SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN TRADITIONS: STRING BAND TUNES, COUNTRY SONGS, AND SHAPE NOTES
November 16–18, 2007
$500 includes all meals and lodging.

The Fiddle Tunes party returns to Fort Worden State Park in a special autumn weekend workshop offering, focusing on the traditional songs of the Southern Mountains.

Led by Tim Eriksen, Riley Baugus, and Centrum’s Artistic Director for Fiddle Tunes, Dirk Powell, the workshop will culminate in a rousing public dance at Fort Worden’s USO building on November 10.

The three men came together as a trio while working on the music on 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.

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.