Music on the Mountaintop Donates $5,500 to Help Appalachian Voices

Story by Megan Perdue

The burgeoning annual Music on the Mountaintop festival (MOTM) recently donated $5,500 of their 2010 profits to Appalachian Voices.

Festival organizer Jimmy Hunt shook hands with Appalachian Voices’ Executive Director Willa Mays (pictured center) to seal the deal in a special function attended by AV staff and board.

Although new to the mountaintop removal activism scene, Jimmy Hunt said he chose Appalachian Voices because of our dedication to the environmental and cultural integrity of the Appalachian region.

“I am super thrilled to work with a great group of people working in the Boone area and fighting the same cause,” Jimmy said. “[Appalachian Voices does] a good job of encouraging people to be excited and is such a good cause to fight for because it has such a ripple effect.”

MOTM grew to a larger and more extensive music festival this year, adding two days and a larger musical line up. Jimmy still sees improvements in the future, however, like continuing the sustainability initiative of the festival by aiming for more recycling, combating festival consumption and bridging the connection between music, community and the environment.

MOTM 2010 took place the last weekend in August and brought national and regional music acts together for two days of music and fun with an environmental approach.