By T-Claw Crawford
Guest Writer
Join us in Brasstown,at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27 for a community gospel singing with dinner on the grounds provided at 1 p.m.
Sing with Liberty Baptist Choir, St. John Baptist Choir, Ann Woodford and more.
That same evening, the possum capital features two top bluegrass bands. From 6-8:45 p.m. the Marshall Brown Band from Asheville will play for Brasstown Community Center’s fundraiser series and from 7-10 p.m. Steam Machine from Minneapolis will play a community square and partner dance at the Folk School’s Open House with caller T-Claw.
At 7 p.m. Monday, July 29 in the Folk School Festival Barn, hear a concert with legendary California-based musicians Suzy and Eric Thompson. Eric and Suzy have devoted their lives to the pursuit of obscure old-time American music — cinematic ballads, country blues and Cajun music. Expect fiddle, mandolin, guitars, accordion and banjo. Eric is known for flat picking and Suzy is a powerful singer, champion fiddler and Cajun accordionist.
They have worked with David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Jerry Garcia, Darol Anger, Laurie Lewis and Savoy-Doucet. Suzy apprenticed with Dewey Balfa in the 1980s and Eric can be heard on the “Before the Dead” box set. Occasionally they stray further afield to jibaro music from Puerto Rico, Greek rembetika or danzons from Mexico. See: www.ericandsuzy.com and folkschool.org/calendar for details.
From 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 English country dancers fill Keith House with beautiful choreography and the sweet piano and concertina of Atlanta’s Reelplay with caller Seth Tepfer. If it is your first time, enjoy simple walk throughs and instruction on the earlier easier dances. Listeners welcome.
Lineup and schedule subject to change. A donation of $5-10 per adult is suggested for most events, but all are welcome regardless of contribution. Any funds raised support traditional arts and help with equitable pay for performers.