Richmond Folk Festival will feature nationally-recognized Virginia artists

Over 300 Virginia artists have been awarded the nation’s highest honor for traditional artists, and a dozen of them will perform at this year’s Richmond Folk Festival.

September 7, 2012; 8:44 AM • by RVANews staff

The Virginia Folklife Stage at this year’s Richmond Folk Festival will feature Virginia artists that have won the National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor given to artists by the US government. The annual fellowship is awarded to approximately 10 recipients from over 300 nominees who work in a variety of art forms: crafts, music, dance, etc.

“We are so blessed to have had so many of Virginia’s traditional artists recognized with this prestigious honor,” said Jon Lohman, Director of the Virginia Folklife Program. “They are a gift not only to the Commonwealth but to the entire nation.”

One of the performers will be Grammy Award-winning Dr. Ralph Stanley (a Big Spraddle, VA native) and the Clinch Mountain Boys.

Here is a list of Virginia Folklife Stage performances:

• Ralph Stanley • Appalachian Banjo Player/Singer from Coeburn, VA • 1984 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Wayne Henderson-Luthier • Guitar Player from Rugby, VA • 1995 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Jesse McReynolds • Bluegrass Musician from Coeburn, VA • 1997 winner of National Heritage Fellowship with brother Jim McReynolds
• Joe Wilson • Folklorist, Advocate, and Presenter from Fries, VA 2001 • winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Flory Jagoda • Sephardic Musician and Composer from Alexandria, VA • 2002 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Moges Seyoum • Ethiopian Liturgical Musician/Scholar from Alexandria, VA • 2008 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Frank Newsome • Old Regular Baptist Singer from Haysi, VA • 2011 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• The Paschall Brothers • Tidewater A Cappella Gospel from Chesapeake, VA • 2012 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Tribute to John Jackson • African American Songster/Guitarist (Deceased) from Fairfax Station, VA • 1986 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• John Jackson will also be remembered with a special performance by Jeffrey Scott of Culpeper, VA
• Tribute to John Cephas • Piedmont Blues Guitarist/Singer (Deceased) from Woodford, VA • 1989 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• John Cephas will be remembered with a special performance by his long-time musical partners Phil Wiggins, Jamal Millner, and John’s prized students from Augusta Heritage Center: Willie Cisin, and Valerie and Ben Turner Phil Wiggins from Takoma Park, MD
• Jamal Millner from Charlottesville, VA
• Tribute to Janette Carter • Country Musician/Advocate (Deceased) from Hiltons, VA • 2005 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Janette Carter will be honored with a special performance by her son Dale Jett from Hiltons, VA
• Tribute to Mike Seeger • Musician, Cultural Scholar, and Advocate (Deceased) from Lexington, VA • 2009 winner of National Heritage Fellowship
• Mike Seeger will be remembered with a special performance by ballad singers Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz Ginny from Tanner, WV

Here is the schedule of performances:

Saturday, October 13th

• 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM • Tribute to Mike Seeger with Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz
• 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM • Moges Seyoum
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Wayne Henderson
• 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM • The Paschall Brothers
• 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM • Tribute to John Cephas with Phil Wiggins, Jamal Millner and John’s prized students from Augusta Heritage Center: Valerie and Ben Turner and Willie Cisin
• 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM • Jesse McReynolds

Sunday, October 14th

• 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM • Tribute to John Jackson with Jeffrey Scott
• 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM • Flory Jagoda
• 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM • Tribute to Janette Carter with Hello Stranger, featuring Dale Jett
• 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM • Oyster Shucking Smackdown III with Deborah and Clementine
• 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM • Ralph Stanley, Frank Newsome, and Joe Wilson

photo of Dr. Ralph Stanley by armadilo60

September 7, 2012 8:44 AM 0