About Us:
We are creative visionaries and healers. We believe in the power of music. We are based in downtown Princeton, West Virginia where two of us run The RiffRaff Arts Collective and one of us runs Sacred Ground Healing and Meditation Center. We breathe positive, creative energy into a downtown which was once dark and depressed. We burn incense and blow bubbles onto the street. We play didgeridoos on the sidewalk and hold drum circles in the town square. We give light and hope wherever the door is open. We pour our hearts and souls into organizing Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival, which you should attend.
We came together at a time when we were all seeking... for that something. Each of us had music in our hearts and minds as we sought the next open door. From the first strum of Robert's guitar connecting with Lori's lonely river of melody, a horizon opened before us. We knew that we had found it. The night Albert's magic guitar caught the air in time with Robert's, it rained heaven... and the trio was born. Years down the road, when Clayton stepped up to bring the bass to the equation, the roots began to grow into what is now Option 22.
About Our Music:
Option 22 is a progressive world folk ensemble with a revolutionary vibe. Fierce and passionate female vocals dance atop a healing groove of instruments from around the world including didgeridoo, shamisen, djembes and other hand drums. Positive lyrics streaming from the soul convey a message of unity and understanding and transcendental melodies elevate listeners' consciousness.
Dubbed by one listener a “new age jam band,” their flavorful style is flexible, ranging from funky and rhythmic sounds to mellow and melodic, with each member bringing into the equation affinities for world sounds, funk, folk, jamband music, newgrass, trance, reggae and rock. Full-out drum jams send energy bouncing off the walls of any venue. Another listener dubbed the sound “hippie hop.” The only category that truly seems fitting is “Other.”
Based in Princeton, West Virginia, Lori McKinney (vocals, djembe, spoken word), Robert Blankenship (guitar, banjo, shamisen, hand-drums, didgeridoo), and Albert Perrone (guitar, hand-drums) have been writing and playing music together since early 2004. Clayton Blankenship (bass) rounded off the mix in 2008. Their songs come fresh from the moment; most of their songs are written from improvisational sessions. Lori's vocals are captivating and her drumming is funky and steady. Robert's riffs are catchy and danceable and his mad stylings on the didgeridoo and drums get people on their feet. Albert's guitar style is unique and poignant, dancing all over the board. Clayton holds down the rhythm section and adds fresh flavor to the musical experience.
With backgrounds in theatre, performance, healing arts (yoga/meditation), and visual arts, the group comes together with an artistic mind-set and a vision for a better world.
With three albums of original music, their newest release, "Choose The Music," is now available.
"This music is spirited and unforgettable. Time and time again their melodies flow like water over an audience exciting people to move. Their array of colors swirl in a hypnotic wave, with thoughtful lyrics that speak of life and growing in peace. You will leave with a smile - it is euphoric therapy."
-Dr. Tim Mainland, fine arts chairman, Concord University
Lori McKinney (vocals, drums, spoken word) has been writing and recording music since the year 2000. Her years previous were spent gaining a B.A. in Music Theatre from James Madison University, performing in scores of productions there, and performing professionally over the summers as a featured singer / dancer at Paramount’s Carowinds in Charlotte, NC and Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. She spent a semester her senior year in London, UK, where she discovered her alternative sensibilities and emerged as an independent, veering from a life of auditions into a world of her own creation. She established LLyniuM entertainment and dreamed of producing multimedia shows which would bring people together and inspire change. Lori searched for musical collaborators and hit the jackpot when she found her soul mate, Robert. The two merged in a profound way and have not stopped writing and recording since. Together they founded Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival in 2004, and formed the RiffRaff Arts Collective in 2006. They now run the establishment which includes a fine art gallery, performance venue and artist studios. They were equally blessed to find creative companion Albert Perrone; the music they make together is from the depths of the soul and each aspect of their creative lives intertwine. The rest of the members of the collective have found a mutual space in which to create, encourage and inspire one another and the community.
Robert Blankenship (guitar, banjo, didgeridoo, etc.) is a multi-faceted artist and musician from Summers County, WV. He is co-founder and mastermind of The RiffRaff Arts Collective where he displays his photography, paintings and pottery, and produces the technical aspects of all of the productions there. His work can also be seen at Tamarack- the Best of WV and Gary Bowling's House of Art. A talented photographer, Robert met Lori at an open mic in late 2003 as he was documenting the event. They began playing and writing together and never stopped. They formed Option 22 in 2004 and have since made four albums of original material together. With an unlimited well of music pouring from his soul, Robert created the perfect bed for Lori’s vocal to dance atop. He is a multi-instrumentalist, quickly grasping any instrument he puts his hands on. In his current arsenal are the guitar, banjo, Japanese shamisen, hand drums, the didgeridoo and the shakuhachi flute. His ability to create a transformative soundscape for an audience to indulge in is what hooks fans. In addition, Robert is director of Culturefest World Music & Arts Festival and he operates Audible Art Studios, a multitrack recording studio and artist development service.
Albert Perrone (lead guitar, percussion) has been performing with O22 since 2004. With a background in theatre arts, his return to the stage marked a nearly two decade hiatus from performance. He spent those years working with the dying and their families through Hospice, and then gained his certification as a healing arts professional. He is the owner of Sacred Ground, a mind-body-spirit-emporium in downtown Princeton, WV. When he is not playing music with Option 22, he is in his store counseling and offering spiritual support to his numerous clients. Albert is an intensely spirited individual, and his music reflects that. Poignant melodies dance off his classical guitar’s nylon strings, and as he taps the flow, he generously offers up his soul for listeners to experience. Albert was born and raised in New Jersey.
Clayton Blankenship (bass) joined Option 22 in summer 2008. Robert’s younger brother, he shares his multifaceted artistic nature. Growing up in rural Summers County, WV, he had the opportunity to experience nature in a very personal way. He took long walks and enjoyed examining wild life through a macro lens. He noticed a lot people tend to overlook and realized that every living organism is an intrinsic part of the whole. He says, "the music I am making with Option 22 serves my artistic aspiration of illuminating for others the beauty of the world around them which they tend to miss." Excelling at music and visual arts, he is now a core player in The RiffRaff Arts Collective. He is currently working an original clothing line called Asymmetrical Apparel and creating and showing his artwork in The RiffRaff Gallery.
