How Creative Placemaking Transformed a Parking Lot in to a Place of Pride for Middlesboro and Appalachia

Volunteers at our first Levitt AMP Middlesboro work day in May 2015. Credit: DDM.

Over the past three years Middlesboro has gained national recognition for our use of low-cost citizen-led interventions to bring long term change about. These actions fall under the category of “tactical urbanism” and we have experimented with dozens of tactics in Middlesboro. Our pop-up shop the Makers Market helped us secure funding for an entrepreneurship training initiative for Kentucky artisans. Vacant alleys and lots have been turned in to public gathering places through pop-up parks. And now Cumberland Avenue is lined by comfortable chairs painted bright colors made out of shipping pallets.

When the Levitt Pavilions organizations announced their AMP Your City contest last year with grants to winners of $25,000 – we saw our opening. Over a one-month period the public was invited to vote for the top 20 entries. Then Levitt selected the 10 winners. We knew online voting would be a challenge because we were going up against communities of up to 400,000 people. If we survived online voting the only way to win was to submit a competitive proposal that provided what Levitt was looking for: a public space accessible to a range of socioeconomic groups; a programming philosophy that was inclusive, family-friendly and represents a wide range of music genres; and a proven track record of presenting professional quality concerts or community events.

Rendering of our lot from the University of Kentucky Department of Landscape Architecture.

Fortunately we had a vacant gravel lot in the heart of our downtown. The lot briefly served as a farmers market that never took off and most days you’d see cars parked between the market sheds with peeling paint. The University of Kentucky worked with our community on a trail plan that suggested re-purposing this same lot as a public gathering place with a lawn. Since Levitt was looking for a grass-like setting for the concerts we took the designs UK produced for us and entered these in to the contest.

When online voting ended in November we were #11 out of 26 proposals. Now everything hinged on Levitt Pavilions and what they thought about our organization and proposal. Fortunately we were a good fit. We learned ten days before Christmas that Middlesboro was one of 10 winners. We were ecstatic. You couldn’t have given a better present to our community. The Facebook post announcing the win had over 6,192 views, 90 likes, and 58 shares. This is just one measure of the sense of excitement and also proved how powerful our social media following was in helping to make this win happen.

The ten Levitt AMP contest winners.

This was just the start. The hardest work was yet ahead. We needed to raise a dollar-for-dollar match to receive the maximum grant of $25,000. Transforming the gravel lot in to a music venue with a stage and lawn brought many challenges of its own. We were fortunate to have a group of dedicated volunteers to rally around this project and help to bring the vision for free music downtown in to reality. Over 300 people and 64 businesses and organizations participated in this project from the online voting phase through completing work on the lot to make it ready for the concerts. This has by far been the biggest success our community and organization has experienced in getting folks involved.

Perhaps the greatest sign of the need and importance of this project is that every time hope seemed lost or the challenges too great to overcome, a person, business, or group stepped up to provide a critically important piece. Use of the lot and a building on it was donated to us by a generous local resident. John West, an experienced carpenter and owner of the Cumberland Mountain Bed & Breakfast along with his wife Jill – took the lead building the stage. DDM volunteers Shannon Collins and Jeannie Redmond Allen were at nearly every work day providing invaluable support. The sod was donated to us from Agri-sod out of Lexington, shipped to Middlesboro on a flatbed by J.R. Hoe & Sons, and installed with the help of volunteers.  And when the fundraising seemed impossible, dozens of local donors stepped up. The Kentucky Arts Council helped us meet our fundraising goals through awarding an Arts Access Assistance grant of $8,000 to the project.

Now all that is left to do is to hold some concerts. Why not come to Middlesboro one Saturday for the next ten weeks to see the exciting things happening in our town? Concerts start at 7pm on the Levitt AMP Middlesboro Pop-up Park. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, find a spot on our lawn, and enjoy the show.

