Folklife is a shared heritage rooted in everyday living, acquiring layers of meaning that make it both subtle and complex. To better understand Virginia’s regional folklife, the Virginia Folklife Program visits communities throughout the State, conducting extensive interviews and participating in local gatherings and events, collecting valuable materials for future programming and documentary projects.
Del and the boys grace the Virginia Folklife Porch at Floydfest X. The Porch is produced by the Virginia Folklife Program at the VFH, in partnership with our good friends at Floydfest. Check us out at www.virginiafolklife.org and "Like" us on Facebook!
Spencer Moore, of Chilhowie, Virginia, sings Cumberland Gap on his front porch. Spencer was recorded by Alan Lomax during one of his "Southern Journeys" in the late 1950s. "The singing tobacco farmer" dazzled Lomax with his version of such mountain standards as "Old Jimmy Sutton." 84 at the time of this recording, Spencer was a terrific flatpicker and songster. He played with joy and fire until he passed away at the age of 92, in June of 2011. He will be missed. For more visit the Virginia Folklife Program at www.virginiafolklife.org
The late Houston Caldwell, one of the finest young banjoists to come out of Galax, plays with Jonny and the Jambusters at the Highland Music Festival in Abingdon, Virginia in 2009. Houston will be honored with the first ever HoustonFest. For more information, visit Houstonfestgalax.com
Flory Jagoda, the "Keeper of the Flame" of Sephardic Jewish music, plays her accordion, for the first time in nearly 30 years. Flory credits the accordion, which she calls the harmonica, for saving her life. Flory played the accordion on the train during her escape from Zagreb in World War II, following her fathers orders of "don't open your mouth... just play your harmonica..." so that others will not know she is Sephardic.
Blues Harmonica Giant Phil Wiggins, during a Virginia Folklife Program recordings session with legendary West Virginia blues songster Nat Reese. For many years, Phil partnered with the late Piedmont blues master John Cephas. "Cephas and Wiggins" was one of the finest traditional blues duos and toured throughout the world.
A backstage look into the 2010 Music from the Crooked Road Tour of the Mid-Atlantic. Check out tour dates at www.ncta.net. The Tour is supported by a generous grant from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation and many others. Come on down to the Crooked Road... you'll be glad you did!
Nate Leath, Danny Knicely, Tom Bailey, fiddles. Jon Lohman, vocals, harmonica. Linda Lay, bass. David Lay, guitar. Jeremy Stephens, banjo. For bookings: 434-243-7030.
Jonny and the Jambusters live in NY. Danny Knicely - mandolin, Nate Leath - fiddle, Jeremy Stephens - banjo, David Lay - guitar, Linda Lay, bass, Jonny "clutch" Lohman, vocals. For bookings, call: 434-243-7030
Ethel Caffie-Austin performs with the Mullins Family at the Jettie Baker Center, Clintwood, Virginia, in the spring of 2007, as part of the "Go Tell it on the Mountain" gospel music exchange. The program was sponsored by the Virginia Folklife Program at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.
