Twisted Laurel to Perform at the 2026 Mountain State Art and Craft Fair

The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair is proud to announce that Twisted Laurel will take the main entertainment stage during the 2026 fair at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, West Virginia.

Formed in early 2026, Twisted Laurel brings together four longtime friends and accomplished musicians who have helped shape the Kanawha Valley’s string band tradition for decades. The group began performing regularly at Hagy’s Irish Pub in downtown Charleston and quickly earned attention for its energetic blend of Appalachian old-time music, lyrical melodies, and influences drawn from Irish and neo-traditional folk traditions.

With roots stretching back to the 1970s, each member of Twisted Laurel brings a lifetime of musical experience to the stage.

Fiddler Jenny Allinder, a six-time blue ribbon winner at the Vandalia Gathering, first trained in classical music before discovering traditional Appalachian tunes through the legendary Kessinger Family of West Virginia. Over the years, she has performed with guitar champion Robin Kessinger, the late fiddler Joe Dobbs, and the ensemble Trio alongside Jack Bowman and Alan Freeman. She continues to perform as a guest artist with the all-female West Virginia band Mountain Thyme.

Mandolinist and fiddler John Longwell was a founding member of the influential 1970s string band Booger Hole Revival, touring throughout the United States and Europe with a repertoire that blended old-time music, blues, jug band favorites, and original compositions. He later performed with The Backroad Travelers and spent nearly three decades entertaining dancers with Trusty House Band and the Contrarians. Longwell remains a familiar face at Charleston’s Art Walk events.

Banjo player Doug Stalnaker has long been a fixture in the Kanawha County old-time music community, performing with groups including The Kitchen Chair Mojo Playboys and The Wild Hares. Influenced by musicians such as the Bing Brothers, Frank George, and John Blisard, Stalnaker has also shared his talents as a banjo instructor at Allegheny Echoes workshops and as a regular performer during Charleston Art Walk celebrations.

Providing guitar and rhythm is Will Carter, whose musical career has included performances with Hickory Hills Bluegrass, Green Meadow String Band, Trusty House Band, the Contrarians, Blue Yonder, and Slow Train. Carter is also widely recognized as the founding organizer of several important Appalachian music events, including the Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Clifftop), Charleston Jazz Series, and NewSong Music Festival.

Together, Twisted Laurel delivers a powerful and authentic musical experience that celebrates the rich heritage of Appalachian string band music while embracing contemporary influences that keep the tradition vibrant and alive.

The 2026 Mountain State Art and Craft Fair will take place July 2–4, 2026, at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, West Virginia. Celebrating more than six decades as “The Heart of Handmade,” the fair features juried artisans, live demonstrations, heritage crafts, outstanding entertainment, and Appalachian food traditions.

For more information about the fair, exhibitor applications, entertainment schedules, and volunteer opportunities, visit Mountain State Art and Craft Fair.