The big ole thing happening around these parts this weekend is South Charleston’s Summerfest,  which will be taking place all around the Mound at D Street, Wednesday through Sunday. There will be two bands each night,  a car show and all kinds of cool stuff for folks of all ages. Here’s the big graphic…

…we’ll plug a few other cool things from Summerfest in our graphic packages below.

We also have a bunch of stuff to tell you about all over West Virginia and maybe just a hair beyond our borders this weekend.

Live Music is back at Taylor Books. There is no cover charge, and shows start at 7:30 PM.  Friday it’s Gerald Potts. Ari Pappalardo entertains the crowd at Charleston’s beloved Bookstore/Coffee Shop/Art Gallery.

All the way up in Morgantown at 123 Pleasant Street Friday at 9 PM it’s 123’S BACK TO SCHOOL BACCHANAL FEATURING THE WEARING HANDS, SWEET TOOTH, SAMUEL S.C., AND JIM POLAK! Or so they say.

The World Famous Empty Glass Cafe has some great stuff this weekend to tell you about. Wednesday at 6 PM it’s Talent On Tap and then at 10 PM Aeon’s Harmonic returns.  Thursday at 5:30 PM, Swingstein and Robin return with Swing for a good cause.  Later Thursday, Kenny Booth hosts Shred Night, the metallic open mic. Friday Tim Courts plays during happy hour.  Later on Friday it’s a night of Metal that you can read about below.  Saturday at 10 PM, Mojohand bring their indescribable music to The Empty Glass stage.  Sunday at 6 PM you’ll find Red Scare doing Tarot readings. Next Monday it’s Open Mic Night at 9 PM.

In a curious development this Saturday, RFC faves, Golden, along with Dust Up will be playing semi acoustic sets at The Roq, below the Quarrier Diner, which I had no idea was even open. The show starts at 7 PM, and there’s no word on if there’s a cover.

Please remember that the pandemic is not over yet. It’s still a going concern with the ‘rona surging again. And now there are seasonal allergies, the flu, heatstroke, earthquakes, beligerent chickens, Cocaine Bear and his cousin, Viagra Bear and other damned good reasons to be careful. Many people who have very good reasons are still wearing masks, and many of us, understandably, are still nervous about being in crowds, masked or not. Be kind and understanding  while you’re out.

If you’re up for going out, here are a few suggestions for the weekend, roughly in order…