AUG 01: Jenna & Her Cool Friends
AUG 08: Jimmy Rose and the Jimmy Rose Band
AUG 15: MACH22
AUG 22: Jeni Carr
AUG 29: Lauren Shera
SEP 05: Whiskey Shivers
SEP 12: Appalatin
SEP 19: Annandale
SEP 26: Erica Blinn
OCT 03: J. D. Crowe and The New South "Flashback" Band

In addition to the concerts on August 1 we'll have our first ever Wing Fling - a chicken wing cook off with cash prizes for the winners and a trophy for the fan favorite. An admission fee of $5 gets you in to the Wing Fling and a chance to taste the wings from each of the cooks. Additional wings cost you $1 for 2. The event is from noon-4pm with judging of wings at 4pm. Following that at 6pm will be our popular Ducky Dash where we drop hundreds of rubber ducks in to our canal. If yours is first to cross over the line you have a chance to win $250. Cost to purchase a duck for the race is $5 and ducks can be bought in advance at area businesses or at the event.

Discover Downtown Middlesboro has been awarded an Arts Access Assistance Grant through a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, which is supported by state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series is supported in part by Levitt Pavilions, the national nonprofit behind the largest free outdoor concert series in America. Dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of our communities, Levitt partners with cities to transform neglected public spaces into thriving destinations through the power of free, live music. In 2015, free Levitt concerts will take place in 16 cities across 14 states, all featuring a rich array of music genres and high caliber talent. In addition to Levitt AMP, Levitt forms the only national network of nonprofit outdoor music venues, each presenting 50+ free concerts every year. Learn more about our locations and impact: www.levittpavilions.org.

For questions please visit www.downtownmiddlesboro.org or call (606) 248-6155. We are also on Facebook and Twitter @DDMBoro.

How We Built our Levitt AMP Middlesboro Pop-up Park

We began by chair bombing the downtown with two dozen "Appalachian Chairs," as we call them, painted bright colors.

Here's the lot before we got started working on it. Note the farmers market sheds to the rear. And the platform stage to the right. Everything on the lot would be reused and incorporated in to our plans.

First order of business on the workday was painting the shed on the front of the lot blue.

After the first days work things started looking bright!

We were fortunate to have Kateryna Gonchorova, a Fulbright Scholar from Kiev, Ukraine, visit and put her unique stamp on our project - this making Levitt AMP Middlesboro an international undertaking. Ultimately people from 12 countries visited and participated in making the venue in one form or another.

Here we are as the stage begins to take shape. The section to the rear was from our first Better Block project in 2013. Donna Smith, DDM President, is to the left and Shannon Collins to the right. In the background is John West taking one of the uprights to its spot.

We re-purposed the Farmers' Market sheds and made a roof for the stage out of them.

Here are the sheds with their tops taken off.

Volunteers made quick work out of what remained of the sheds.

In less than a day we went from gravel to grass. From getting the call at 8am that a truck was positioned in Lexington and ready to haul, we had dirt laid and leveled and sod installed by 1:30am the following morning. It was an exhausting 18 hours.

With the shed built, now the dirt comes in.

Thumbs up from the City of Middlesboro Street Department.

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And the sod arrives on a truck, compliments of local company J.R. Hoe & Sons.

Here is all the sod we laid on the first night with the stage in the distance.

And a view of the sod in place from the stage.

The stage and lawn giving new life to the lot. Credit: Cris Ritchie.

View from the stage of our green lawn. Credit: Cris Ritchie.

Now, all that is left to do is for you, your family, and friends to show up for some great live music in downtown Middlesboro. Bring chairs or a blanket and make a day of it. Concerts start every Saturday at 7pm. We hope to see you!

10 Free Concerts, Wing Fling, Ducky Dash and Other Special Events Start August 1

Venue for our Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series at 20th and Cumberland Ave. Credit: DDM. 

