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…)
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…)
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: Grayson Jenkins EP Release Party Featuring Wayne Graham
We love both Grayson Jenkins and Wayne Graham around these parts. Hopefully, you do as well. Enjoy!!
Wayne Graham:
Grayson Jenkins:
Charlie Daniels, The Kentucky Headhunters and Kaleb Lee Delight In Pikeville!
One of the things Jonathan told me he was looking for when I joined Capture Kentucky several years ago, was that if it was cool and happened in Kentucky or had a Kentucky connection he was interested. Let me ask you this and you tell me if this qualifies. I think I know the answer before I ask but here goes, does The Kentucky Headhunters playing on stage in the mountains of eastern Kentucky qualify as cool? Maybe an emerging artist in Kaleb Lee and former contestant on The Voice born in western Kentucky playing on that same stage, is that cool enough? Or to top Kaleb and The Headhunters, both were opening for the legendary Charlie Daniels and his band at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville Kentucky. I think all that qualifies as cool, no, not just cool, that qualifies as kickass! (more…)
The Levitt Amp Whitesburg Music Series #5 Featuring The Local Honeys w/ Cowan Creek Faculty
Cowan Creek Faculty:
The Local Honeys:
The Levitt Amp Whitesburg Music Series #4 Featuring Anthony Wayne Vibe w/ Holler Jake
Anthony Wayne Vibe:
Holler Jake:
The Levitt Amp Whitesburg Music Series #3 Featuring Zoe Speaks w/ Appaltin
On Thursday it was time for another installment (number three of ten to be exact) of the Levitt AMP Whitesburg Music Series here in Whitesburg Kentucky. The beautiful weather and all the local schools being out for the summer saw the biggest crowd yet at the Mountain Heritage stage for what promised to be an entertaining evening of music with Appalatin and Zoe Speaks.
Zoe Speaks with their blend of Folk/Americana/ Old-Time Mountain music and award-winning songwriting was the first on stage tonight. Zoe Speaks is a band with deep eastern Kentucky ties; Carla Gover (Vocals, Banjo) is originally from right here in Whitesburg while Mitch Barrett (Vocals, Guitar) is from up north in Madison County. They were joined on stage by their daughter Zoey Barret on fiddle and vocals. They are presently working on their 4th album Wings with Jesse Wells (touring with Tyler Childers) at the helm producing and engineering, look for it real soon! (more…)