HUNTINGTON -- Marley's Doghouse, the cool music-filled pub at 2050 3rd Ave., Huntington (across from the Marshall University football stadium) barks back to life this weekend.

The near-campus pub will host a grand re-opening Saturday night.

Mackie Robertson, who owns the club, and now has started Club Echo on Fourth Avenue, has passed the torch to a team of music-loving folks such as Ian Thornton (bassist for the Love Coats), his brother Shane and wife Sara.

They're getting off to a good start on Saturday night by booking the groovealicious Ashland jam band, Genuine Junk Band that was, ironically, the first band to ever play Marley's when it opened seven years ago.

The bar will open at 7 p.m.,and the band will hit the stage about 9:30 p.m. or so.

"As far as changing Marley's that's not what we want to do," Sara said. "We want to expand on what Mackie worked on and perfected, which is bringing local music to the people of Huntington."

They're keeping that good and crusty playbill-plastered concert space, plus adding a new twist.

"We found all of these broken instruments that are all going on the wall," Sara said. "It's Marley's rock and roll hall of fame."

Sara Thornton said look forward to more live music at least each Saturday night. There will be a wide range of groups, including more jam bands as well as other flavors.

Other acts booked at Marley's include: Fairway Drive, a five-man hardcore act out of Tuckerton, N.J., on Feb. 19, and local jam-band Luke Jivetalker on Feb. 23.

Check out the pub's updated MySpace page, and if you'd like to contact the new Marley's management, e-mail them at sarathornton@zoominternet.net.

Photo courtesy of the Genuine Junk Band

The Genuine Junk Band will perform Saturday at the grand re-opening of Marley’s Doghouse. Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the Ashland-based will take the stage at about 9:30 p.m.

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