Steve Earle Brought His Dukes To The Mountain Arts Center In Prestonsburg!
**Article by James Stamper / Photos by Thomas R. Biggs**
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Guitar Town himself, Steve Earle, made his presence known at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, KY! I was ecstatic to see Steve Earle and The Dukes perform so close to home! I want to give a special shoutout to the Mountain Arts Center and the Mayor of Prestonsburg, Les Stapleton, for bringing these amazing shows into the eastern part of Kentucky. This brings me so much joy to know that I don’t have to drive 100 miles to see an incredible show. I’ve heard people around this area say, “There’s nothing to do” or “It’s boring around here”. Open your eyes!! The local music scene is booming, the MAC along with the Appalachian Wireless Arena is bringing in tremendous shows, so if you’re “bored”, get out and see what amazing talent we truly have coming in this area! With that being said, let’s explain the show in detail!
Now, with all the concerts I’ve been to in my life, I’ve seen a lot of openers, but nothing like this opener for Steve Earle. To my surprise, 2 members of The Dukes opened the show with their side project “The Mastersons”. Relatives of “Bat Masterson”? Who knows? But all kidding aside, these guys did a fabulous performance. The stunning duo of Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore showed the Mountain Arts Center what they were all about! What’s even more impressive is they’re husband and wife! In my mind, when two musicians are together romantically, I believe there is more of a special connection shared on stage. I picked up on it quickly when watching these two. They had a love for what they were doing, and they weren’t going to let up! Performing songs such as “King of the Castle”, “Eyes Open Wide”, “The Devil You Know?” among others! King of the Castle had deep meaning behind it. Eleanor told the story of someone she knew who lost a loved one and that person said the one they lost was the “King of the Castle” and that stuck, so they wrote a song about it. Overall, it was a phenomenal performance, and I was excited I got to witness The Mastersons in person! If you haven’t checked them out, I would fix that in a hurry! (more…)
Slade’s Festival Of The Red Is A Wonderful Event Full Of Great Music And Discovery
FRIDAY
Not all music festivals are created equally, and to prove my point, let’s take a quick look at my experience at Festival of the Red (FOTR) over the weekend. Contributing to Capture Kentucky has helped me discover a lot of local artists that I may not have had an opportunity to see or hear otherwise. I enjoy photography, and I’ll admit I’m a much better photographer than writer, so I’m going to give you an overview of some cool moments, and a couple of discoveries of artists that I hadn’t heard before Festival of the Red ( Friday – Aaron Boyd and Saturday – Cole Chaney).
Kentucky’s Own Tyra Madison Returns Home With Kentucky Opry Junior Pros
**Article by James Stamper / Photos by Thomas R. Biggs**
The worst year in 100+ years? That’s 2020 for us. All the world got hit with COVID-19 (known as the “Coronavirus”), which ended in being a pandemic. With the result of COVID-19, so many people lost their jobs, the United States shut down and we all had to stay home, (most of us anyway, excluding essential workers, frontline medical personnel, and whatnot,) it was a horrendous time, especially for the United States of America. But finally, in 2021, it appears some miracles are coming into play as more restaurants are starting to open back up, more and more COVID restrictions are starting to lift, and last, but not least, LIVE MUSIC is starting to slowly come back! If you only knew how thrilled I am so many tours and shows are starting to be booked again, just like they were in 2019. The Band, “Cinderella” once said, “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone”. That could not be truer, ladies and gentlemen. Anyway, let’s get into discussing the show, shall we?
Kentucky’s Own Josh Martin Returned Home To The Jenny Wiley Amphitheater!
For the second week in a row I find myself at the Jenny Wiley Amphitheater for a socially distant outdoor show. Yep, you read that right “for the second week in a row” take that 2020!!
For those that aren’t familiar with tonight’s venue, the Jenny Wiley Amphitheater is part of a Kentucky state park, the Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, located in Floyd County very near the town of Prestonsburg deep in the hills of eastern Kentucky. Prestonsburg is also home to another of Capture Kentucky’s favorite eastern Kentucky venues the Mountain Arts Center. (more…)
PHOTOS: Jenny Wiley Amphitheater welcomed Brit Taylor And Adam Chaffins Home For A Wonderful Social Distancing Show
I hope you enjoy my photos from a wonderful show at the Jenny Wiley Amphitheater in Prestonsburg!
Brit Taylor:
Adam Chaffins:
Grammy Award Winners, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Delight A Packed House At The Mountain Arts Center In Prestonsburg
*A huge thank you to James Stamper for the assist with this article*
The Tedeschi Trucks Band brought their superb show to the best venue of its kind, the Mountain Arts Center on February 25th, 2020. The Mountain Arts Center, or known locally as the “MAC”, Is a 1,040-seat venue that in my mind has the best sound and best lighting system in all east Kentucky. I have seen a lot of shows here from Ralph Stanley to Ricky Skaggs to Goose Creek Symphony to Dressed to Kill – The Kiss tribute band. Every show has been perfect. I would love to see more acts appear at this venue. If you’re around Prestonsburg, KY and there’s a show happening, you must see what an amazing place this truly is. With that being said, I want to give a HUGE thank you to the Mountain Arts Center and the Mayor of Prestonsburg, Les Stapleton, for bringing this outstanding act to eastern Kentucky! This will be one show that will never be forgotten! (more…)
Chris Janson, Ray Fulcher, And CJ Solar At The Appalachian Wireless Arena In Pikeville
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, children of all ages Degeneration X umm wait, I mean the Appalachian Wireless Arena proudly presents to you Chris Janson, Ray Fulcher and CJ Solar! I apologize, been watching way to many late 90’s wrestling videos on YouTube (but you know you read that in your best wrestling ring announcer voice)! Okay, let me get back on track here. Keeping with the cool things that happen in Kentucky that I mentioned in my last review for Capture Kentucky, Chris Janson along with Ray Fulcher and CJ Solar stopped by the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville to play some country music for the fine folks of eastern Kentucky. Judging by the size of this crowd, the people of Kentucky were joined by fans from West Virginia, Virginia and maybe even Tennessee who were more than ready for the country music these three artist are about to offer.
Chris Janson Brought CJ Solar And Ray Fulcher To The Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville!
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages Degeneration X umm wait, I mean the Appalachian Wireless Arena proudly presents to you Chris Janson, Ray Fulcher and CJ Solar! I apologize, been watching way to many late 90’s wrestling videos on YouTube (but you know you read that in your best wrestling ring announcer voice)!
Okay, let me get back on track here. Keeping with the cool things that happen in Kentucky that I mentioned in my last review for Capture Kentucky, Chris Janson along with Ray Fulcher and CJ Solar stopped by the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville to play some country music for the fine folks of eastern Kentucky. Judging by the size of this crowd, the people of Kentucky were joined by fans from West Virginia, Virginia and maybe even Tennessee who were more than ready for the country music these three artist are about to offer. (more…)
PHOTOS: JAMuary Raises More Than $5000 For The Prestonsburg High School Band Program. Features Colby O’Bryan, Wayne Graham, Luna And The Mountain Jets, Laid Back Country Picker, Down To The River, and Magnolia Boulevard
I hope you enjoy our coverage of the many wonderful artists who helped raise nearly $5000 for the Prestonsburg High School Band Program.
Colby O’Bryan:
Wayne Graham:
