Kathy Matea to talk about "Coal."

October 13, 2008

Kathy Mattea to present "Reflections on Coal" in a free Nov. 6th program at WVU Parkersburg.

CONTACT: Dr. H.G. Young, professor of music, 304-424-8248.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia's own Kathy Mattea will talk about her new album "Coal" in a free presentation Thursday, Nov. 6, at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

The program, "Reflections on Coal," will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the College Activities Center. It is a part of the college's 2008-2009 Distinguished Performance Series.

Ms. Mattea's appearance at WVU Parkersburg is not a musical program. In her own words, she will reflect on her music, heritage and people.

The presentation is free and open to the public; however, tickets will be required and may be obtained in the college's business office, beginning Monday, Oct. 20. Tickets are limited to four per person. Ticket holders must be seated before 7:15 p.m. the evening of the program; unclaimed tickets will be released to non-ticket holders beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Growing up in the shadows of coal in the Kanawha Valley, Ms. Mattea's mining heritage is thick. Both of her parents grew up in coal camps, both of her grandfathers were miners, her mother worked for the local United Mine Workers of America, and her father was saved from the mines by an uncle who paid his way through college.

She remembered the Farmington mine tragedy in 1968 when she was only nine years old and had been thinking about making an album of coal mining songs since she first heard Merle Travis' "Dark as a Dungeon" at age 19. But it was the 2006 Sago Mine disaster that moved her to create this musical tribute to "my place and my people," drawing from the music of Jean Ritchie, Billy Ed Wheeler, Hazel Dickins and others.

Ms. Mattea's campus presentation precedes her 8 p.m., Nov. 7th concert at the Smoot Theatre.

The program is part of a week-long series of arts events focused on West Virginia coal mining and its people, sponsored by the Smoot Theatre in partnership with the Parkersburg Art Center and WVU Parkersburg.

cd10/13/08

For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
WVU Parkersburg
Executive Director
Institutional Advancement
(304-424-8203)

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