Middlesboro, Kentucky, is one of 10 cities in America and the only city in Kentucky to win the Levitt AMP [Your City] contest. They will play host to ten free concerts in a previously neglected public space that has been transformed through creative placemaking. The pop-up park and stage where concerts will be held is located just off of Fountain Square at 20th and Cumberland Avenue in historic downtown Middlesboro. 

In addition to the concerts on August 1 we'll have our first ever Wing Fling - a chicken wing cook off with cash prizes for the winners and a trophy for the fan favorite. An admission fee of $5 gets you in to the Wing Fling and a chance to taste the wings from each of the cooks. Additional wings cost you $1 for 2. The event is from noon-4pm with judging of wings at 4pm.

Following that at 6pm will be our popular Ducky Dash where we drop hundreds of rubber ducks in to our canal. If yours is first to cross over the line you have a chance to win $250. Entry to purchase a duck for the race is $5 and ducks can be bought in advance at area businesses or at the event.

Stick around afterwards for the beginning of the Levitt Amp Middlesboro Music Series. We'll have free concerts every Saturday for ten weeks starting at 7pm. Location will be on our pop-up park at 2007 Cumberland Ave, just off of Fountain Square. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy family friendly live music in the heart of our downtown.

Our stage built by volunteers over a three month period from May to July this year. Credit: DDM.

LEVITT AMP MIDDLESBORO MUSIC SERIES

Concerts Downtown Every Saturday at 7pm

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Pop-up Park, 20th and Cumberland Ave

AUG 01

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Jenna & Her Cool Friends

Fronted by renowned singer/songwriter Jenna Jefferson and graced by the onstage magnetism of harpist Michael “Crawdaddy” Crawley, this collection of prominent Knoxville, Tenn. musicians creates a new original sound in contemporary blues music while celebrating the rich musical legacy of the genre. Their 2014 album, I’m What You Get, is infused with the edge of southern rock, the gritty soul of Detroit, the foot stomping of the Delta and the spiritual vibe of the Deep South. 

The ensemble’s propelling, sophisticated—and sometimes rowdy—rhythm section includes lead guitarist Michael Jordan, acoustic guitarist Keith Ford, bassist Glyn Lloyd, keyboardist Ben Maney and drummer Kevin Redding. Since 2013, Jenna and Her Cool Friends have held the title of “Best Blues Band” in Cityview Magazine. The band was also voted “Best Blues Band” in Metro Pulse’s 2013 Best of Knoxville poll. Most recently, the band advanced to the semi-finals round of the 2015 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.

AUG 08

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Jimmy Rose and the Jimmy Rose Band

Country singer/songwriter and Pineville, Ky. native Jimmy Rose launched his music career on season eight of the televised talent competition, America’s Got Talent (AGT), where he finished in third place. Throughout the competition, his music and dedication won the hearts of audiences across the country. Prior to his television debut, Rose had been a coal mine worker and a member of the Marine Corps, serving in both Japan and Iraq. His signature hit, “Coal Keeps the Lights On” has become an anthem for Kentucky coal miners, whose industry has been besieged by massive layoffs in recent years.

After rising to fame on AGT, Rose participated in the 2013 America's Got Talent Live Tour with other finalists. Since then, he has performed in renowned local venues in his home Tri-State area, as well as major national venues such as the St. George Theater in New York and the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. In 2014 alone, he gave over 60 performances in Tri-State area.

AUG 15

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: MACH22

With its killer riffs, bluesy rhythms and soulful delivery, MACH22 is an electrifying band that melds together both modern and classic rock 'n' roll. The Philadelphia band’s ‘80s American hard rock look with a splash of glam attests to their sound, which carries hints of Guns N’ Roses, Lenny Kravitz, AC/DC and Aerosmith. Because each member is a seasoned performer, the band not only exudes energy and charisma but also exemplifies musicianship onstage. 

