Author: sarosing_wp

I just released a new single on BandCamp called “I’m So Glad Today I’m Ready!” Check it out here!

I fell in love with this song several years ago when I was studying the Leonard Roberts Collection at Berea College. The original version of this song was provided by a woman named Clara Dickeson. Clara was a student at Berea College, KY in the 1940s or ’50s and collected “I’m So Glad” as part of a folklore project, singing it for folklorist and teacher Leonard Roberts. Clara’s version sings of going to heaven and meeting her parents there. In my version the singer is going to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the New River in North Carolina.

Here are my new lyrics:

  A few weeks ago n September 10th, Ash Devine and I visited Micaville Elementary School in Yancey County, NC. I read the Lone Mountain book to a group of bright, amazing 5-year-olds. We discussed what they loved to do in the woods, the different animals they knew about, and the different wild foods they liked to eat.

Then we rounded off the hour with lots of songs!

Thanks to the Burnsville Literary Festival for arranging this wonderful visit!

This is a time of many harvests- bringing in the summer grains and fruits, hurrying to collect the fall veggies and wild plants, slaughtering the livestock that won’t survive the winter, and reflecting on what we’ve sown spiritually in the last year. Come join us for this sing of land and harvest!
What songs speak to your sense of land, of reaping what you sow, of receiving gifts from nature or from friends? Come share your song and learn others as we welcome in the fall!
Bringing snacks and drinks is encouraged, but most of all, bring a song to share!

Thursday, September 24th, 6:30-9:00pm
Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Rd.
Across from the Isis Theater, Parking behind Kairos

Dear Singer, this month’s sing is:
Thurs, August 27th
Kairos West Community Center
742 Haywood Rd. in West Asheville
(Across from the ISIS Theater)

This month’s song theme is: Home! How do you define home? What songs remind you of home? Are they songs your parents sang you? Songs that describe where you grew up or live now? Christmas or church songs or school rhymes? Bring a song that speaks to your sense of home.

Here’s a song to start for inspiration: Waterbound. A song all about being rootless and wandering- not getting to have a home at all!

If you want to hear some great regional music and learn about the evolution of early country and blues, this show is for you! There’s over 25 songs in this production!
Based on a true story, this play features Ash Devine as Mother Maybelle Carter, Saro Lynch-Thomason as Sara Carter , JJ Ponton as Esley and several others! The play is about the life and music of Leslie Riddle and the Carter Family, and their role in song preservation in the Appalachian mountains.
As a young man, Burnsville native Lesley Riddle frequently went to gatherings of musicians from all over the nearby Appalachians. It was at one of these impromptu sessions that he met A.P. Carter, of the Carter Family Singers. After Carter heard him sing and play and invited Riddle to travel the Appalachians with him. They collected tunes they heard being played and sung on the porches of mountain cabins. Those songs were the beginnings of Country Music.

*As an African-American, Leslie Riddle was never permitted by the Carter’s producers to record or perform with the Carters, but his influence on their music is clear. This play is part of ongoing efforts to make the record straight about African-American influences in early country music!*
At the Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, NC for three weekends starting June 26th. Visit http://www.parkwayplayhouse.com/season/esley for a detailed schedule and tickets.

Show times are as follows:
Saturday June 27th, 7:30pm
Sunday June 28th, 3:00pm

Saturday July 4th, 7:30pm
Sunday July 5th, 3:00pm

Friday July 10th, 7:30pm
Saturday July 11th, 7:30pm