By Matthew Young, RealWV
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The first ever Down and Dirty Music Festival is set to kick off on Saturday at Charleston’s GoMart Ballpark. Boasting some of Nashville’s brightest up-and-coming artists, the festival promises a weekend full of great music in West Virginia’s Capital city.
One of those bright up-and-comers is Logan-native Kate Boyek. The singer/songwriter’s return to Charleston comes on the heels of a successful summer which saw the music video for her single “Anywhere” premiere on CMT (Country Music Television) just days before opening for megastar Jo Dee Messina at the Sternwheel Regatta.
On Tuesday, RealWV had the opportunity to speak with Boytek before she left Nashville for the six-hour trek back to her home state. In addition to her scheduled performance on Sunday, Boytek will be appearing at the festival’s VIP party Friday evening. While Boytek’s performance will include the high energy and familiar favorites her fans have come to expect, she also plans to include some new, previously-unheard material.
“We’ve added some new songs, and there’s a couple new original songs in there, as well,” Boytek said. “Definitely some new material, so people can expect that.”
“I also have a couple new band members,” Boytek added. “We’ve got a lead (guitar) player now who does a lot on slide guitar, so people will get to see some different elements that they didn’t see the last time.”
In addition to new original material, Boytek said that she and her band have also added to their eclectic assortment of covers.
“I’m doing some Joe Walsh and Georgia Satellite covers,” Boytek said. “I’m really excited to do those. I think a lot of times people wouldn’t really expect that from a female artist, but we really worked up that Joe Walsh (cover) to be super cool and fun for everybody.”
“And the audience usually has a lot of fun with the Georgia Satellite song, so we’re excited for them to have fun with that too,” Boytek noted.
Boytek has maintained a breakneck pace since her July appearance at the Sternwheel Regatta, which saw the 33-year-old mother of two playing shows all across southern Appalachia, and as far away as South Dakota. After Sunday’s Down and Dirty Festival performance, Boytek said she’s looking forward to spending a few days relaxing with her daughters, before her scheduled performance at Ripley’s Alpine Theatre on Oct. 28.
“Musicians are always not busy until they’re super busy,” Boytek said with a laugh. “There’s not any in between. It’s just one of those things – you’re either swamped, or it’s dead.”
In between performances, Boytek has been actively recording a new collection of songs that she hopes to release as an EP (Extended Play album) in 2024.
“I’m pumped for that,” she said. “That’s a lot of solo-written songs on that EP. It’s really going to give everybody a super-intense look at who I truly am as an artist. I’m really excited about that.”
“I’m also working with a new producer named Jason Wyatt,” Boytek added. “He produced the Kid Rock song, ‘We the People.’ I’m looking forward to having everyone hear the elements that he’s brought to the table because it’s going to be different than anything they’ve heard before.”
While her new music will remain true to the country-rock influences she draws from, Boytek said it will marry other genres more so than her previous work.
“It’s definitely going to have some hints of different things in there,” Boytek noted.
For those who have not seen Boytek perform live, expect a high energy, genre-bending sing-a-long, led by a poetic songwriter with a stirring voice. For more information, including upcoming performances, visit kateboytekofficial.com.
Kate Boytek will take the stage at Charleston’s GoMart Ballpark at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
In total, the two-day Down and Dirty Music Festival will feature 11 different acts. Saturday will be headlined by recording artist David Nail, followed by the platinum-selling Jameson Rodgers on Sunday. Rodgers earned praise for his debut single “Some Girls,” while Nail’s 2011 single “Let it Rain” also reached the top of the charts.
In addition to the headliners, Saturday’s performers include Josh Pantry, Crawford & Power, Love & Theft, and Restless Road. Sunday will feature performances by Sarah Allison Turner, The Chris James Band, Boytek, Jon Langston, and Matt Stell.
Single-day and full weekend tickets – including VIP packages – remain available. VIP ticket holders will have access to the invite-only meet-and-greet party with Boytek and Josh Pantry on Friday night. For a full lineup of performances, or to purchase tickets, visit downanddirtymusicfestival.com.
