When you visit the annual Arts in the Middle Fine Arts Festival on June 3rd and 4th at Hewick Plantation in Urbanna, you will once again experience an extravaganza of fine arts offerings: a weekend full of visual, performing, literary, and culinary arts. The art along the shaded pathways is amazing, but don't forget about the music. It is awesome!
Local musician and AIM team member Clayton Neal has arranged an impressive line-up of live performances throughout Saturday and Sunday. Performances will be at two sites on the festival grounds: The Main Stage under the "big tent" and the smaller Acoustic Stage nestled under the trees with the artists. Back by popular demand on both stages this year are a number of highly entertaining and musically gifted performers. Local favorite, Clayton Neal will kickoff the music on the Acoustic Stage on Saturday with a solo performance of “rivahdacious” music that will put a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Husband-wife duo Jeff and Sherry Wagner have delighted audiences for years with their acoustic Americana music and original, award-winning, songwriter compositions. The Wagner’s music is always a popular draw and they will be sharing their talents once again this year as will Paige Wilson, Gary Archer, and Beth Justice.
Paige Melton will be performing solo, offering a diverse selection of music delivered with an innocent 60's and 70's "flower child" attitude. Gary Archer, a multi-talented instrumentalist and vocalist, who honed his local reputation as the lead guitarist with the award winning band, Jumbo Lump Daddy and the Backfin Boys, will be entertaining festival audiences with a solo performance that reflects his joy and life-long passion
for music. Well-known and beloved Urbanna native, Beth Justice will be entertaining festival goers with her stellar vocals while accompanied by the fluid guitar playing of her musical partner, Lee Goldstar. Together they are Justice Goldstar.
Arts in the Middle Fine Arts Festival is pleased to announce the return on the Main Stage of several groups of musicians who have made significant contributions to the success of past festivals including The Tom Euler Trio, The Members, Mare Wakefield and Nomad, Poisoned Dwarf, and The MelTones. Virginia's blues rock star Tom Euler, the award winning song writer/singer and guitarist tagged as the "young guy with an old soul" brings in the crowds whenever he performs. Tom will be joined by his friends Wes Mallory and “Smiling” Max Parker to make the Tom Euler Trio. The Members, are a Richmond based, 5-piece band, who will be performing music from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s as well as original compositions. Their crowd-pleasing performances always
leave audiences insisting for encores. Nashville's husband-wife singer/songwriters/ musicians, Mare Wakefield and Nomad, will be performing their critically acclaimed and award winning songs that showcase Mare’s intimate vocal delivery and Nomad’s exquisite piano and accordion. Poisoned Dwarf from the Williamsburg are a crowd pleasing, five-piece Celtic band, who will be entertaining with virtuosic, innovative, and passionate renditions of traditional Irish and Scottish music on acoustic instruments.
Paige Melton will be returning with her father, Randy. Together they form The MelTones, who will be performing an eclectic style of music that features Randy on keyboards and Paige on guitar and vocals.
Arts in the Middle has become well-known for the line-up of popular returning performers, the vast array of musical genres, and always for the new groups who join for the weekend. This year three new groups, Haze and Dacey, Bill and Pam Gurley, and George Robinson and the Gospel Robins make their appearance. Richmond's Haze and Dazy will have your toes tapping and bodies swaying at the Acoustic Stage with their home grown organic sounds ranging from folk pop to alt country to roots rock, all performed with lilting melodies, tight harmonies, and compelling rhythms. Bill and Pam Gurley are a husband-wife duo from the Northern Neck of Virginia, who have been
singing together since their first date. Expect to be delighted by the sounds of Bill on guitar, banjo, and fiddle, and Pam’s warm and captivating vocals. George Robinson and the Gospel Robins are the musical “Headliner” for this year’s festival. He is much loved for his performances of gospel, contemporary, country, and soul music with both local and regional choirs. George’s performance on the Main Stage will be supported by the
Gospel Robins and Gospel vocalists from the tri-county area. The festival is open to all, with no admission fees, on Saturday, June 3rd, from 10am-5pm and Sunday, June 4th, from 10am-3pm. Parking is free with a donation to help fund future festivals appreciated.
For more information about the festival and, most especially the music, visit the Arts in the
Middle website— https://www.artsinthemiddle.com/music .