SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN TRADITIONS:
STRING BAND TUNES, COUNTRY SONGS, AND SHAPE NOTES

Workshop: November 16–18, 2007
Performance & Dance: November 17, 2007

For the second consecutive year, the Fiddle Tunes party returns to Fort Worden State Park in the autumn! The weekend workshop will focus on the traditional songs of the southern mountain region, and be led by Tim Eriksen, Riley Baugus, and Centrum’s Artistic Director for Fiddle Tunes, Dirk Powell. The three came together as a trio while working on the music for the film Cold Mountain. Together they play and share raw old-time Appalachian music with a heavy emphasis on vocals.

For Workshop Registration, visit our online registration page. The music will start at 1 pm on Friday, November 16, and go all the way to sunset on Sunday evening, November 18. $500 includes all meals and lodging.

For Performance and Dance Tickets, visit our online ticket order page, or call our ticket office at 360.385.3102 x117. The music will start at 7:30pm pm on Saturday, November 17 at Fort Worden’s USO Building. After a bit of concertizing, we’ll turn the USO into a good old-fashioned dance hall with music and frivolity lasting well into the evening.

Faculty:

Riley Baugus (banjo, guitar, and fiddle) is one of the foremost traditional musicians from North Carolina, where he grew up learning instrumental and vocal traditions from mentor Tommy Jarrell and others. Baugus (pictured right) has played with numerous old-time string bands, and currently plays with the Dirk Powell Band and Polecat Creek.

Tim Eriksen (banjo, guitar, and fiddle) is a versatile musician known especially for his powerful voice and abilities as an innovator and leader within American shape-note singing traditions. He has been a solo artist and played with Cordelia’s Dad. Lately, he is most often Luka and Anja’s dad.

Dirk Powell (fiddle), the Artistic Director of Fiddle Tunes, has expanded on the deeply rooted sounds of his Appalachian heritage to become one of the pre-eminent traditional American musicians of his generation. He has recorded and performed with a number of highly acclaimed recording artists. Powell’s ability to unite the essence of his culture with modern sensibilities has also led to work with such film directors as Anthony Minghella, Spike Lee, Ang Lee, and Edward Burns.