37th Annual Celebration of Traditional Music

37th Annual Celebration of Traditional Music
October 14-17, 2010
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, banjo player Riley Baugus 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.

West Virginia string band Gandy Dancer will also perform, featuring Jim Martin, Dave Bing, Ron Mullennex, Mark Payne, and Gerry Milnes. Renowned performers Jim and Ada McCown will be here, too. Sister Lena Mae Perry, from Raleigh, North Carolina, will round out the 2010 lineup. Her traditional African American gospel singing will raise the rafters, and she will be accompanied by keyboardist Wilbur Tharpe. Sister Perry was a 1995 North Carolina Heritage Award recipient. We’ll also pay tribute to the late Charlie Whitaker with a dance called by Erin Stidham.

Dr. Joshua Guthman, assistant professor of history at Berea College, will be this year’s Symposium Speaker.  Josh was formerly the music editor of Southern Cultures. 

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

• Tim O’Brien on October 14
• Riley Baugus as the Smith Performer
• Jim and Ada McCown
• Gandy Dancer
• Sister Lena Mae Perry
• Concerts
• Symposium with Dr. Joshua Guthman of Berea College: “Searching for the High Lonesome Sound”
• Dancing, with a tribute to the late Charlie Whitaker, by Erin Stidham
• 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.