This is the final First Friday Concert in the Square in the 2023 series, which runs from May-October. Concerts are FREE & open to the public. The event will also feature The HeART Market, with artisan vendors who pour their heart into their work, and craft activities for the kiddos. ❤ Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs & picnic blankets, and enjoy dining, strolling the shops, creative activities and all The Grassroots District has to offer. James Hart and Old Soul Reunion will open the show from 6-7pm and Option 22 will take the stage from 7-9pm. About the Artists: Option 22: This infectious, eclectic Americana groove is led by powerful, yet blissfully soothing vocals dancing atop a smooth, soulful flow. Positive lyrics inspire unity and call for change. Based in Princeton, Lori McKinney (vocals, drums, spoken word) and Robert Blankenship (guitar, hand-drums, didgeridoo) have been writing & playing music together since 2004. Now infusing the mix are the highly skilled & ever-flowing bass lines of Brandon Dunn, the rock solid, hard hitting rhythms of Ary'an Graham (drums) and the soulful guitar stylings of Jacob Brooks (lead guitar). As a group, they understand the power of music to heal & transform, and they use their creative gifts to make a positive impact on the world around them. Robert & Lori live and work within a multi-purpose creative zone they created in downtown Princeton, The RiffRaff Arts Collective, which is revitalizing a one dark, depressed area with color and life. They also founded and run Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival, among other events. The other musicians orbit around the collective, bringing their talents and spirits around often, forming a sphere of creativity and good vibes. Option22.net James is a talented blues/soul songwriter and musician, shining light at Stages Music School in downtown Princeton and has performed at Culturefest for the past 10 years with multiple acts. A prolific writer, he's written over 70 songs. He says, "Music has always been a major part of my life; I see it as a way to deal with life and sometimes a way to not deal with life; I believe it is the art of creating emotion. In my solo work, I write what I have experienced either directly or indirectly and I try to play music that makes people happy, so most of what I write comes from that. But I don't want to just make them happy, I want to make them think about their relationships and the people they love, in hopes of helping them somehow deal with and reflect on the good and the bad in a positive way. After all, if you take away the cars and the houses and all the materialistic things, all we have left is each other.” James is joined by the remarkable talents of Jordan Furrow (drums), Robert Blankenship (bass) and Jacob Brooks (lead guitars) with guest vocals by Je'dah Madison ad Lori McKinney. This concert is brought to you with support from Princeton Community Hospital - WVU Medicine. ❤
