Saturday I was extremely blessed! I got to share the stage with three great performers and storytellers: Bob Plott, Bobby MacMillon, and Aaron Ratcliffe. It was a really powerful show, if I do say so myself. I think that there's all too few shows like this around, where artists get a chance to share what they want to share in a relaxed, attentive environment (without having to do the heavy lifting of carrying an hours worth of a show by themselves). Mountain Memories, as it's called, has a kind of "live, from the front porch" feel, that I really appreciate. From years helping Gary Carden with the Liar's Bench, and helping Dr. Cece Conway with their presentations of folk traditions I saw how there is a real sweet spot for gathering regional artists to perform, but also giving the tradition-bearers the freedom to share what they want to share.
I'm so pleased that the Folkmoot Center has given us such a splendid platform to bring audiences to a place where we aren't in a hurry, where there's something to be said for savoring something. It's the "slow food" of traditional music and storytelling.
Earlier this year I learned that Bobby MacMillon and I were selected for the in these mountains Folklife Apprenticeship Grant. When I submitted the proposal paperwork from our end, I expressed that I especially wanted to document our car-rides to and from performances. Anyone who has had the privilege of riding with a storyteller knows that this is the place where the stories really live! I drove Bobby and Rick Ward to the Library of Congress once, and I think that might have been the most fun I have ever had--And we got stuck dead in traffic for 3 hours! I'm still sorting out how best to use the action camera I bought for the project, I don't think it likes long exposures very much!
Anyway, here is a brief snippet from one of our trips. We were driving through Loafers Glory, and Bobby shared a story about the Thomas family settling (well, taking) the bottoms opposite the mouth of Roses Branch. He also mentions a corpse that fell out of a steep slope in the turn before you come around to Loafers Glory.
I'm so pleased that the Folkmoot Center has given us such a splendid platform to bring audiences to a place where we aren't in a hurry, where there's something to be said for savoring something. It's the "slow food" of traditional music and storytelling.
Earlier this year I learned that Bobby MacMillon and I were selected for the in these mountains Folklife Apprenticeship Grant. When I submitted the proposal paperwork from our end, I expressed that I especially wanted to document our car-rides to and from performances. Anyone who has had the privilege of riding with a storyteller knows that this is the place where the stories really live! I drove Bobby and Rick Ward to the Library of Congress once, and I think that might have been the most fun I have ever had--And we got stuck dead in traffic for 3 hours! I'm still sorting out how best to use the action camera I bought for the project, I don't think it likes long exposures very much!
Anyway, here is a brief snippet from one of our trips. We were driving through Loafers Glory, and Bobby shared a story about the Thomas family settling (well, taking) the bottoms opposite the mouth of Roses Branch. He also mentions a corpse that fell out of a steep slope in the turn before you come around to Loafers Glory.