Local Bluegrass is a Huge Hit at 10th Annual Appalachian Festival

 

Gregg Welty, Bob Artis, Bernie Cunningham, and Karen Artis
of the Allegheny Drifters performing at Frostburg's 10th Annual Appalachian Festival

Frostburg’s 10th Annual Appalachian Festival was nothing short of a celebration. People of all ages came out to enjoy the many events going on between Thursday and Saturday. One particular attraction, which was free and open to the public, that drew in a huge crowd was Saturday’s Jam Tent in the Frostburg State University Upper Quad. The Jam Tent had a variety of music from Bluegrass to Mountain Music to Celtic and even Old-Time. One particular group drew in many fans: the Allegheny Drifters, a Bluegrass group from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Allegheny Drifters is comprised of lead vocalist and guitarist Bernie Cunningham, Mandolinist Bob Artis, Banjo Player Gregg Welty, and bassist Karen Artis who have been blessing people’s lives with their upbeat tempos, beautiful harmonies, and amazing instrumentals for over a decade.

In front of the Jam tent was a lawn full of fans of all ages. One young man, Jeremy Fisher who is a freshman at Frostburg State University, was sitting out on the quad enjoying himself a rootbeer and the soulful, classic Bluegrass from the Allegheny Drifters. Taking a break from listening he told me that “I just kind of decided to come and check it out. I live in Sowers Hall and when I looked out the window this morning and saw all of this I wanted to see what it was all about.” Fisher says he does not normally listen to Bluegrass, but “It reminds me of my home town. I’m from Carroll County, and this is kind of making me a little nostalgic.”

The Allegheny Drifters do have a few fans who have been following them for many years now. Some have seen them perform multiple times in many different states. One fan, Alene Mancini who is an avid listener of Bluegrass country music, says that she has known them for about ten years now. Mancini said that she discovered the Allegheny Drifters because, “My husband and I own and Amish furniture business. We stopped in Ohio once to get furniture and saw them performing.

Whether you’re a fan of Bluegrass Music or not the Allegheny Drifters and worth seeing perform. As lead singer Bernie Cunningham said, they play a lot of local festivals in Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, so no matter where you are or where you’re from the Allegheny Drifters are always close by. To learn more about them visit their website here. You can also check out a short clip of their performance at the Appalachian Festival below.