Smithsonian to the Mountains Tour

During the summer of 2004, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance (BCMA) will present a musical tour telling the remarkable story of the 2003 Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival. The concert series will feature a diversity of musical styles and performances which were part of the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival's program on Appalachian music, "Appalachia: Heritage and Harmony," held on the national mall in Washington, DC. The theme for the series will be to highlight the living traditions of Appalachian music, by recognizing the diversity of musical contributions, influences, and performers.

Fred McClellan, BCMA events co-chairman, commented that "the BCMA hopes to expose residents, visitors, and the public at large to our region's rich musical heritage and to give them a chance to experience firsthand some of the performers and traditions that were highlighted at the 2003 Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival program on Appalachia." McClellan added that the series will feature artists who were presenters at the festival, as they share their music and their life altering experience. The performance will feature a diveristy of music including traditional mountain, bluegrass, piedmont blues, Appalachian reggae, and gospel. Dale Jett and Laura Boosinger are among the presenters who will take the stage on April 23rd at the Paramount Center. The first performance, in a traveling series of six concerts, will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Bristol, TN, on April 23, 2004, at 7:30 PM. Troup performers for this show will include Ras Alan, National Heritage Fellowship recipient Wayne Henderson, the VW Boys, Laura Boosinger, Elaine Purkey, and Dale Jett of the Carter Family. This promises to be an unforgettable evening. Tickets to this show are $10 and can be purchased at the Paramount Center for the Arts or the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum.

For ten days, during the summer of 2003, spanning the 4th of July weekend, the music and cultural traditions of Appalachia were celebrated in our nation's capital on the national mall in Washington, DC at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The Festival featured programs on Appalachia, Scotland and African nation of Mali, which celebrated these connected cultures from 3 continents of the world and showed to the world the beauty they continue to behold. National Heritage Fellowship recipient Wayne Henderson will be a perform on the Smithsonian to the Mountains tour. The main focus of the festival program on Appalachia, entitled "Appalachia: Heritage and Harmony," was the rich musical heritage of our region. 128 individuals represented Appalachia conducting 364 presentations, performances, or demonstrations. These proud and gifted performers covered a wide variety of genres featured this region's musical traditions, including bluegrass, old-time string band, contemporary music, gospel, occupations songs, and ballads. The musicians performing represented a diversity of backgrounds, ranging from talented young musicians to National Heritage Fellow recipients.

Bill Hartley, BCMA Executive Director, stated that the BCMA is proud to be able to have this series tour throughout our region. "One of our stated goals with our participation in the festival was to be able to bring something back to the residents of the region. This series helps us accomplish that by giving them a chance to see what over a million people experienced last summer in our nation's capital."

Additional dates for the "Smithsonian to the Mountains" tour include: the Museum of Appalachia, Norris, TN, May 29; Blue Ridge Music Center, Galax, VA, July 24; Pipestem Resort, Pipestem, WV, August 21; Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg, KY, September 11; with the series finale at the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Hiltons, VA, October 22.

This concert series is funded by Eastman Chemical Company, King Pharmaceuticals, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission, and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Smithsonian To The Mountains Tour coming to Blue Ridge Music Center The third performance, in a traveling series of six concerts, will be held at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, Virginia on July 24, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. Troup performers for this show will include Appalachian Reggae by Ras Alan; the bluegrass, magic and comedy of The VW Boys; folk musician Laura Boosinger; coal miner advocate Elaine Purkey; master storyteller Bil Lepp; Celtic-crossover band, The Celtibillies; and Dale Jett, grandson of A.P & Sara Carter. This promises to be an unforgettable evening. Tickets to this show are $10 advance and $12 at the gate, and can be purchased at the Blue Ridge Music Center in Galax, or the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance Museum in Bristol.

The following musicians will perform at the concert:

The Celtic-crossover band, The Celtibillies consists of Becky Barlow, Christiansburg, Virginia, hammered dulcimer/keyboard/bodhran; Tim Sauls,  Roanoke, Virginia, guitar/banjo/bouzouki; Jack Hinshelwood, Shawsville, Virginia, fiddle/guitar; and Jeffrey Hofmann, Roanoke, Virginia, bass. The Southwest Virginia based band began in 1994 as a contra dance band but gradually started to incorporate sounds from the British Isles into their music combining it with traditional Appalachian fare. Website: http://www.celtibillies.com

The VW Boys uniquely blend magic, comedy and bluegrass music into a highly entertaining and unforgettable combination. The band is made up of Tim White, of Blountville, Tennessee on banjo and vocals; Larry McPeak – one of the talented McPeak Brothers – of Wytheville, Virginia on bass and vocals; and master magician Dave Vaught of Bristol, Tennessee on guitar and vocals. Tim White is also the artist who painted the monumental “Birthplace of Country Music” mural in Bristol. Website: http://www.vwboys.com/

Appalachian Reggae musician, Ras Alan Childres of Zionsville, North Carolina on kickbox and guitar, with Brother Bob Franklin of Weaverville, North Carolina, on bass, perform as Ras Alan and the Lions whose reggae-styled music and singing frequently deal with life in the region. They add a new and refreshing contemporary twist to Appalachian music with Ras Alan’s uplifting and inspiring lyrics, and use of traditional Appalachian instruments within a Jamaican musical idiom. Website: http://www.appalachianreggae.com/index.html

Occupational coal mining songs will be rendered by Elaine Purkey of Ranger, West Virginia, on guitar and vocals. Elaine began to write songs while involved in the Pittston Coal Strike in 1989-1990. She began to perform at festivals in the 1990s and impressed all those who heard her, including the great labor songwriter Hazel Dickens.

Master storyteller Bil Lepp of South Charleston, West Virginia is a side-splittingly funny man. Lepp was the winner of the West Virginia liar’s contest so often that he was made the emcee to give other contestants a chance. Hear Bil’s stories of his adventures with his pal, Buck Dog. Website: www.buck-dog.com

Laura Boosinger is a consummate folk musician and entertainer whose career has spanned nearly two decades of concert performances, workshops and residencies throughout the eastern United States. Having graduated from Warren Wilson College (Swannanoa, NC) with a degree in traditional music and old-time banjo, Laura has shared her knowledge and love of the music and culture of the southern region with audiences ranging from seniors to pre-schoolers, always with the delight of her listeners. For thirteen years Laura performed with the Luke Smathers String Band, presenting Luke's special and unique blend of old-time music and "mountain swing". She has conducted workshops in shaped-note singing at major festivals and old-time music camps, and Laura is in great demand for her folk-dance residencies which involve elementary school students in traditional music and dance. Website: www.lauraboosinger.com

Dale Jett of Maces Springs, Virginia is the third musical generation of his family, being the son of Janette Carter, and the grandson of A.P. and Sara Carter of the original Carter Family. Dale’s heartfelt singing, songwriting and guitar playing reflect his deep musical roots that run to the well-spring of the country music tradition. His renditions of songs originally performed by his grandparents are particularly moving.

Additional dates for the “Smithsonian to the Mountains” tour include: the Museum of Appalachia, Norris, TN, May 29; Blue Ridge Music Center, Galax, VA, July 24; Pipestem Resort, Pipestem, WV, August 21; Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg, KY, September 11; with the series finale at the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Hiltons, VA, October 22.

The performers will vary from venue to venue – please consult the schedule/press release for each date for the most accurate information for each performance.

This concert series is funded by Eastman Chemical Company, King Pharmaceuticals, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission, and Tennessee Arts Commission.