Kindred Valley | The Ballad of West Virginia Lineup

BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WMUL-FM)- Ahead of the first ever Ballad of West Virginia Music Festival, WMUL-FM 88.1 will be spotlighting each artist set to perform on June 13th! Tune in every weekday ahead of the festival for a new spotlight. 

Up first we have the festival closing act, Kindred Valley. 

Local indie folk band Kindred Valley is set to play at The Ballad of West Virginia, a celebration of Appalachian music and culture on June 13th at the Barboursville Amphitheater.  

The band began as a trio, calling themselves Back Row Baptists after meeting at Marshall University in 2020. Blake Lacy, Brett McCoy and Noah Freeman began releasing singles but found their footing in 2021 with three new members: Rachael and Jadon Hayes and Kaden Salmons.  

With three new members, the band decided on a new name. Now named Kindred Valley, Lacy and Salmons wrote an early version of the band’s single “Whistle” during the group’s first meet-up. 

With new perspectives and ideas, Kindred Valley released its fifth single, “The Wedding Song,” in 2021. 

After almost two years, the group released its self-titled debut album at the end of 2022. This was followed by an EP titled “What Was Left,” containing ideas and songs inspired by their experiences of playing live together up and down the East Coast.  

The band’s newest EP, entitled “These Days,” features singles “Purgatory,” “Gone,” and “Change”. 

Much of the music from Kindred Valley can be categorized as acoustic folk with an evident Appalachian influence.  It’s like the perfect soundtrack for a drive through Appalachia.  

In addition to The Ballad of West Virginia, Kindred Valley is set to play with Trampled by Turtles in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 15th.  

A dream three years in the making, The Ballad of West Virginia festival features 10 artists from across the wild and wonderful state. With genres ranging from Indie Folk to Southern Gothic to Appalachian Space Funk, the festival will take place on Saturday, June 13, at the Barboursville Amphitheater. The day kicks off with a 5k at 8:30 a.m., the art market will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and music will start at 11 a.m. and go until 10:30 p.m. For more information on the festival, keep an eye on the Ballad of WV’s social media or check out their website here.