MACH22 has opened for artists such as Steel Panther, Tom Keifer and Jeff LaBar. Slash hand selected the band to perform with him as the grand prizewinners of Guitar Center’s Onstage with Slash contest. In 2014, MACH22 rocked an audience of 75,000 at Jay-Z’s Made in America Festival and at Rocklahoma.

AUG 22

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Jeni Carr

Country singer/songwriter Jeni Carr seeks to warm the hearts of people everywhere with her candid lyrics and her sultry, soulful voice. Carr began writing and recording her own music in 1992 when she moved from her hometown of Fairdale, Ky. to Nashville, Tenn. Since then, her twenty years of performance experience in venues large and small have bolstered her reputation as a seasoned musician. In addition to opening for artists such as Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Rodney Atkins and Reba McIntire and the Great Women of Country, Carr regularly lends her voice to organizations such as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and WHAS Crusade for Children.

In 2012, Carr released her original and versatile music on her first solo album entitled Jeni Carr, which debuted at #75 on MusicRow’s “Hot New Country” charts. Inspired by her own experiences as a performer, her song "Famous By Now" was chosen as a finalist in the Undiscovered Songwriters division of Country Music Television’s Music City Madness competition in 2009. The second release from her album, Grace, reached the Top 20 on the National Inspirational Country Charts. The online music platform Sonicbids placed Carr on their April/May 2012 “Artists To Watch” list. 

AUG 29

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Lauren Shera

Lauren Shera’s voice is unique in its spare but heartfelt style of classic folk and its soft rock sound, reminiscent of music that emanated from Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles in the ‘70s. While she was born in New York, her upbringing in California deeply inspired her music. Shera hails from a musical family that always encouraged her to pursue musical aspirations. She has been performing and songwriting from the time she was old enough to pick up a guitar. Her experience living in the Golden State—from the people she had met to the state’s coasts and mountains—can be heard on her latest album Gold and Rust.

Despite her youth, Lauren Shera has made a name for herself on the folk scene. Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh said of Lauren, “Her voice is going to define the next generation of folk.” Shera’s performances at open mics, folk clubs, and coffee shops in Northern California in her early teens caught the attention of San Francisco’s public TV station KQED. At the age of 18, she was invited to perform at a tribute to Bob Dylan at New York’s Avery Fisher Hall alongside luminaries Patti Smith, Roseanne Cash, Ryan Adams and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. In 2011, Shera toured nationally with Communion, a UK-based artist collective founded by Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett, on their inaugural U.S. tour. Today, Shera lives in Nashville, Tenn. and continues to tour extensively.

SEP 05

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Whiskey Shivers

Chopping away at traditional bluegrass constraints with its mischievous cleaver, mixing in shadows of Delta swamps and New Orleans basements, Whiskey Shivers calls itself a “trashgrass band.” The band adds hints of country and old time and a layer of sheer grit on top of hard-driving bluegrass rhythms. Born in Austin, Texas from a Craigslist ad, Whiskey Shivers is comprised of musicians from all around the country—Bobby Fitzgerald, Andrew VanVorhees, Joe Deuce, Jeff Hortillosa and James Bookert. The group seeks to revive the joy of a community barn dance with their lively audience engagement and an anything-goes philosophy.

Encouraging musical honesty as a means to connect crowds of individuals together, Whiskey Shivers fills their rich, layered music with heavy themes of universal struggle – work, pain, sin, regret and death. This is present in their latest self-titled album released in 2014. Their sound caught the attention of concert tour industry publication Pollstar, which produced a three-part documentary series on the band. Whiskey Shivers won Best Country/Bluegrass at the 2012 Austin Music Awards and was voted on to the Austin Chronicle Critics “Best New Local Act” list in 2012. 

