Originating in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the Barker Brothers are expanding the realm of their traditional roots. All native to a region with a rich musical heritage, their rousing instrumentals will keep you on the edge of your seat, while their pure, effusive harmony take your breath away.

The group’s high energy live performance incorporates an eclectic mix of hard driving bluegrass, Americana and contemporary folk, as well as, their own innovative material.

Jeremy Barker, a psychology and Appalachian Studies major, at East Tennessee State University, has gained regional recognition for his impressive vocal prowess, and he more than delivers on the flattop guitar.

Jonathan Barker, a biochemestry and cellular and molecular biology major at the University of Tennessee, subtly accompanies his brother on vocals and occasionally highlights his accomplishment by taking lead. Vivacious on banjo, Jonathan combines melodies and improvisation to create his own dynamic style.

Westley Harris, a music major at East Tennessee State University, is a classically trained violinist and a prolific fiddler who plays with an intensity and drive all his own.

Angie Barker plays the upright bass, Scott Barker plays the mandolin, and they both contribute to the powerful harmony that resounds throughout their performance.

The Barker Brothers’ performance venues include Dollywood, the World Congress Center, the WDVX Blueplate Special, and tv and radio appearances throughout the south. In 2009, they were awarded the prestigious “Telly” award for their performance on The Heart of the Home, a syndicated cable production aired in the United States and internationally. Recent appearances include the CBS Sunday Morning Show and Pucketts in Nashville.

https://www.facebook.com/BarkerBrothersBand/info?tab=page_info

The Barralon Brothers, Géraud and Mathias come from Ardèche in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Géraud, now married to a Brasstown native, makes his home outside of Murphy, NC. He has a background in Django Reinhardt style, rhythmic swing guitar and has performed for many a swing dance in Lyon with group, Djoukil. He sings original and traditional French song accompanying himself on guitar or octave mandolin publishing his first solo album in 2012 called "Comment faire du feu....avec ce qu'il rest" (How to made a fire with what is left).

Mathias is a master timber framer by day and master diatonic accordion player by night. He has an intricate and driving style perfect for both listening and dancing. He performed through out the Rhône-Alpes region for 10 years with French dance band, Hydromel.

Géraud and Mathias organize and participate in a special annual project called the "Bal Itinérant" (Traveling Dance). A team of 14 musicians and helpers walk from gig to gig on small roads and paths around their home in Ardèche. They stop each night to perform in a different small town pitching a large dance tent, building a stage, hanging lights and setting up a PA system. The team's gear is carried in a large blue truck and meals are cooked on site in a portable wood-fired oven. The band plays late into the night and camp on site. Go here to see more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIiGBAG8rFo

http://www.geraud-barralon.com/ecouter/

*SPECIAL THURSDAY NIGHT CONCERT*

Born in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, Jim Lloyd now makes his home in Rural Retreat, Virginia where he operates Lloyd's Barber Shop, a local gathering spot for collecting and trading tunes, stories, and songs. His musical roots extend back through at least four generations of fiddlers, guitar players, dancers, and singers from the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. Jim is known especially for his skills on guitar and banjo. He has won prizes for many years in both guitar and banjo competitions at notable fiddler's conventions such as Galax and Fiddler's Grove. He has performed at many regional shows, as well as West Virginia's Mountain Stage, Seedtime on the Cumberland (Appalshop), the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, and the Minnesota Old-Time and Bluegrass Festival. He has two solo recording projects and has performed on numerous recordings by other musicians.

http://www.blueridgeautoharps.com/jim_lloyd.htm

Susan Conger is a well known fiddler and composer in the vibrant New England contra dance scene. She grew up playing classical violin and was soon attracted to the music she heard while contra dancing. What began as a hobby soon evolved into a career which has included recording, teaching, editing and publishing music for dancing. Expect an evening of toe-tapping jigs and reels as well as beautiful waltzes and some Scandinavian tunes.

http://www.alongtheriver.com/susan/

The Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble was founded in the fall of 1999 to give Berea College students with background or potential in bluegrass music an opportunity to play in a "working" bluegrass band with weekly rehearsals, performances, travel, etc. Members are selected by audition, and typically remain with the group until they graduate from Berea College. Members also earn academic credit for each semester of participation in the group. The band has toured in Ireland and Japan

The ensemble is directed by Al White, formerly a member of the Bluegrass Alliance and the McLain Family Band.

