Charlie Poole Festival to Feature the African Origins of the Banjo

The African origins of the banjo will be one of the prominent themes during the exciting Friday night concert at this year’s Charlie Poole Music Festival, to be held June 10-11 in Eden, North Carolina.

  

Mali, West Africa, musician Cheick Hamala Diabate will showcase his mastery of both the n’goni (the African ancestor of the banjo) and the modern banjo.  Also headlining the performance this year will be master clawhammer banjoist, Bob Carlin.  Both Carlin and Diabate will receive this year’s CPMF Lifetime Achievement Award.  In 2007 they collaborated on the Grammy-nominated album “From Mali to America,” and will perform on Friday night both separately and together, in a reflection of the important careers of both entertainers.

Another featured performer will be Seth Swingle, last year’s winner of the CPMF Old-Time Three Finger Banjo Championship.  Seth, as a Fulbright Scholar, has studied under Diabate, and will join him and Carlin, as, among the three of them, they perform singularly and together for a full evening of rich traditional music.  As if that were not enough, leading off the Friday evening concert will be the highly popular old time band from Greensboro, NC, The Zinc Kings.  The dance floor will be down and ready for everyone to kick up their heels and enjoy.

Once the dust settles on Friday night’s event, the festival continues, bright and early on Saturday, with the highly respected contests featuring youth vocal and instrument, and individual adult categories in multiple acoustic instruments and vocal, plus old-time and bluegrass band categories.  

The evening is capped off with the Old Time Three-Finger Banjo Championship, and, by popular demand, there will be an “open mic” interlude while everyone waits for the votes to be counted and the winners announced.  All of this happens in the very neighborhood where Charlie Poole lived and worked, when he wasn’t out rambling and making world-changing music back in the 1920s and 30s. 

For those musicians, young and old and all points between, who wish to brush up on their skills or learn new techniques, there will be several special workshop offerings on Saturday, during the festival.  For young folks, there will be a Youth Band Workshop offered, with a special opportunity for participants to perform onstage at its conclusion.  And, for the banjo enthusiasts attending, whatever their genre, three different workshops will focus on the three different playing styles featured at the Charlie Poole Festival.  Seth Swingle, reigning champion of the Old Time 3-Finger Banjo contest will present that style in an afternoon workshop; Don Wright will present bluegrass style banjo; and, Riley Baugus will offer his expertise in clawhammer style banjo. 

Food and other vendors will be on site for the festival, with lots of home-cooked treats and handmade treasures.  Visitors are encouraged to bring their own chairs.  Assistance is available for those who need help in getting into the venue.  Camping is free to festival goers.  Tickets are $15 for Friday night’s concert; $15 for all day Saturday; or $25 for a weekend pass.  This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council and the Rockingham County Arts Council, as well as the Rockingham County Partnership for Economic and Tourism Development, and the City of Eden Tourism Development.  

For more information, you may call 336-623-1043 or email Charlie-Poole@embarqmail.com. 

TONY RICE TO BE HONORED AT 20TH ANNUAL CHARLIE POOLE FESTIVAL

"The Twentieth Annual Charlie Poole Music Festival will be held June 12^th and 13^th at Governor Morehead Park in Eden, North Carolina.  Piedmont Folk Legacies (parent organization of the festival) is proud to look back at the past two decades of presenting the very best in Americana, old-time, bluegrass, and blues - in other words, all the finest in acoustic music- that trace their roots back to the seminal influence of Charlie Poole, and his unique impact on the sound of American music.  This year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet, with a combination of a look back to our beginnings along with some exciting new offerings.

The highlight of the weekend will be the presentation of our highly esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award.  This year’s honor will go to the legendary Tony Rice, considered to be one of the most influential acoustic guitar players in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass, and acoustic jazz.  Rice has won many awards, including the Grammy, and was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2013.  While recent health problems have silenced his guitar (hopefully only temporarily), we will be honored to have him visit with us on Friday night of the festival as we celebrate and honor his many contributions to the world of music.

Another local music legend, former Morehead High School choral director, Duane Best, and his lovely and always community-minded wife, Gloria, will be traveling back to Eden for the CPMF weekend to help us host our anniversary weekend (they will be celebrating their 52^nd wedding anniversary!), and have planned a festive kick-off party on Friday evening, and numerous fun activities on Saturday, as our community comes together once more to honor our native son, Charlie Poole.  Stay tuned to our festival website at www.charlie-poole.com for more plans and details, or “like” our Facebook page - Charlie Poole Festival - for festival updates as they develop.  And, don’t forget to start practicing your instrument and vocal skills so you can participate in Saturday’s competition - always lots of fun, with cash prizes and ribbons going to the talented winners. 

Food and other vendors will be on site for the festival, with lots of home-cooked treats and handmade treasures.  Camping, on the grounds of the historic Spray Cotton Mills (where Charlie Poole worked), is free to festival goers, and will feature hosts to help you get settled into “Charlie’s home.”  Tickets are $15 for Friday night’s concert; $15 for all day Saturday (or $10 with the donation of a non-perishable food item for the local Salvation Army); or $25 for a weekend pass ($20 with the food donation).  This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council and the Rockingham County Arts Council, as well as the Rockingham County Partnership for Economic and Tourism Development, and the City of Eden Tourism Development.  For more information, you may call 336-623-1043 or email charlie-poole@embarqmail.com."

- A Press Release

CHARLIE POOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL - THRILL-PACKED WEEKEND JUNE 13-14

"This year’s Charlie Poole Music Festival, June 13-14th, promises to be the most exciting in the 19 years of the festival’s history! It is packed with major headliners, new events, new competitions, and even a dance.

The weekend leads off on Thursday evening, June 12, with a benefit honoring Rockingham County’s own nationally famous star, legendary guitarist Tony Rice. There will be music, food, and an opportunity to show appreciation for this distinguished artist.

The Festival itself kicks off at 6:30 Friday evening with three headline acts, the first being the South Carolina Broadcasters, an old time band with a tremendous following.  One of their members, Ivy, is a Rockingham County native, as well.

Next is Dom Flemons, a major member of the original Carolina Chocolate Drops group that hit the headlines with a splash and multiple Grammy nominations. Dom is now performing solo as “The American Songster.”

And next is David Holt, yes, that David Holt, Grammy winning star of Public Broadcasting, famous for his music and story-telling prowess. He will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Charlie Poole Music Festival.

There will be a new MC, Josh Marlowe, of 103.7 Country Legends.  Josh has been a regular competitor at the festival, so he knows both sides of the stage.

Saturday competition starts at 11AM with 18 different categories for both youth and adult, instrument and vocal, building up to the major competition at about 8 PM, the Old-Time Three-Finger Banjo with its $500 prize. No excuse for any music lover, amateur or nearly pro, not to find a slot to win a ribbon and a prize!

Then Surprise! A Saturday Night Dance, a new feature for Charlie Poole, presenting the Hushpuppies with caller Aaron Ratcliffe. This will fill the time with fun while the judges’ scores are being totaled up, and at 10 PM comes the big moment when the ribbons and prizes will be given out.

What an exciting weekend! Tickets are $15 for Friday night, and $15 for all day Saturday, or a weekend pass for $25.  The special “At Home with Tony Rice” event Thursday evening is $25 with BBQ dinner (reservations required), or $15 for the music only. Basic camping is free for paid patrons, and there will be a Little Ramblers tent with activities for children. There will be craft vendors and food vendors, and a wonderful carnival atmosphere in beautiful GovernorMorehead Park. See www.charlie-poole.com  for more details, and join us for a really fun weekend.  For more information you may call 336-623-1043."

A Press Release