The 4th Annual Bill Withers Music Festival will take place on Saturday, July 6, 2024, from 12 noon to 5 pm, at the Bill Withers Plaza, which is located on top of the Beckley Intermodal Gateway, on Neville Street in Beckley. The festival will celebrate our hometown musical legend with music, booths, food vendors, and activities. Key features of the festival will include:
-Eight musical acts who have been inspired by Bill Withers’ music will be showcased during the afternoon. Talented West Virginia musicians will perform many of Withers’ hit songs along with other music.
Tentative Music Schedule (may need to be adjusted somewhat depending on setup):
NOON – 12:10 – WELCOME
12:15 – 12:45 – HGTA THEATRE GROUP
12:50 – 1:10 – NEW GOSPEL SINGALEERS
1:15 – 1:30 – Recognize LOVELY DAY YOUTH CONTEST WINNERS
1:30 – 2:00 – JIM SNYDER
2:00 – 2:30 – LADY D & MI$$ION
3:30 – 4:00 – CREEK DON’T RISE
4:00 – 4:20 – THE UNTRAINED PROFESSIONALS
4:20 – 5:00 – ARISTOTLE JONES
Also, food trucks and food vendors:
– Patriot Food Wagon – hamburgers, hotdogs, BBQs, snow cones
– Covered Chuck Wagon – hotdogs, sandwiches
– The Lunch Wagon – funnel cakes, lemonade, ice cream
– Hilltop Coffee – coffee/tea drinks, desserts
– Upland Soul – fish, desserts
– Along with several other booths offering desserts, popcorn, freeze-dried candy, art, information, handbags, and other products
Activities:
– Bounce House, chalk art and games for the kids
– Meet Pastor Frederick Hightower, Bill Withers statue artist
– Visit the Coal Heritage booth to learn about the African American Tour and Jr. Ranger books, 50/50 tickets.
– The festival table will feature the Youth Lovely Day Contest winners’ display. Plus, t-shirt sales.
– Inner Sunshine Art will offer a free make & take art & craft
The festival is sponsored by the Coal Heritage Authority, the City of Beckley, and the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
The Bill Withers Committee is excited to celebrate reaching the statue fundraising goal needed to send the Bill Withers Statue to be bronzed and hopes that the statue will be ready to be installed at the plaza this fall.
The community and visitors are invited to attend this free event to celebrate Bill Withers, our Grammy-winning Hall of Famer who grew up in our area. He is known for his timeless songs, including Lean on Me, Lovely Day, Ain’t No Sunshine, Just the Two of Us, and Grandma’s Hands.
877-987-3847
