CLARKSBURG W.Va. (WV News) — After Gov. Jim Justice lifted a COVID-19 ban on live vocal performances, area musicians are back to doing what they love.
Kelsey Jeffries, a 2013 graduate of Liberty High School and a 2017 West Virginia Wesleyan graduate, has been a part of the arts scene most of her life. She first picked up a guitar in middle school and has never put it down since. Jeffries participated in choir, band, plays and solo acts throughout her career, and she continues to perform to this day.
“I just really got into wanting to do this all of the time, and I absolutely love to do it,” Jeffries said.
In high school, she performed in multiple plays and marching band. In college, she joined a band as a vocalist.
“At that point, music was really starting to get serious for me,” Jeffries said.
After college, Jeffries decided she would try to be a solo act. She said going from a five-piece band to just herself was a difficult adjustment, but her love for music kept her going.
“Before COVID-19 hit, I was playing a good bit and there were places I was playing at fairly often, but then I couldn’t play anywhere,” Jeffries said.
The pandemic has been tough on musical artists, she said.
Jaime Kittle, singer for the Sodapopgypsies Band, said that support is everything for a singer or a band, especially in the time like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hope that people come out and support their local musicians,” she said. “I hope that local musicians support others.”
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