July will be hot with some wonderful music acts coming to the Jenny Wiley Amphitheater in Prestonsburg, Kentucky.  The Mountain Arts Center will be producing the inaugural Appalachian Strings & Things on July 2-3. It is described as a mix of old, new, traditional, and progressive Bluegrass music, with some acoustic stylings thrown in. The music festival is being presented with help from Prestonsburg Tourism and Floyd County Tourism.

Friday evening headliners, Mountain Heart, have been named IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year, Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year, as well as nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Instrumental Group of the Year. They continue to entertain audiences across the country with their unique bluegrass style.

Also performing Friday evening are Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Mama Said String Band, Foxtowne, and Tanner Horton.

Saturday is no exception of another day of great music. Headliners, Sideline, is a pedigreed six-piece powerhouse whose style has set the pace in Bluegrass for over two decades. Founders Steve Dilling (banjo), guitarist Skip Cherryholmes and Jason Moore (bass) can all claim their own historical significance to the genre as members of highly awarded groups, multiple Grand Ole Opry appearances and years of national and international touring.

Also performing on Saturday are the newly formed Wolfpen Branch, The Coal Cave Hollow Boys, Coaltown Dixie, and Kill Devil Hillbillies.

Ticket prices start at $30. To purchase, log onto www.macarts.com, call 888-MAC-ARTS, or stop by the Box Office. 

Jessica Blankenship

Jessica Blankenship is the owner and founder of Kentucky Country Music website with over 20 years experience in music journalism, concert planning, photography, and promotion. Jessica is a Kentucky Colonel and alumni of the 2019 Leadership Kentucky BRIGHT Class and a recipient of the Laurel County’s Ten Under 40 Award. Listen to her each week on WFKY on Friday mornings for the Nashville News Roundup.

www.kentuckycountrymusic.com