SEP 12

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Appalatin

The name Appalatin reflects the unexpected meeting of Kentucky-raised musicians and Latin émigrés from Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala in Louisville, Ky. Appalatin’s foot-stomping, hip-swinging sounds organically unite Appalachian folk with high-energy Latin music. The band uses acoustic instrumentation that features classical and steel string guitars, traditional Native wood flutes and pan flutes, harmonica, mandolin, charango, bass and a myriad of percussion. Their latest album, Waterside, shifts between languages, styles and vibes and features original music and interpretations of traditional songs from their native regions. One track from the album, “Alpa Mayo,” appeared on Public Radio International’s show The World.

Since their beginnings at a local coffee shop’s weekly show in 2006, Appalatin has performed at some of the most prestigious stages and venues of their area. In 2013, the band had the honor of performing for over 10,000 people at the Dalai Lama’s public talk at Louisville’s Yum! Center. The group has performed at the RiverRoots Music & Folk Arts Festival, Worldfest and Culturefest and on radio shows such as Michael Johnathon’s Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Hour and 91.9 FM WFPK’s “Live Lunch.” Appalatin has shared the stage with artists including Sam Bush, The Black Lillies and Ben Sollee. 

SEP 19

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Annandale

Annandale is a hard rock/alternative band founded by Ashley and Chad Grennor in 2012. Their intertwining voices give audiences a listening experience filled with comfortable tension, marking their sound with harmonies that remain chilling without sacrificing vocal strength. Complementing their signature melodies, Annandale’s blazing guitar lines and steady, upbeat percussion band frame today’s mainstream rock elements. The group has completed its lineup with the addition of lead guitarist Zack Burnette, bassist Jody Jordan and drummer Dave Rush.

The band was initially the Grennors’ project of rebirth, musical refuge and self-discovery. Taking its name from an institution for rehabilitation, the band was initially the Grennors’ final attempt at music and their own means of nursing their wounds from the collapse of their previous attempts. Having released their debut EP Moving Forward with the production help of Clint Lowery of Sevendust fame, the couple sought to sell their album and nothing else. However, after witnessing the clamor to see their music performed live, the Grennors changed their focus entirely. Annandale now concentrates much of its efforts towards live shows and aims to implement a guerilla, DIY business approach to name building uncommon to bands of their genre. The band’s music video for the song “This Fight” from their debut EP was included in 2013 Competitive Video Music Awards’ Official Music Selection.

SEP 26

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Erica Blinn

Erica Blinn constructs American rock songs one earnest melody at a time. She weaves honest and heartfelt lyrics into her raw Midwestern melodies. Fusing together the soulfulness of blues and playfulnesses of pop music, Blinn creates a blue collar sound that resonates with all types of listeners.

Blinn's most recent album, Lovers in the Dust (2014), features second-time collaborators producer/engineer Mike Landolt (Maroon 5, Blues Traveler, OAR) and guitarist Andy Harrison, as well as some exciting "firsts." On this record, Erica is joined by her backing band The Handsome Machine and guests Devon Allman and Aaron Lee Tasjan. “I like to think of this album as having a little something for everybody,” says Blinn.Listeners are treated to a well-balanced mix of rock, blues and pop with a strong Midwestern twist.

Over the last year, Blinn and her band have toured the nation, logging over 30,000 miles in their van. Blinn has also shared stages with names like Blues Traveler, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Family Stone, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers and Devon Allman. 2015 finds Blinn and company writing new songs for an upcoming record and continuously playing shows from coast to coast. 

OCT 03

Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series: Dale Ann Bradley

Raised in the coal fields of Appalachia, Dale Ann Bradley began her musical journey as a member of Backporch Grass, a bluegrass group whose other members included her high school band director, Mearl Risner, and his late wife, Alpha. After playing regular regional gigs and recording several 45 singles, the band got into the finals of Marlboro Country Music Round Up held in Lexington, Ky., where Bradley met an all-female bluegrass band, The New Coon Creek Girls, that would play a big part in her career.

