Echoes of the River Valley kickoff on Sept. 13

Banner featuring Echoes of the River Valley series. Includes pictures of a violin and a quilt

On Thursday, September 13th, at 7:00 P.M. in RPL 300B, the Ross Pendergraft Library kicks off a new series exploring, sharing and preserving the folk arts of the River Valley.  Join us this Thursday as we welcome Dave Smith, old-time fiddler and multi-instrumentalist, who will share his tunes, traditions, and wealth of knowledge about the music of the Ozarks and the greater region.

Photo of Dave Smith, a handsome older gentleman in white shirt, dark vest, dark pants, and brown hat. He has a white beard and mustache of moderate length

Dave Smith is an accomplished folk musician from Mountain View, Arkansas.  He is the host of Ozark Highlands Radio, a popular weekly radio program featuring live music, jam sessions, and interviews from the Ozark Folk Center State Park’s auditorium.  Dave plays the guitar, fiddle, claw-hammer banjo, and the button accordion.

He will discuss the role of music in everyday life before and after the Civil War. From there we can follow the music into the 20th century where we can examine the impact of technology on the on the evolution of the music. Find out how this music is not only surviving, but thriving in today’s fast paced digital age.

If this is your kind of jam, you might like to join a real jam at the Gatherings–a weekly series of musical jams open to all stringed instruments and all level of musicians.  The music will focus on the traditional tunes of the Ozark region.  The University of Arkansas Ozark Folk Songs digital collection will be the primary resource with emphasis on fiddle tunes.

Gatherings will be held on Thursdays, September 27th, October 4th, October 11th, and October 18th from 5:30-7:30 P.M. in Doc Byran 242.  Participants are encouraged to bring a recording device.  All tunes will be played slowly, phrase-by-phrase, working up to greater speeds. Chords will be available for those who wish to play rhythm with their strings.

"Four Thursdays in Autumn at Doc Bryan Room 242 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Thursdays Sept. 27, Oct. 4, Oct.11, Oct.18. The Gatherings"

The final event in the Echoes of the River Valley series will include a two hour session on quilting and piecing using traditional Ozark methods on October 25th.

So rosin up your bow and practice your finger work by clicking Like on our Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instragram pages so you can stay in the circle on what’s happening in the library.   You can also read up on the series at our website: http://libguides.atu.edu/echoes

All events are free and open to the public.  See ya’ll on Thursday!