Parkersburg Art Center savors success of Tastes and Tunes | News, Sports, Jobs

It was a sell-out crowd for the Taste and Tunes fundraiser benefitting the Parkersburg Art Center Saturday. The catered affair included music from OYO and the Sour Mash String Band in the 700 block of Market. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The Taste and Tunes fundraiser for the Parkersburg Art Center on Saturday was successful, officials said.

The show featured two bands, OYO and the Sour Mash String Band that performed Americana, folk, bluegrass, old-school country, and rock and roll, bluegrass, truegrass, newgrass and hillbilly funk.

“We had a sell-out crowd,” Jessie Siefert, managing director and education director of the Art Center said. Sales were encouraged by the forecast for the evening, according to Siefert.

“Valley Caterings knocked it out of the park with the food,” she said. “OYO and Sour Mash String Band kept the evening lively.”

Proceeds of the show are used for the maintenance of the Art Center and creative opportunities for everyone in our region, Siefert said.

OYO performs Saturday night at the Taste and Tunes fundraiser in the 700 block of Market for the Parkersburg Art Center. Proceeds went to Art Center initiatives and maintenance. (Photo Provided)

The event, held in the 700 block of Market Street, included the concerts, a catered meal, desserts and beverages.

Sponsors were Jan Dils Attorneys at Law, Hughes Properties, Premier Productions, Waters Fanta Insurance, ONE. Skin Care Studio, Wine & Beverage Merchants of West Virginia, Dan Marshall, WVU Camden Clark Medical Center, United Bank, Wine Down on Market and Holl’s Chocolate.

“We also really appreciate the help from the City of Parkersburg. They made sure we had power, they brought the stage, sanitation workers helped make sure trash cans were emptied, police officers made sure everyone was safe and the road crews blocked off the streets so we could prepare and celebrate,” Siefert said. “We also are grateful for the Solid Waste Authority dropping off recycling bins for our event.”

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.