FAIRMONT – There’s an oft-paraphrased quote, attributed to Robert Frost, that goes something like this.
Poetry, the Bard of New England was said to have opined, makes you remember – what you didn’t know you knew.
In other words, the act of creating that collection of observations into the form of a poem, just might yield some insights previously hiding out in your subconscious.
While Frost certainly penned some poems that weren’t upbeat by any interpretation, he also generated plenty that were.
Celebrations of people, places and moments those lines were – just waiting for their annual rediscovery in freshman English class.
All of which sounds pretty good to Aristotle Jones, the Appalachian Soul Man.
Saturday, Jones, the local songwriter, bandleader and podcast host, is bringing his Sounds Good Festival to Palatine Park in Fairmont.
This is the third year for the celebration of music and creativity at the park, a leafy expanse along the banks of the Monongahela River in this Marion County city.
“We’re gonna showcase some great bands while fostering creativity and community,” Jones said.
First, the music.
Jones’ band is headlining the concert that will also showcase a handful of bands and musicians featured earlier on his “Sounds Good to Me” podcast, which can heard at various outlets across the Mountain State, via the West Virginia Radio Corp.
Sharing the bill are The Heavy Hitters, a funk band which calls both Charleston and Huntington home.
SHELEM is a rap artist from Charleston who also recently delivered a well-received TEDx talk.
Clarksburg’s folk troubadour Annie Neeley will perform a set of her original tunes.
And HABATAT will bring its funk and jam stylings over the Mason-Dixon Line from Pittsburgh to Palatine Park.
Kris Cinalli, a Marion County administrator who promotes the park and books its acts, likes that Palatine is a bona fide venue.
“We’re glad that the place is turning into a destination,” Cinalli said.
The Appalachian Soul Man understandably agrees.
“The day’s definitely going to be a festival kind of vibe for us,” Jones said.
“Usually those of us in West Virginia have to drive somewhere to get that. And you get to meet and hear some great artists, too. It’s a good venue and platform for them.”
It’s also a venue for Jones to promote his latest album, “Mountain Doo-Wop & The Streets of Osage,” which was released Friday.
Admission is free for the family friendly event that runs from 4-10 p.m. Visit Jones’ Facebook page for full details on the festival and his new music release.
And, the host said, be prepared to get creative yourself – just by showing up.
The first 150 people through the gate get a free T-shirt, and a session on screen-printing also at no charge conducted by Joel Dugan, an artist and muralist who chairs the Department of Architecture and Design at Fairmont State University.
“You’re basically designing your own custom T-shirt for the festival,” the host and headliner said.
“We’re going to do buttons, too. People love to show ‘em off at the end of the night.”
Which means, as he happily puts it, that you get to creatively own the events at Palatine, too.
“Appalachian body, mind and spirit,” Jones said.
And just maybe, he added, making your acquaintance with some things you didn’t know you knew.
