Isaac Shelem Fadiga, known by his mononym Shelem (pronounced shuh-lem) is a 26-year-old hip-hop artist andproducer who strives to bring levity to the world through his bubbly personality and colorful creations. Born in SilverSpring, MD to parents from the Ivory Coast, he began producing, writing, and recording at age 14. After graduating fromMarshall University in Huntington, WV with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2018, he began his engineering career as hedeveloped a plan to launch his music career.

Shelem’s debut project, The Jaunts, was released on September 22nd, 2018. As the pandemic brought live music to agrinding halt, Shelem diverted his focus to growing and interacting with his audience in a digital space and released his sophomore project titled UhhYup! The Mixtape in 2020. In 2021, Shelem was featured on NPR’s Slingshot Series andreleased his most notable single to date, “Suga Wata.” In 2022, Shelem presented a TEDx Talk blending engineeringand music production, then expanded his reach regionally with shows in Columbus, OH, Charlotte, NC and Ashland, KY. 

Website: www.shelem304.com 

Justin Puett is the proprietor of Folklore Music Exchange, a guitar shop he owns. Additionally, he is involved in the Indie Rock band named The Parachute Brigade, where he showcases his guitar skills and vocal prowess.

Originally hailing from the quaint town of Coal Mountain, Justin later relocated to Beckley at the age of 21. During his time there, he managed a local music store while residing in a band house, actively participating in an emo rock band known as Motion Theatre. Concurrently, he also contributed his talents to a cover band named The Incredibly Handsome Army Of Jasons.

In 2012, Justin crossed paths with his future wife, Jodie Cox-Puett, leading to the formation of their band, The Parachute Brigade, which has since been going strong for 11 years.

In 2019, Justin and Jodie made the decision to establish their own guitar shop in Charleston, christened Folklore Music Exchange. This May, they will be commemorating the fifth anniversary of its inception.

Shop: https://www.folkloremusicexchange.com/
Band: https://www.theparachutebrigade.com/

Proudly from Charleston, WV, the award-winning Better From Here is the latest pioneer in Appalachian emo. In the fall of 2022, five friends got together to make music in a church auditorium after hours. After too much time had been spent picking a name, the band agreed the name options would get “Better From Here.” The team then released their debut EP, “All of My Nights.” The EP propelled the band to win the Born & Bred Reader's Poll "Best Punk Artist of 2023," telling of the band’s promising future, which includes a full-length album to be recorded in 2024.

Corduroy Brown: Feel good, indie music from Huntington, West Virginia. The Corduroy sound has been described as: "A sound that makes you feel like everything is going to be ok." Corduroy crafts tunes that evoke a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and genuine joy. Corduroy Brown danced with death in Morgantown West Virginia ICU due to a rare reaction to Covid. After being revived and placed on life support, he made a full recovery. Now themes of mental wellness and a willingness to live life to the fullest are represented in the music for his second time on the Earth.

Kate Boytek is many things; she's a mother, a daughter, a granddaughter, a singer, a songwriter, and a storyteller born and bred deep in the rolling hills and hollers of southern West Virginia. The emerging country music artist’s heartfelt lyrics and melodies, warm and genuine personality, and soulful vocal performances have captivated audiences nationwide.

Kate recently landed a CMT premiere and regional radio airplay for her single "Anywhere" (a gentle, uplifting anthem of empowerment co-written alongside the Dove and Grammy-nominated songwriter Kim McLean). She has recorded with top producers, including Jason Wyatt (Kid Rock, The Lost Trailers) and Britton Cameron (Lonestar, Sister Hazel, Don Williams), and performs regularly at writers' rounds in Nashville.

Boytek has solidified her reputation the old-fashioned way as a must-see live performer the old-fashioned way-hitting the road with the commanding stage presence of a young Stevie Nicks and strong vocal delivery often compared to Trisha Yearwood and Wynonna Judd.  

In the past year, Kate played her first sold-out theater show as the headliner, several casino headlining dates, and over a dozen main stage fair and festival slots, including Down N' Dirty Fest, The Summer Shindig, Live On The Levee, River Road Music Festival and the Sternwheel Regatta, the biggest annual event in her home state of West Virginia, before a crowd estimated at over 30,000 fans.

Kate has shared stages with countless other road warriors, hitmakers, and legends, including Jo Dee Messina, Chase Wright, Drew Parker, Joe Nichols, Easton Corbin, LOCASH, Ronnie McDowell, Eric Paslay, Zach Top, and many others.

Kate’s impact also extends beyond live performance. Kate proudly serves as an official ambassador for the City of Charleston, WV, in conjunction with their Convention and Visitors Bureau. She spoke at Healing Appalachia before Jason Isbell about the region's struggle with opioid addiction, visited schools to encourage music education, and performed for AmeriCorps staffers and volunteers to thank them for their service.  

This year will bring new music and video releases, more mother-daughter time, more unforgettable performances, more miles on the road, and more fans that become friends. Kate Boytek is gladly putting in all the work and doing all the things every day to be what most of us aspire to: someone who radiates authenticity, sincerity, and grace and leaves an indelible mark on every life Kate and her music touch.

