Louisville Loves Mountains 2010 is Kicking Off!

3:45 PM

Greetings from Longest Avenue and Bardstown Road, Louisville Loves Mountains Festival 2010!

 In just a few minutes the street will be buzzing with people, but for now it's occupied by a crew of excited KFTC members playing frisbee. The music is kickin', the prayer flags are hung, food and beer are setting up, We can even see some blue peaking through the clouds... Now all that's missing is YOU! 

Here's a rundown of the days events, as I'll be updating them throughout the day:

Congressman John Yarmuth and Representative Jim Wayne are expected to be in attendance, and the Magnolia Photo Booth will also be available for part of the festival!

We have the following incredible artists donating their time and energy, with more to be announced very shortly! 

EMCEE: Mike Mays (4pm - 7pm), Laura Shine (7 pm-10pm)

4:45 PM Potluck Ramblers
http://potluckramblers.com/

5:30 PM Nora Ben and Eli 
http://www.norabenandeli.com/

6:15 PM Appalatin 
http://www.appalatin.com/

6:45 PM River City Drum Corpshttp://www.worknotes.com/ky/louisville/therivercitydrumcorp/index.html

7:00 PM KEYNOTE SPEAKER -- Makalani Bandele, Affrilachian Poet

7:30 PM Thomas A Minor & the Picket Line
http://www.myspace.com/thomasaminorandthepickinline

8:45 PM -- Maiden Radio
http://www.myspace.com/maidenradio 

9:30 PM Daniel Martin Moore and Special Guests
http://www.danielmartinmoore.com/

BBC and NABC will be selling beer, Ramsi's and Boombozz will be selling food, and of course there will be coffee from Heine Brother's Coffee and books to peruse from Carmichael's Bookstore. There will be kid friendly activities including "Muffintop Removal" by Shelly Biesel and people will be welcome to add to our banner project, an anti mountain top removal art project started by member Whit Forrester. 

You don't want to show up without a little cash, the Louisville Loves Mountains 2010 t-shirt looks great, and they'll sell fast at $15. Kentuckians for the Commonwealth t-shirts and stickers are also available, as are books and DVDs on the subject of mountaintop removal and coal mining. 

If you have a friend who isn't a member yet, bring them on down... It's going to be a great day!

5:38pm

Things are in full swing! Mother Nature has granted us sunny blue skies and a nice breeze...

Congressman Yarmuth just showed up and will be speaking and making the rounds in the next couple of hours. Don't miss an opportunity to shake hands!

Also, the event is 100% family friendly! There are plenty of four-legged friends and children hanging out in the crowd. Bring the kids for a fun lesson in "muffintop removal," or tap your feet to the music!

Speaking of which, I'm off to enjoy the bluegrass tunes over a slice of Boombozz pizza.. Pictures to come!

6:57pm

We weathered a little impromptu rain shower, but nothing has dampened the spirit of the event! Those who didn't huddle under the tents seeking shelter were happily dancing in the rain.. 

Longest Avenue is now full of people jamming to the thunderous beats of River City Drum Corp. Luckily, that's the only thunder rumbling down the alley!

It's a very heartening and humbling experience to be in the midst of a successful gathering for such an important cause. We're signing folks up to take mountain witness tours, registering new members, and engaging new generations of activists. 

There's no reason to reading about it from home... Come eat dinner from Ramsi's or Tony Boombozz and be part of this year's festivities, we're here for another three hours!

7:34pm

Affrilachian poet Makalani Bandele, this year's keynote speaker, just delivered a powerful speech reminding our Louisville audience that the effects of mountaintop removal are not just distant regional problems, they impact the political, environmental, judicial, and social dynamics of our entire state.  Every instance of injustice breeds the possibility of another, which weakens the individual liberties of every member of the Commonwealth. 

Bandele left us with a powerful message: "What happens up on the mountain comes right down here to Louisville. We are all interconnected, and we need to remember that."

8:05pm

Thomas A. Minor & the Picket Line just took the stage. Maiden Radio is up next, followed by Daniel Martin Moore and a very special guest... You don't want to miss this, 9:15pm will be a magic hour for music!

8:18pm

Carmichael's Bookstore is providing some very gracious temporary shelter from the rain. A little thunder and lightening put the music on hold, but everyone seems intent on waiting it out. Once the weather subsides everything will be back in action... Check back for weather updates!

8:53pm

The rain has won out... Things at Longest and Bardstown will be winding up, but the remaining bands haven't given up! Thomas A. Minor, Maiden Radio, and Daniel Martin Moore with special guests will be playing at 10pm at the Monkey Wrench, 1025 Barret Ave.

Let's hope that Mother Nature's victory over the festival is a good omen that she's ready to stand tall against King Coal! 

See everyone at the Monkey Wrench, we're going to wrap up this successful day with the party it deserves!

Saturday, 10:55am

Good things absolutely come to those who wait, last night at the Monkey Wrench was testament to that. The music started shortly after 10pm and didn't wrap up until the early morning hours! 

Daniel Martin Moore pulled out all the stops when he brought Jim James and Ben Sollee on stage with him. Word must have spread fast because every inch of the club was packed shoulder to shoulder with singing, smiling faces... It was an epic close for Louisville Loves Mountains 2010! 

We can't wait to see you all next year!