35th Annual Carter Music Festival July 31st - Aug 1st
Date: Wednesday, July 15 2009 @ 05:00:00 EDT
Topic: Event News


The old saying "bloom where you're planted," is a phrase that could very well sum up the lives of Appalachian people; this is especially true for Janette Carter. The youngest daughter of the legendary A.P. and Sara Carter, Janette brought an entire community of music lovers together by creating a traditional music series in the early 1970s to honor her parents' legacy. These concerts did not take place in Nashville, Austin, or Atlanta - but at her father's old general store in Hiltons, Virginia - the "Clinch Mountain Home" of the Carter Family. Eventually, this music series blossomed and created the need to build the performance venue now known as Carter Family Fold. A.P.'s store now serves as a museum to the first family of country music. Although it was not Janette's intention to do so when she created the weekly concert series, she actually started one of the first rural arts organizations in the U.S. The seeds Janette sewed continue to bloom even after her passing in 2006. Over the last five years, the Carter Family Fold has undergone a series of longoverdue updates and renovations that will keep it "unbroken" for generations to come. This summer, the Carter Family Fold invites you to the 35th Annual Carter Family Memorial Music Festival to see first-hand how what we plant today can become bigger than we ever imagined tomorrow.

The Carter Family Memorial Music Festival will mark a true milestone this year, celebrating its 35th year of showcasing some of the greatest performers of traditional mountain music and bluegrass music. The festival begins on Friday, July 31, with special performances from the Whitetop Mountain Band and Lonesome Will Mullins & the Virginia Playboys. Entertainment will continue into Saturday with concerts by Big Country Bluegrass, the Grayson Highland Band, and the Dan Tyminski Band. The Great Smoky Mountain Cloggers have performed at every festival, and they return again this year. Appearing both days will be Lorrie Carter-Bennett, Kathy Louvin, and Ronnie Williams. Those attending the festival should note that start times differ from previous years. Friday's performances begin at 6:00 p.m., and Saturday's begin at 3:00 p.m.
Through a partnership with the Crooked Road, the Carter Family Fold began a three-phase renovation in 2004 including new seating, a building extension, and most recently, updates to the Carter Family Museum. The renovations to the museum are ongoing, while the Carter Family Fold and the A.P. Carter Cabin are fully refurbished and ready to visit. Now in its 35th year, the annual festival is a proud testament to the musical seeds sewn not only by Janette Carter, but also the Appalachian people who kept this music alive through the centuries. Janette's daughter, Rita Forrester, now serves as the Carter Music Center's Executive Director. Rita says she's proud to continue the work her mother started 35 years ago. The annual Carter Family Memorial Festival is an integral part of the Carter Family Memorial Music Center's effort to ensure that traditional mountain music will continue to thrive for generations to come.

This year's festival is dedicated to the memory of Ernie Myers and Barbara Poole. Ernie was a longtime volunteer at the Fold beginning in 1976. Whether cleaning, popping popcorn, or cooking with the Ruritan to help feed festival goers, Ernie went about his work with a smile. Barbara Poole played bass with Larry Sigmon and together they made up one of the best-loved acts to ever grace the stage at the Fold. A fixture at festivals for many years, audiences couldn't get enough of their unique old time music. Barbara and Ernie were longtime friends to the Carter Family. The two of them are missed very much by everyone at the Fold.

Combining a strong mix of talented musicians well-known to Carter Fold audiences with other nationally renowned talent, this year's festival boasts a wonderful line up. Returning for another year are such greats as the Whitetop Mountain Band, Big Country Bluegrass, and the Grayson Highland Band. Performing for the first time at a festival, Lonesome Will Mullins & the Virginia Playboys are already a Fold audience favorite. Headlining the festival is another first time act – the Dan Tyminski Band. Dan Tyminski became a household name when the movie O Brother Where Art Thou? featured his unparalleled vocals. Carter Family descendant Lorrie Carter-Bennett will also be performing, joined by longtime family friend Ronnie Williams. Helping out with the Carter Family portion of the show will be Kathy Louvin – daughter of Ira Louvin. Ira was the tenor half of Country Music Hall of Famers the Louvin Brothers.

The 35th Carter Family Memorial Music Festival will be presented on Friday, July 31st, and Saturday, August 1st. Music will get underway Friday at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Admission is as follows: adults - $10.00 Friday, $20 Saturday, or $25 for both days; children 6 -11 $2/day; under age 6 free. Tickets are sold at the gate only. Gates open at 3:00 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday. Seating is available for over 800 inside the Carter Fold building. Those coming late in the day may want to bring along a blanket and/or lawn chair for outside seating. Parking is free; limited handicapped parking is available.

