A brief note from Dirk Powell on the upcoming Southern Mountain Traditions gathering in November:

In the mountains of Southern Appalachia, old-time dance music and shape-note singing were two expressions of the same worldview, one which focused on small local farms, close families, and an impassioned zeal for life.  While these styles have been separated in today’s compartmentalized world, they fit together in the same way that differing emotions exist within one person. 

Come and celebrate the way in which these traditions inspire each other. Participants can study vocals with Tim or old-time banjo/fiddle with Dirk and Riley, then get together for group events that revel in the social aspect of the music.  The setting is intimate and the feeling will be like that of a mountain family reunion of years gone by. We’ll all be together in one house and it will literally be like a wonderful reunion. 

We will all get together for an ancient rite called a "party." We’ll do focused workshops, then we’ll sing together, we’ll dance together, we’ll eat good food and drink good wine.

Hope you can join us! Register today.