BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
LOVELY — The Barefoot Festival will return to the mountaintops of Lovely on Oct. 4, transforming a reclaimed strip mine into a stage for Appalachian music, artisan craft and community connection.
Now in its second year, the free one-day festival will continue its mission of showcasing regional talent and celebrating cultural roots. This year, it adds a stronger focus on ecology, agriculture and mine land restoration.
“This year’s Barefoot really brings the ecology into the forefront alongside the music,” said co-organizer Lauren Traitz, who produces the event with Richard Schmikler in partnership with the Appalachian Renewal Project. “This year will also include a day full of workshops, demonstrations and give-aways related to agriculture and mine land restoration.”
Kentucky State University and other educators will lead hands-on programs on improving the land, exploring land-based economic opportunities and building resilience to environmental challenges. Attendees can learn alley cropping techniques, watch border collie sheep herding by the Southeastern Kentucky Sheep Producer Association, and tour Kentucky State’s mobile health unit. Additional workshops are in the works.
Festival born from the land
Barefoot’s guiding philosophy is rooted in the belief that music springs from the land and can both preserve history and shape the future.
“It’s about the power of music to bring folks together and love these mountains in both new and age-old ways,” Traitz said. “Coal has a rich and important history here, and we believe the folks who love these mountains, who work the land, who make art to tell the story of this place, have a central role to play in shaping what becomes of these mountains post-reclamation.”
The choice of venue is as intentional as the music. Strip mining carved out open, flat spaces high in the mountains “like a natural amphitheater,” Schmikler said. That terrain, along with its history, made it a fitting home for the festival. This year’s preparations have included roadwork for easier access, refurbishing the stage built by the Martin County Area Technology Center from lumber salvaged at the former Jude Grocery in Pigeon Roost, and setting up lighting and portable restrooms.
Music, vendors, cultural preservation
The Oct. 4 lineup will feature returning favorites like Ditch Lilies and Kill Devil Hillbillies, along with new acts such as The Newsroom Band. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks. Artists are selected for their deep ties to Appalachian musical traditions, many connected through the Stidham Old Time Music Association led by Jim Webb.
“Jim and his multigenerational music shop have long served as a gathering place for old time and Appalachian musicians and we’re blessed to be a region packed with talent,” Traitz said.
Last year, the event drew visitors who were surprised such a gathering could happen in Lovely. Many discovered the depth of regional talent — neighbors who play banjo or fiddle but rarely have a public stage.
“We saw folks meeting and connecting, laughing and dancing, who otherwise might not have taken the time to get to know each other,” Traitz recalled.
But the music is just one part of Barefoot’s role in celebrating and preserving Appalachian culture. The vendor market will again showcase artisans whose work tells the story of adaptation and resilience — a former coal miner who now does woodwork, a veteran who raises alpacas and loom-weaves original shawls, and others who keep traditional skills alive.
“Our vendors also represent a form of cultural preservation,” said Traitz.
Three or four food trucks will serve the crowd alongside the crafts.
Getting there and what to expect
Since this year’s Barefoot is a one-day event, there will be no camping.
“But folks can feel free to reach out if they’re coming from away and need help finding accommodations,” Traitz said.
Parking will be available both at the base of the mountain with shuttle service and next to the venue itself.
“The road is in good shape despite being ‘off-road’, and we have seen folks in all kinds of vehicles get all the way up without a hitch,” Schmikler said. “That said, if you’re more comfortable parking at the base just off the black top, we can get you up there.”
First-time visitors should check the weather, wear comfortable shoes, carpool, and plan to take home something beautiful from one of the vendors.
Off-grid challenge, unique reward
Hosting a festival in a remote, off-grid location requires creative solutions for lighting and sound. Last year’s event ran entirely on a solar generator, with solar string lights illuminating the grounds. Portable restrooms will again be available on-site.
“There’s nothing like feeling ‘out there’ to promote an immersive experience,” Schmikler said.
Barefoot Festival will start at 10 a.m. and run until 10 p.m. at the Slate Dumps at the No. 4 Mine off North Wolf Creek Road. The address is 3632 N Wolf Creek Rd, Lovely, KY.
Follow the event on Facebook for updates
How to get involved
While the artist schedule is nearly full, organizers are still seeking vendors, sponsors and a few day-of volunteers.
“Like last year, this is a very low-budget festival hosted by a few folks,” Traitz said. “Having more sponsorship just means being able to provide a better experience for all.”
Interested folks can email team@renewappalachia.org or message on Facebook.
Shoutout
Organizers credit Kentucky State University, the Stidham Old Time Music Association, and Hope in the Hills for making the festival possible.
Traitz and Shmikler work for the Kentucky State University as research and extension coordinators in partnership with the Appalachian Renewal Project, the venue-provider and restoration organization that works to demonstrate sustainable and community-focused initiatives for repurposing reclaimed mine sites.