Podcast Episode #5 Stop the Kaboom 2 Music Festival.

June 27, 2012

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Alterjournal Transfigurations Podcast Episode #5 – Stop The Kaboom

Today Jacob Allen and myself talk to organizers and facilitators Allen Risinger and Laura Steepleton about the upcoming Stop The Kaboom 2 (Event page on Facebook) music and Arts Festival in Hedgesville WV. We are very excited to have Allen and Laura organizing and promoting this cohesive and altruistic form of engagement for the community at large. This being the 2nd annual Stop the Kaboom fest they are building on last years success and continuing to raise awareness about Mountaintop Removal and Fracking Practices not only around West Virginia but the entire country. Certainly there is no better way to help than by turning out to have a good time, meet your local caretakers and watchdogs, as well as artist and possibilities for further ventures. Here we talk about the Festival itself, artists, vendor opportunities as well as the issues directly effecting the Eastern Panhandle of WV and the mining sites around the nation. This all comes with the recent passing of a pillar of community activism and artistic creation, Rainbow Bill, perhaps it is most fitting that this call to service takes place on the very ground he practised in altruistic and community endeavour for the health and welfare of all. Laura and Alan also talk of his influence in the community and the contributions he made for not only this festival but through years of history with individuals and actions alike.

Come on out to the Second Annual Stop The Kaboom Festival! Where we will be raising awareness and energies on how to Stop Mountaintop Removal and Fracking extraction practices. Join us for three days of incredible music, art and discussions! This year all proceeds from the festival will be split between the RAMPS Campaign out of Southern WV and Morgan County Frack Ban . Both of these organizations are actively working to stop the devastating effects of resource extraction of gas and coal. Through the weekend we are hoping to build coalitions between community members working on natural gas and coal issues and provide information on how folks can be involved in these struggles, to keep West Virginia Wild and Wonderful.

The RAMPS campaign which stands for Radical Action for Mountain People Survival is based out of the coal river valley in Raleigh County, WV. They are a non-violent direct action campaign working on the ground in Southern WV to stop the devastation of Surface Mining for Coal. The funds from this festival will go towards their Mountain Mobilization which is set for July 25th, and ongoing direct action needs. Please check out their website for more information!

Morgan County Frack Ban is a community group that just formed in October of 2011 and is based out of Morgan County, WV. The goals of Frack Ban are to educate and raise awareness on the dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas and ultimately ban “fracking” in Morgan County through a community rights ordinance. The funds from this festival will help Frack Ban host a democracy school ,which will be a three day intensive workshop where community members will learn how to assert local control to protect the rights of their residents, their community and nature. During the Democracy School, citizens will tailor a community rights bill to ban fracking in Morgan County. To find out more information or ways to be involved please check out their website.

Throughout the weekend we will have special guests speakers from Southern WV speaking to the effects that mountaintop removal has had on their lives. There will also be discussions from members of the RAMPS Campaign and Frack Ban on ways you can continue to be involved! The traveling cyclist from Pennsylvania, with Tour De Frack will also be there to speak about their bike ride to DC to raise awareness about Fracking. The weekend will include a wide range of talented musicians performing jam, rock and bluegrass music from our local area and beyond. We will also have many local art and food vendors, a children’s art space, and live performance art! Get your jamming pants on for the event of the summer, as we merge music, art and activism to create the world we want to live in!Gates open at 12 noon on Friday and music starts at 5pm Friday and goes on through late Sunday night, closing out with an All Star Jam!!

Admission for Camping from Friday until Monday morning is 30 dollars and 15 dollars for a day pass.

You can pre-order tickets here!! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/

For Vendor and Volunteer Opportunities Please see the Contact Page Here