Live music returns to Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre, and first up is the Ananga Martin Band at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.
Adrian Niles, Matt Smith, Chad Burrall, Michael Iafrate and John Whorton will join Martin on stage, and the group will perform songs from Martin’s new album “Moonlight and Fire.”
Ananga’s music is reflective of her spiritual journey from a young girl in the orange groves and mountains of Southern California, to the soft, lush hills of West Virginia. Recorded over the winter, “Moonlight and Fire” includes the musical talents of Niles, Smith, Burrall and Iafrate. Each wove their unique musical threads into the songs, resulting in a sound that is heartfelt, spontaneous, cohesive and healing.
Artist Olivia Michele, who created the album cover, will be painting during the show, channeling the music into visual art. The finished painting will be raffled off at the end of the evening, with the proceeds going to HoH Share Inc. to help with end-of-life expenses for those experiencing homelessness in our community.
The concert is part of Towngate Theatre’s Second Season and is sponsored by Main Street Bank. Tickets for the show are $10 and can be purchased at www.oionline.com, at the door or by calling 304-242-7700.
Towngate’s Second Season schedule for 2019-20 is as follows:
• The Trainjumpers with Adrian Niles, Sept. 13
• Songwriters Circle with Joe Zelek, Oct. 26
• A Very Bridge & Tunnel Christmas III, Dec. 20
• Hermie & Harry’s Dueling Pianos, Jan. 18
• MSM, Feb. 22
• Hoard and Jones with Jamie Peck, April 25
• Bill Gorby & the Musical Mercenaries, June 13
A church-turned-theater, Towngate is located in Wheeling’s historic Centre Market District. Towngate presents and hosts a full season of community theater, poetry and spoken word performances, children’s theater productions, improvisational comedy and ballet performances. Local and regional musicians perform on the Towngate stage. Towngate is a single screen cinema, too, presenting thought-provoking documentaries, independent and artistic films. Towngate is also an art gallery. The theater lobby is home to changing art exhibits. Dozens of live performances, concerts, events and classes take place year-round.