Hey everybody – just wanted to let you know about an event/conference that is happening at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC this week. Its called “The Black Banjo Gathering.” This is the second such gathering, the first happened back in 2005. Its organized by folklorist Cece Conway and is meant to bring attention to the African-American roots of Old Time music. My band The Dust Busters will be performing and doing workshops at this event, along with many many other performers. Its gonna be a really great gathering of people. If you live in North Carolina or can get there, this is definitely worth going to. – Eli
From their website:
The 2010 Black Banjo Gathering Reunion at Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
The Farthing Auditorium concert will be Wednesday, March 24th at 7:30p.m. (doors open at 6:30). Tickets: $10/$20 in advance (while tickets last) $12/$25 at the door. For tickets call Farthing Auditorium at 1-800-841- 2787, or visit www.farthing.appstate.edu. Fri & Sat Workshops & Legend Tickets TBA. Hotel Information.
The Reunion will feature lectures, workshops, concerts panels, films, outreach sessions to Appalachian State students and to the surrounding communities.
Tentative Schedule for the 2010 Black Banjo Gathering Reunion
Tuesday, March 23 – 7:00-9:00 p.m., Belk Library 114
John Cohen
Wednesday, March 24 ‐ Akonting Making Workshop, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Clarke Buehling; BLACK BANJO GATHERING OPENING, 4:30‐6:30 Farthing Foyer
African American Scholar & Banjoist Tony Thomas, Mark Freed, Cece Conway, David Holt, Rhiannon Giddens Laffan, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rick Ward of Beech Mountain, Classical Banjoist Clarke Buehling
Wednesday, March 24 ‐ Concert 7:30 Farthing Auditorium
Cheick Hamala Diabate, griot of Mali, international master of the ngoni, banjo, & guitar; Old Time Set: fiddle & banjo songsters Riley Baugus of Cold Mountain film & James Leva of Virginia, both learned from NEA Heritage fiddler Thomas Jefferson Jarrell; legendary singer and founder of the Old Time Herald Alice Gerrard, singer, song writer, multi-instrumentalist; John Cohen, filmmaker and fifty year veteran of the New Lost City Ramblers; Don Vappie, amazing New Orleans Jazz banjoist of Creole Jazz Serenaders, contemporary African American soul and funk; blues guitar and banjo songwriter Corey Harris seeks to learn and teach the roots of African-American music and channel its raw emotion to modern audiences (Wednesday concert only); special guest bluegrass wonder Tony Trischka; Carolina Chocolate Drops, the leading Piedmont tradition-based African American old time, jug time, and blues time String band, often with modern lyrics.
Thursday, March 25 – Outreach to Ashe & Avery Counties & ASU classes & Daytime Mini Concerts
10:45-12:30-Mini Concerts TBA; 12:30-1:50 Documentation & Representation Class—Solarium; 1:50-2:50 Mini Concert with tickets for Legends; David Holt & Tony Trischka will each appear at least once in mini—concerts; Rick Ward, Steve Kruger, Mark Freed, The Dust Busters, Hubby Jenkins & Jerron Paxton, John Cohen, Jim Lloyd, Carl Johnson, and Rhiannon Giddens Laffan; Banjo Lesson Play Monologues (Paul Sedgwick) and music: Alice Gerrard, Clarke Buehling, Rhiannon Giddens Laffan, Jim Lloyd & Carl Johnson; 1:50-3:00 Exchanges with Africa—Solarium; Video & Rhiannon Giddens Laffan, Ben Nelson & Ephriam McDowell; 3:30 TBA, Mike Seeger To the Universe film by Bruce Westbrook; 3-6 p.m. Solarium, Makers and Players Workshop; 3:00-4:00 Talk & Music; 5:00-6:00 Visit the Makers; Clarke Buehling, Paul Sedgwick, Rick Ward, Riley Baugus, Jim Lloyd on 19th Century Instruments; George Gibson on Banjos & Kentucky Music; 5:00-6:00 Mike Seeger & Clif Ervin Remembered—Solarium; Alice Gerrard sings Agate Hill, John Cohen, Tony Thomas & Dom Flemons; 6:30–8:30 Supper on your own; 7:30 -11 Jam at Jones House.
Friday & Saturday, March 26-27 – Daytime Workshops & Nightime Music & Frolics, Legends Tickets TBA
Blues Musicians Algia Mae Hinton, Boo Hanks, & John Dee Holeman; The Ebony Hillbillies synthesize Black old time music with Jazz, popular music, and Bluegrass. Led by Henrique Prince on fiddle & vocals and Norris Bennett on banjo, mountain dulcimer, guitar, and vocals, the band includes “Salty Bill” Salter on acoustic bass and Dave Gibson on washboard and percussion. Blues and Jazz singer Gloria Gassaway will be a special guest. Otis Taylor’s “trance music” banjo music draws on electric guitar and more. Guitar Player Magazine called Otis Taylor “arguably the most relevant blues artist of our time”; Joe Thompson (Fri. only), Carolina Chocolate Drops, Don Vappie, Cheick Hamala Diabate, Hubby Jenkins & Jerron Paxton, Tony Thomas; Carl Johnson, & Jim Lloyd (Fri. only); Andy Cohen, Clarke Buehling, Rick Ward, Alice Gerrard (Fri. only), John Cohen, Art Rosenbaum, Riley Baugus (Fri. only), James Leva, Gail Gillespie, George Gibson, Greg Adams, The Dust Busters (Sat. only), Steve Kruger. Please Watch Website for Further Details.
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