36th Annual Celebration of Traditional Music

October 15-18, 2009
Berea College Berea, Kentucky

The Celebration of Traditional Music strives to represent homemade music passed on from person to person in the Appalachian Region and the musicians who play it. Old time string band music, blues, traditional gospel singing, ballads, and acoustic instruments are featured in a family-friendly atmosphere. Berea College’s students, faculty, and staff welcome the public to enjoy this festival of roots music and dancing on our campus. Bring your instruments, feet, and voices, and enjoy the many jam sessions and opportunities to learn how to sing, play, and dance to this music. This year, we’re even offering a special children’s concert on Friday evening.

This year, dulcimer artist Don Pedi will come to campus under the designation of the L. Allen Smith Visiting Performer. Such designation honors the late Dr. L. Allen Smith, of Simmons College, whose contributions to the understanding of folklife in general and the Appalachian dulcimer in particular were invaluable. An endowment has been established by Dr. Smith’s family to honor permanently Dr. Smith’s contributions as well as support those who perform traditional and old-time music in Appalachia.

While you are in town, take advantage of the many crafts shops, delicious restaurants, and comfortable lodging. For more information on Berea, Kentucky and surroundings, please visit the Berea Web site. For directions and a campus map, please view our campus map.

Featuring

• Horse Flies
   (Judy Hyman, Jeff Claus, Richie Stearns, Taki Masuko,  Jay Olsa, and Rick Hansen)
• Whitetop Mountain Band
  (Thornton Spencer, Emily Spencer, Martha Spencer, Jackson Cunningham, Spencer Pennington, and Debbie Bramer)
• Sparky and Rhonda Rucker
• Don Pedi
• John Haywood
• Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble
• Concerts
• Symposium: Loyal Jones, “Country Music Humorists and Comedians”
• Dancing
• Jam Sessions
• Hymn Singing

The Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Commerce Cabinet, has provided funding for the Celebration of Traditional Music with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.