MORGANTOWN — Walking into Gene’s Beer Garden, you’d be forgiven for not recognizing it as a music venue right away.
The small stage at the Wilson Street establishment is tucked in the back and is often home to a big-screen TV.
Most nights, the loudest sounds coming from the bar are the patrons, or bartenders raising their voices to be heard over the din of regulars.
But more and more in recent years, artists not just from the area, but across the country, have set up and played in the neighborhood alehouse.
Just a couple of weeks ago, NPR staple Jessica Lea Mayfield made a surprise appearance during her parents’ set, who perform under the name Bluegrass Sweethearts.
The Dusty 45s, Bill Kirchen and Webb Wilder have also taken the stage.
And a host of local artists such as William Matheny,
18 Strings and Funkifly regularly perform at Gene’s.
“Al Bonner is such as supporter of local music. He always treats everyone fairly and isn’t afraid to take risks,” said Aaron Hawley of the bar’s owner.
Hawley, who plays with The Border States, was for many years the frontman of the now-defunct ’85 Flood. He and fellow area musician Haley Slagle recently convinced Bonner to bring back Bonneroo, a festival celebrating the venue’s place in the area music scene, as well as a fundraiser for two charities.
It’s been about a decade since the last Bonneroo and Hawley, especially, felt it was time the fest be resurrected — which will happen Saturday.
Acts will play in the bar’s gravel lot as well as inside throughout the day. There will also be beer and food for sale. In addition to Gene’s well-known hot dogs, Garcia’s Latin Market, Heather’s Original Philly Cheesesteaks and Tutto Gelato Cafe will be on hand. Funds will benefit Pack the Bus and Pantry Plus More.
“Aaron approached me and I thought it sounded like a great idea,” Slagle said. “And Al is a really good sport.”
“[Al] did two of these in 2009 and 2010 and my old band ’85 Flood played,” Hawley said. “It was such a great time. Gene’s didn’t have as much live music back then as they do now. And it’s a neighborhood institution, in the best sense of the word. … Once Al agreed to do it again, people came out of the woodwork to participate.”
What started out as a line-up of 13 acts, has morphed into 25.
Hawley understands why so many musicians agreed to be part of the event, playing for free.
“Gene’s serves a very valuable role — not that there aren’t other great local venues, there are — but the thing that’s great about Gene’s is that it’s the kind of place you can put on show if you don’t have a huge crowd yet,” he said. “It’s a good place for people just starting, and you’ll be treated fairly.”
Hawley recalls a time when ’85 Flood was scheduled to play downtown, but the day of the show the bar closed.
“It was a Friday night, and I asked Al if he wanted a band tonight,” he said. “We put it on Facebook at the last minute and it was spring break for the [WVU] students. Nobody showed up. The cops came three times asking us to turn it down. Al still paid us. He would have been well within his rights to call it even for the free hot dogs we ate and beers we drank, but we got paid.”
Slagle, who took care of booking, said she and Bonner both reached out to area musicians.
“I don’t think anyone imagined it would turn into a situation that needed a second stage, but it’s exciting,” she said. “It’s a pretty diverse lineup and it’s fitting that Owen close the evening on the stage that bears his name.”
She’s referring to Owen Davis and the Free Hummus Allstars. Bonner said he’s known Davis his whole life and built Gene’s stage out of siding from his mother’s house so the musician would have a place to play in the bar where everyone could hear him.
Davis and his band will close the evening inside, along with Born Again Hindus, beginning at 9 p.m.
“The music is going to be great,” Hawley said. “It’s going to happen rain or shine and it’s supposed to be hot that day, so bring sunscreen. … This has really been a sort of community creation and that’s what it’s supposed to be.”
Bonneroo lineup:
Outdoors
— 1-1:30 p.m. — Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers
— 1:40-2:10 p.m. — Greg Short
— 2:20-2:50 p.m. — Annelies Stealy (Before I Sleep)
— 3-3:30 p.m. — Yellow Dog Union
— 3:40-4:10 p.m. — The Border States
—4:20-4:50 p.m. — Diablo Sandwich
— 5-5:30 p.m. — Phantom Six
— 5:40-6:10 p.m. — Haley Slagle & the Hardway
— 6:20-6:50 p.m. — Kelsie Cannon
— 7-7:30 p.m. — Tom Batchelor Band
— 7:40-8:10 p.m. — Goodwolf
Inside
— 1 p.m. — Will Hutchens
— 1:30 p.m. — Mike Johns
— 2 p.m. — Rick Grayson
— 2:30 p.m. — Cody Eagle
— 3 p.m. — Adam Menear and John Evans
— 3:30 p.m. — Jim Truman
— 4 p.m. — John Cassell
— 4:30 p.m. — Sean Collins
— 5 p.m. — Josie Martin
— 5:30 p.m. — Shane Masters
— 6 p.m. — David P. Howard
— 6:30 p.m. — David Joel Frame
— 9 p.m. — Born Again Hindus and Owen Davis & The Free Hummus All-Stars
