So long, RVA!
For the past thirty years Ron Short, a native of the Appalachian Mountains of Dickenson County, has been the creative force behind Roadside Theater, an internationally known touring theatre based on the history and lives of Appalachian people.
The traditions of “white-spiritual” music thrive in Southwest Virginia. Scott and Mike Mullins were raised in Clintwood, in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia. Born into singing families, their repertoire has consisted of spiritual and gospel music. Scott’s late father, Billy Gene Mullins, was a coal miner, a musician, and Freewill Baptist minister.
Sixteen-year-old Molly Slemp of Wise County has been singing since the age of three. Molly sings mountain ballads and coal mining songs with a voice that is arresting and textured beyond her years.
The singing of the Old Regular Baptists is one of the oldest and deepest veins of American spiritual singing traditions. This hymnody, with its elaborate, lined-out, unaccompanied singing is prevalent throughout the coalfield region of central Appalachia, but is barely known outside this region.
he African American tradition of chantey-singing is being kept alive by the Northern Neck Chantey Singers, former watermen who perform around the country. We are fortunate that seven of the members of this group, led by Elton Smith, Jr. of Shacklefords, Virginia, carry on this storied singing tradition, keeping these chanteys alive.
Todd Meade is a most impressive old time and bluegrass fiddler, carrying on the musical heritage of the Big Moccasin area of southwestern Virginia. Todd has played extensively with bluegrass bands throughout the region, including Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch Mountain Boys, Carolina Road, and Appalachian Trail.
As the Richmond Ballet is housed just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the location for the Folk Festival, they’ve decided to make the most of the situation. Instead of shutting down for a few days (as they have done in previous years), the Richmond Ballet will offer a series of free — yes, free! — performances through the weekend.
The Richmond Folk Festival is scheduled for October 8, 9, and 10 down at Brown’s Island. Check out the schedule to see who’s playing where and when.
The Richmond Folk Festival recently announced the last round of performers, and our resident music guy, Dean Christesen, is here to offer up some information on these artists and what you can expect from their performances. Come have a look (and listen)…
Settlers from the Ukraine and Belarus who migrated to western Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought striking harmony singing, folk dances and music made on the hurdy-gurdy, accordion and guisli – musical traditions that have been kept with care by this intriguing ensemble direct from the Krasnoyarsk region of Siberia.
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