John “JB” McCuskey is West Virginia’s 21st State Auditor. He is currently in his second term, first elected in 2016. Previously, he served two terms in the House of Delegates and practiced law in Charleston.

As Auditor, McCuskey has made it his mission to ensure an efficient, effective, and transparent government. On his watch, McCuskey has turned West Virginia into the most transparent state in the country by allowing citizens to access real-time data about how their tax dollars are spent through WVCheckbook.gov. He also established the Public Integrity and Fraud Unit which has opened more than 200 investigations into local governments, uncovering fraud totaling more than $2.5 million.

A tool to fight fraud and abuse is the use of the state Purchasing Card. Over the past five years, McCuskey has pushed for more agencies, boards and commissions, and institutions of higher education to use the P-Card, which offers an efficient method for streamlining the payment process. The P-Card program nets the state tens of millions each year in cost avoidance savings. Since Auditor McCuskey took office, the state and local governments have earned more than $41 million in rebates from the use of the P-Card.

McCuskey is also leading the nation in using augmented intelligence and machine learning to streamline government processes and mitigate fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The Auditor’s Office has established a platform, the first of its kind, to be used to track government spending and highlight fraud and important trends.

Additionally, the Auditor is the Land Commissioner for the state of West Virginia. McCuskey pushed to rewrite decades old tax laws, to streamline the property tax process for taxpayers and collectors across the state. This will help speed up the process to prevent houses from becoming dilapidated during what was a very lengthy process. The legislation also created, for the first time, a payment plan for homeowners who fall on hard times.

McCuskey is a native of Harrison County, West Virginia. His parents, John and Anne McCuskey, cultivated his deep love of the Mountain State and instilled in him the values of public service.

He is a graduate of The George Washington University with a degree in Political Communication. He is also a graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law. Before attending law school, McCuskey worked as a civilian for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon in the offices of the Army and Department of Defense General Counsels.

Auditor McCuskey lives in Charleston with his wife, Wendy, and daughters, Charlotte Anne and Martha Elizabeth, and their dog Pearl, where they own a small business.

Official Webpage: https://www.wvsao.gov/about

In late 2015 four friends got together to track what was to be Matt Mullins’ solo record, they quickly took notice that this was something different that they wanted to continue doing together. Matt’s solo album became a group project and since then the band has been writing new material and booking supporting of their debut album Family.Music.Beer., which was released in August 2016. With an eclectic mix of genres that have influenced the group, it’s hard to classify them as just an alt-country band.

Matt Mullins & the Bringdowns are a Ya’llternative Rock Band. The stories in their songs are almost as diverse as the influences you hear in the music. Drummer Dylan McInturff and bassist Bob Campion fueled by a driving rhythm section. Stuart Hill creates sonic tapestries with his guitar that will leave you in awe. Add to that the lyrical prowess of raspy voiced singer/guitarist Matt Mullins and you have what the group feels to be the most honest music they have ever collectively created.

Webside: https://www.bringdowns.com/

Bill Withers Memorial Foundation: https://www.bafwv.org/billwithers.html

Josh Pantry is a touring country musician who spends his time between Charleston, WV and Nashville, TN. Last year, Josh Pantry  played a total of 96 shows spanning over 7 states! Their tour included some pretty serious stages and festivals. From Bowery for Carolina Country Music Fest to the Down & Dirty Music Festival and many other fairs and festivals within the tri state area.

Josh is a seasoned pro who has shared the stage with heavy hitters like, Chris Cagle, Love & Theft, Matt Stell, Jameson Rogers, David Morris, Jon Langston, David Nail, Restless Road, and Mikele Buck just this year.

Josh, who is an active songwriter in the Nashville music scene, loves to play his own music as well as covers for all ages. His debut album Smilin from beer to beer is at 200,000 streams across all platforms! He brings a live show with a ton of energy and guaranteed to entertain a diverse crowd.

https://joshpantry.com/

Michael Ervin is the founder of Coal River Coffee Company. Mike started Coal River Coffee Company with is wife Rachel. Mike's passion is to serve the best and freshest roasted coffees from around the world to everyone who walks in the doors. Rachel loves to bake beautiful and delicious food to share with all who visit the coffee shop. Both growing up in Saint Albans, WV and are grateful to base Coal River Coffee Company in their hometown. Located at 64 Olde Main Plaza in the heart of Saint Albans, WV. Their shop is within walking distance from the Coal River. 

Web: www.coalrivercoffee.com

Sponsors: 
The Appalachian Outpost
HD Media

Colonel Eric Buer is a retired Marine Corps aviator. Specializing in the Bell AH-1 Cobra. Col. Buer lived to fly the Cobra, delivering incredible firepower and devastating America’s enemies in the aircraft that would become both his home and office. Wherever Marines fought and whenever their commanders needed support, he and his fellow Cobra aircrew were there. Col. Buer is the author of Ghosts of Baghdad.

In Ghosts of Baghdad, you can be there too. Feel these pilots’ frustrations, experience their exhaustion, and lament alongside them in the face of tragedy. Ultimately, you will come to understand how a sense of duty, service, and shared sacrifice develops into an unbreakable trust and bond.

Ghosts of Baghdad: https://www.amazon.com/Ghosts-Baghdad-Marine-Gunships-Opening/dp/195502667X