The Wilson Family from Brasstown has been singing as a group for about nine years. Jimmy Wilson grew up around traditional gospel music, listening to his father and uncle, The Wilson Brothers, winners of a North Carolina Heritage Award. Jimmy sings lead and harmony and plays guitar. His wife, Karen Wilson sings lead and harmony and plays bass. Their daughters Jessica and Anna both sing lead and harmony while playing mandolin and guitar respectively. Bill Pruitt from Robbinsville, NC plays the banjo and brings years of experience playing bluegrass music, including a stint with Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys.

Mountain Fling is a four-piece band based in Southwest Virginia that plays traditional old-time material but delves into the recent past for variety. They sing and play autoharp, guitar, banjo, hammered dulcimer, harmonica and bass. John Hollandsworth from Christiansburg, Virginia has played autoharp since childhood and has won many awards for his playing including "Best All-Around Performer" at the famous Galax Fiddlers' Convention. His wife Kathie sings and plays hammered dulcimer and bass. Jim Lloyd of Rural Retreat, Virginia plays guitar and banjo. Raised in the coal fields of Virginia and West Virginia, Jim sponsors a weekly jam session in his barber shop. Ed Ogle of Roanoke plays harmonica and guitar. His award-winning harmonica playing features both slow, lyrical melodies and fast dance tunes.

The Dismembered Tennesseans have appeared on stage with many of the top country music stars and performed in concert with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and the Chattanooga Boys Choir, and more recently the Chattanooga Ballet. They have appeared on a segment of ABC-TV's Peter Jennings Nightly News and were featured on the NBC Sunday Today Show. Their audiences have been composed of such celebrities as Chuck Yeager, Sam Nunn, Gerald Ford, Jack Kemp, and three Tennessee governors. Easily one of the most popular bands in hometown Chattanooga, they have made their mark singing country music for people who don't particularly like country music.

http://www.dismemberedtennesseans.com/

Special THURSDAY Night Concert!

In keeping with the Brasstown Ringers’ philosophy that “handbells are not just for Christmas,” this spring’s concert will feature some a nice variety of pieces in honor of the celebration of spring.

The group of ringers includes Bruce Brunner, Sarah Brunner, Shelia Gregory, Liza Lawrence, Henry Meinecke, Dianne Schickedantz, Mark Schickedantz, Mary Simmons, Linda Sterrett, Travis Vaughn, and Glenda Wattenbarger, Maggie Crider, Lorie Meservey, and Laura Mowe and Steve Holcomb. Pat Meinecke as the director.

Blue Eyed Girl is a dynamic group of three young women whose roots are deep in traditional music and dance. Their high-energy dance numbers, sweet Appalachian vocal arrangements, and old-time rhythmic flair draw from the music passed down to them from their families.

Pearl Mueller grew up in Black Mountain, NC, soaking up traditional Appalachian music and dance from her two fiddling parents. She picked up a tiny violin at age 5, and since then has fiddled her way through hundreds of foot-stomping contra dances and folk concerts.

Laurel Willoughby grew up right along side Pearl in Black Mountain, NC with musical parents as well. Laurel and Pearl started singing old-style harmonies together at a very young age which has resulted in a wonderfully seasoned sound now that they are grown. She plays stand-up bass and is known for her versions of old favorites like “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”

Annie Fain Barralon was raised in Cherokee County, NC, where as a small child she often fell asleep under the piano at the John C. Campbell Folk School while her parents played for square dances. She is the new Music & Dance Coordinator for the Folk School and teaches banjo and book arts workshops.

http://blueeyedgirlnc.wordpress.com/