Appalshop invites friends, neighbors and curious folks to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Seedtime on the Cumberland—Appalshop’s free festival featuring music, art, local crafters and good food— happening June 5-7 in downtown Whitesburg.
The festival kicks off Friday, June 5, at 6 p.m. with the annual Seedtime Punk Show at the Appalshop Solar Pavilion, 91 Madison Avenue. The punk show always offers a unique sampling of the region’s alternative music. This year’s will be no different with a lineup including Terror Trash, geo and the Rock types, Juanita, Home Phone, and Please Save My Earth.
Saturday, June 6, will be a full day of music, crafts, raffles and food from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Solar Pavilion. Featured performers include The Local Honeys, described as “the defining sound of real-deal, honest-to-God Kentucky music.” Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokley have developed a sweet melding of instrumental and vocal blending that sounds like the bluegrass kissing the mountains.
Bonnie Prince Billy, aka the incredible singer/songwriter/actor Will Oldham, will close out Saturday’s performances. With music that relies heavily on acoustic guitars, banjos, and sparse percussion, Oldham blends a raw, poetic take on traditional country and roots music with sometimes dark, introspective storytelling.
After that, the floor will be cleared for an evening square dance hosted by Carcassonne Community Center with music by Bluegrass Friends.
Other Saturday events include an Old Time Jam open at 11 a.m. for anyone who wants to do some picking, a Higher Ground Theater experience, music from youth in the Pick & Bow String Bands, and a conversation with members of the Kentucky Rural Urban Exchange.
There will be art and craft vendors to shop from and local food vendors to eat from throughout the day.
An exhibit of work by William “Pictureman” Mullins, the noted photographer who documented people and events around Jenkins in the early 20th century, will be on display on the first floor of the Appalshop building, which has been cleaned after being heavily damaged in the July 2022 flood.
On June 7, the beloved Sunday gospel music show returns to Seedtime thanks to sponsorship by the Appalachian Community Fund. Hosted at the Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church in downtown Whitesburg, doors will open at 2 p.m. with music starting at 3 p.m. Performers will include Heavenly Voices, CJ Colston, Family of Faith (The Chestnut Grove Missionary Baptist Church Choir), and the Greater Mount Sinai Spirituals.
A family-style meal will be provided for all in attendance.
For more information visit Seedtime on the Cumberland on Facebook/Instagram or appalshop.org/seedtime2026.