Our Artists

“Blair Mountain stands as a silent symbol of West Virginia’s important place in American labor history. It’s up to us to preserve it, to voice its songs and stories.”

“I’m Sam Gleaves and I’m called to be part of Blair Pathways because the music and people that I love have always borne ties to this land and ties like that are worth preserving. I hope these songs fight hard to save Blair Mountain because I wouldn’t want my great grandmother, a Logan County woman, to look down and see our home and history destroyed.”

Sam Gleave’s Website

“The Blair Pathways Project draws together two issues that I’m most passionate about: Environmental responsibility and Cultural history. It is exciting and meaningful to be able to contribute musically to the telling of this important story which I find especially relevant because of the close connection between this history and the music of the Scots-Irish immigrants which has occupied the central part of my career.”

Jamie Laval’s Website

Being people in the 21st century it is easy to lose sight of all of those before us who fought for the freedoms enjoyed now. Blair Pathways is a call for historical equity which is bringing every story in our history to the forefront so that it can shine its light on the past and show us the way to move toward the future. Don’t let the heroes who fought with their hearts and fists die in vain. Celebrate them and let their stories be told!

Dom Flemon’s Website

“We are excited to be a part of the Blair Pathways Project because the Battle of Blair Mountain is a part of our rich Appalachian, and American, history. Unions built this nation; the banding together of men and women with the common plight to create a better life is what made us such a strong country. We are staunchly against mountaintop removal coal mining, which threatens to eradicate the people and the history of Central Appalachia, including that of Blair Mountain. Every mountain has a story even older than that of the human race.”

2/3 Goat’s Website

Tim Eriksen’s Website

“I’m involved with Blair Pathways because I think that the landscape is an indivisible part of mountain music. I hope that the more we know about the land and its history, the better care we’ll take of the mountains and each other.”

Elizabeth Laprelle’s Website

“Wendell Berry once said that ‘what we stand for is what we stand on.’ If we, then, ignore nature’s red flags; if we become apathetic; if we refuse to step up and promote real change, every one of us – then we’ll soon have nothing left to stand on and therefore nothing left to stand for.”

Jubal’s Kin Website

“I am involved with Blair Pathways because these mountains are my home and I want to help ensure that this will be a healthy place for me to raise my family. We owe it to the miners, the families, and everyone else who has given their life in the struggle for social and economic justice in the coal fields to educate ourselves and continue the fight.”

Brett Ratliff’s Website