A Record Setting Year for the Mountain Keeper's Music Festival

The Mountain Keepers Music Festival saw record setting crowds as
more than three hundred made a long journey up to Kayford Mountain to celebrate Appalachian life while also supporting a truly beneficial clean energy economy. This was the second annual Mountain Keepers Music Festival. Held on Saturday, July
5th and Sunday, July 6^th, speakers and organizations at the festival highlighted the absolute need to bring good paying green jobs to West Virginia while also defending our mountains from the ravages of Mountaintop Removal. This free concert is the premier music festival that celebrates environmental justice in southern West Virginia. The two day event featured local and regional musicians who played a variety of bluegrass, gospel, country and old time music, as well as children's games, a pot-luck meal and silent auction.

The purpose of the concert, according to local citizen activist Larry Gibson, is to show support for "human rights, health and water rights, and basically everything that we have." Larry Gibson, whose family has lived on the same land for over 230 years, has been working to protect his health, his heritage, and his community from the ravages of
Mountain Top Removal. This festival brought together Larry Gibson's family with people who actively work to end Mountaintop Removal and also with people who made their first visit to the mountain for an all around fun and warm weekend.

The festival featured many emerging artists who celebrate their homes and heritage. Elizabeth LaPrelle sang with her mother, Sandy LaPrelle who also played fiddle. Jim Savarino, who has played at festivals from Iowa to Texas, performed Appalachain roots
contemporary folk songs. Keith, Joan and Jake Pitzer brought together traditional and contemporary styles with down to earth lyrics. The Lone Tones, a popular Knoxville, Tennessee band, have garnered regional and national attention for their unique style, literate songwriting, and inspiring live shows also played.

For more information about the concert: www.myspace.com/mtkeepersfest

This event was sponsored by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Student Environmental Action Coalition and Coal River Mountain Watch.

For more information on the effects of mountaintop removal, please
visit www.crmw.net, www.ohvec.org, or www.seac.org.