Berea College hosts 37th annual Celebration of Traditional Music

11/29/10

The 37th annual Celebration of Traditional Music will be held Oct. 14-17, 2010, on the campus of Berea College. The event includes concerts, jam sessions, a workshop, dancing and more, showcasing traditional music in the region.

Old time string band music, traditional gospel singing, ballads and acoustic instruments are all featured in a family-friendly atmosphere. Admission to the Saturday evening concert is $5. Students are admitted free with an ID. All other events are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring instruments and enjoy the many jam sessions and opportunities to learn how to sing, play and dance to traditional music.

This year, banjo player Riley Baugus will come to campus under the designation of the L. Allen Smith Visiting Performer. This designation honors the late Dr. L. Allen Smith, of Simmons College, whose contributions to the understanding of folk life and the Appalachian dulcimer were invaluable. An endowment has been established by Dr. Smith’s family to honor his contributions and 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 also perform. Sister Lena Mae Perry, from Raleigh, North Carolina, will round out the 2010 lineup with traditional black gospel singing. She will be accompanied by keyboardist Wilbur Tharpe. Sister Perry was a 1995 North Carolina Heritage Award recipient. Participants will 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. Guthman was formerly the music editor of SouthernCultures.

Following is the complete schedule of events:

Thursday, Oct. 14
8 p.m. – Stephenson Memorial Convocation Concert featuring Tim O’Brien in Phelps Stokes Auditorium

Friday, Oct. 15
Noon – Symposium in the Appalachian Center Gallery (Bruce Building): Dr. Josh Guthman, assistant professor of history at Berea College presents “Searching for the High Lonesome Sound.”
7-9 p.m. – Film screening of From Wood to Singing Guitar in the Appalachian center, followed by a jam session with festival musicians.

Saturday, Oct. 16
11 a.m.- noon – Workshop of southern Appalachian mountain banjo styles with Riley Baugus.
1-3 p.m. – Afternoon concert and “open mic” in the Woods Penniman Commons
3:30-5 p.m. – Afternoon dance in the Woods-Penniman Commons, called by Erin Stidham in honor of the late Charlie Whitaker
7:30-10 p.m. – Concert of festival musicians in Phelps Stokes Auditorium
Sunday, Oct. 17
9-10:15 a.m. – Hymn singing with festival musicians at Union Church

For more information contact Sheila Lyons at 859.985.3140 or email Lyonss@berea.edu.