The official line-up for both days is presented below:

Performing on Friday, July 31, 2009:
Whitetop Mountain Band
Lonesome Will Mullins & the Virginia Playboys

Performing Saturday, August 1, 2009:
Dan Tyminski Band
Grayson Highland Band
Big Country Bluegrass
Great Smoky Mountain Cloggers

Performing Friday, July 31, & Saturday, August 1, 2009:
Lorrie Carter Bennett
Kathy Louvin
Ronnie Williams

With the exception of the Dan Tyminski Band, artists will perform twice each day - an afternoon performance and an evening performance. The music begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday and lasts until around 11:30 p.m. On Saturday, it begins at 3:00 p.m. and runs until 6:00 pm, with a supper break scheduled from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The evening performance gets underway at 7:00 p.m. and lasts until around 11:30 p.m.

Craft and outside food booths open at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday. Soup beans, cornbread, chicken, funnel cakes, and soft serve ice cream will be available as well as hot dogs with homemade chili, barbecue, and nachos. Several homemade quilts will be raffled off during the festival and given away at the beginning of the evening performance on Saturday. The A.P. Carter Cabin Birthplace will be open from the time the gates open each day until 8:00 p.m. The Carter Family Museum is currently closed for renovation. There will be lots of music and jamming on the grounds in addition to the scheduled performers inside the Carter Fold. Rough camping is not available this year.

If you've ever witnessed a Carter Family Memorial Festival at the Fold, you know you're going to have a great time. However, if you've never been to one of the annual festivals or the Fold itself, we encourage you to stop on by, do some dancing, sing a few songs, and have a piece of homemade cornbread. After only a few minutes, you will surely agree that the music and traditions of Appalachia are by no means fading away—they're stronger than ever.

Attached are official biographies of the acts performing at this year's festival. If would like more information on the acts or the festival, please contact the Mountain Music Museum at 276-645- 0035 or call Rita Forrester at 276-386-3027 (evenings). You can also visit the Carter Fold website at www.CarterFamilyFold.org.


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PERFORMER INFORMATION (Alphabetical Order):
LORRIE CARTER-BENNETT:
When Mother Maybelle Carter began touring with her three daughters in the 1940s, listeners everywhere fell in love with the beautiful singing of Anita Carter, whom many consider to be the greatest voice in the history of country music. Anita shared the stage and recorded true country masterpieces with several music legends, including Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, and Hank Snow. And though she passed away in 1999, her daughter Lorrie Carter-Bennett carries on the Carter tradition with a voice that is every bit as heartbreakingly stunning as that of Anita herself.

Lorrie Carter-Bennett was born with country music in her blood. As soon as she learned to walk, she toddled onstage with her mother, her grandmother, and her aunts - Helen and June. As a child, Lorrie had the unique opportunity to learn the music business from both her celebrated mother and her father Don Davis - a steel guitarist, producer, and Alabama Music Hall of Fame member. By age 14, Lorrie was touring with the Carter Sisters and soon with Johnny Cash, who made a point to tell the masses how Lorrie's voice was every bit as breathtaking as her mother's. Lorrie's vocals have been in high demand for many years. Lorrie has also been an active performer at the Carter Fold, and was one of the featured musicians at the festival several years ago, performing incredible renditions of Carter Family classics alongside her cousin Carlene Carter. Since the deaths of Joe and Janette Carter, Lorrie has taken as much time out of her schedule as possible to make more frequent appearances at the Fold and do everything in her power to showcase the beauty of the Carter Family's music. So when you get a chance to hear Lorrie sing, make sure you take it, cause one listen is all it takes before you're anchored in love divine.

I love the saying bloom where you are planted.I love the carter family.

I'll be there, can't wait! We made our hotel reservations today! Yeeeehaaaawwwww

I hope to go to this at some point! Can't make it this year - but perhaps next year?

Me either, Shawn...but one day I want to do that! Let's keep that in mind for next year.

Good idea Terry!

Terry and Shawn,

Can you remember the name of the band that played there when we were there with the young girl who could dance just like June? It was a family and she was the lead singer....I loved that music.

Was it White Mountain? I am not sure, but I briefly looked at the site Patsy posted the link for, and I want to go back and spend some time there this weekend. I noticed a group mentioned there as "White Mountain" and that rang a bell. I do remember their music was great, and the girl who danced like June was really good.

Terry, I think you're right, White Mountain sounds so familiar.

Terry and Cheryl -

It's the Whitetop Mountain Band - I enjoyed them too!



Shawn

Thanks, Shawn...glad your "young" mind remembered the exact name!

I did a little exploration on the web, and found the girl's name....Martha Spencer, age 22, of the Whitetop Mtn. Band. If your Google her, you will find some pictures, and see how very much she looks like June. Just picture her doing a flatfoot dance, and it will take you back to the late 1940's and early 1950's when June was starring at the GOO and other venues around the south.

That band sure was good and that girl was a delight. Noticed that band performs there quite often

We'll be leaving here in about an hour (+/-) for the Fold; then on to Gatlinburg. We will take lots of pictures (just for you Birgit) and I'll post them on Facebook when we get home on Tuesday. We will take each of you with us in our hearts. Huggss! Pray for safe travels for us; it's such a beautiful drive from Corbin KY (where we get off the interstate) on to the Fold.

Wish I was in your backseat! Have a wonderful time, and look forward to pictures.