After marrying, moving to Jacksonville, Fla., and giving birth to her son, Bradley returned to Kentucky, where she landed a regular gig performing at Kentucky's famous Renfro Valley Entertainment Center. While at Renfro Valley, she recorded two solo albums and for the Sunday Morning Gatherin', the second oldest radio show in America next to The Grand Ole Opry. She also joined The New Coon Creek Girls, performing with them until 1997 and recording four albums on Pinecastle Records with the band. After leaving the group, she has recorded multiple acclaimed albums, including two projects co-produced by Tim Austin and Dan Tyminski, Cumberland River Dreams and Send the Angels Down, on Doobie Shea Records, and Catch Tomorrow and Don't Turn Your Back on Alison Brown's Compass Records.

Bradley took home her first International Bluegrass Music Association (IMBA) Female Vocalist of the Year Award in 2007. She also was awarded this honor at the Grand Ole Opry House and in 2008-2009 from The Ryman Auditorium. In 2011-2012, the IBMA bestowed the Female Vocalist of the Year to her for the fifth time.

Before and After Photo of where the Levitt Concerts will be held. Credit: DDM (above), Cris Ritchie (below).

Other events happening in downtown Middlesboro include the Freedom Fest on August 8 with live music and food. The Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival will be on Friday and Saturday October 2 and 3. This will feature artisans, crafters, music, food, and plenty of family friendly entertainment.



Discover Downtown Middlesboro has been awarded an Arts Access Assistance Grant through a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, which is supported by state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series is supported in part by Levitt Pavilions, the national nonprofit behind the largest free outdoor concert series in America. Dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of our communities, Levitt partners with cities to transform neglected public spaces into thriving destinations through the power of free, live music. In 2015, free Levitt concerts will take place in 16 cities across 14 states, all featuring a rich array of music genres and high caliber talent. In addition to Levitt AMP, Levitt forms the only national network of nonprofit outdoor music venues, each presenting 50+ free concerts every year. Learn more about our locations and impact: www.levittpavilions.org.

For questions please visit www.downtownmiddlesboro.org or call (606) 248-6155. We are also on Facebook and Twitter @DDMBoro.

Image Source:

• Venue for our Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series at 20th and Cumberland Ave. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH5yVb1I_3-36xtlzKsl80ezRO4NY9cuYh96QKrPj2esCyOkHLOwyqbM_e_29keg2tPKnzzo-0gJhmvRmyNRQTF3K4Cnkl1EtBHRKxnOs16z5Clkj1kbLn0-s9_v7zwDmnSDxkGCd7kw/s1600/IMG_6167.jpg
• Our stage built by volunteers over a three month period from May to July this year. Credit: DDM. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmoeju-hl1NNGHWwwS-uJNqTKVKiEx1eTMm9oaz0oc2RUENc-sxptCGZq-scSZc7eow8U7W6LRqsVwCO2Od4InfOabg2T0Ad-qaZD9bolkFWOb_eDOGUtyXDoeCLg3VG4BC3ebJVW27k/s1600/IMG_6141.jpg
• Before Photo of where the Levitt Concerts will be held. Credit: DDM. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTOE8T5ZfzSnEmL4pH6gbcTAFct0MHxK1ZYZuyL2_itM4bqFImf4VHrdsPs3xW6bUGqD-tefd2M8Sz0hn7-_QLbsry7XCBZE__JQbFhmVSyBBvLxjw5GK3tLqKbCQkhYuFxYKeOMV18k/s1600/2015-04-16+07.56.03.jpg 
• After Photo of where the Levitt Concerts will be held. Credit: Cris Ritchie. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtFFWqt5d8NzEMIDzxQmD9w2YUtgPsgPwr7A76J_FAqmjOXHLAdW_hY6VF9Z-p1rvK6iTDFWZwggXSUSdMW2WLPvpQA3xtM_AJBKJ34YBqkAbAwTl-kUEh4QRcOshWVk2iKr78b33WZs/s1600/IMG_6155.jpg