Culture
WOUB Culture’s coverage of the 2022 Black Diamond Music and Arts Festival
By: Jack Demmler
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Hocking College welcomed 20 different country music artists and blue grass musicians over a two day period for the inaugural Black Diamond Music and Arts Festival Friday, June 10 through Saturday, June 11.
People from all over the state traveled to hear some of their favorite bands.
Melissa and Paul Bentley, who traveled to Hocking College from Akron to see The Kentucky Headhunters, attended both days.
“It’s great to have live music back,” Paul Bentley said. “And have events like this.”
Despite inconvenient weather on Friday, the rain could not keep country music fans away.
“We got rained on [Friday] night,” Melissa Bentley said. “But we stayed through the whole thing. It was awesome.”
The Bentleys are just one example of how the general public enjoyed the festival.
“All responses from the concertgoers were very positive,” Dean of Workforce Development and Community Engagement at Hocking College Sean Terrell said. “That’s what you hope for whether it is your first year or multiple years.”
Terrell went on to talk about how not only did the concertgoers have positive reactions but the musicians were also fond of the festival.
Not everyone attended both days of the festival.
Colton Henson said he and his friends learned about the festival on Saturday and decided to head down.
“I didn’t know it was happening until about 12 hours ago,” Henson said. “It sounds like a pretty good thing for the region so we hopped in the car from Circleville and headed down.”
The festival had three various stages for the different artists as well as a line of food trucks between the “Rock stage” and the “Pepsi stage.” There was also a kid zone and vendors.
Terrell expressed his gratitude toward those who helped set up the festival and the finished product.
“What I was humbled by was the sheer amount of work and how the campus stepped up,” Terrell said. “It was really smooth and that’s a testament to people’s planning.”
The success of the inaugural Black Diamond Music and Arts Festival leaves some anticipating the festival to return, including the Bentleys.
“I think it will be a good kickoff to many more,” Paul Bentley said.
“If they do it again, we will be back for sure,” Melissa Bentley said.
Terrell said after experiencing the inaugural year of the Black Diamond Music and Arts Festival, they plan to continue the festival and build off the success.