2023
Mountain Makins Schedules
Music Schedule
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Saturday
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Sunday
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11:00-11:45 Pine and Fire
11:45-12:30 East TN Demijohns
12:30-1:15 Pine and Fire
1:15-2:00 East Tn Demijohns
2:00-2:45 My New Favorites
2:45-3:30 Y’uns Band
3:30-4:15 My New Favorited
4:15-5:00 Y’uns Band
Gazebo
Main
Gazebo
Main
Gazebo
Main
Gazebo
Main
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11:00-11:45 Sequatchie Rive Band
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11:45-12:30 Sparky & Rhonda
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12:30-1:15 Sequatchie Rive Band
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1:15-2:00 Sparky & Rhonda
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2:00-2:45 The Flying J’s
2:45-3:30 Blues Ridge Gathering
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3:30-4:15 The Flying J’s
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4:15-5:00 Blue Ridge Gathering
Main
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Gazebo
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Main
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Gazebo
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Main
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Gazebo
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Main
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Gazebo
Steve and I have been friends for over forty-five years and have been playing music together for almost as long. I write many of the songs, sing, and play guitar; Steve sings harmony and plays the mandolin, slide-mandolin, guitar, and fiddle. While he has a natural rapport with any string instrument, Steve stands out from the crowd when playing the mandolin. We play a eclectic mix of acoustic folk, rock, bluegrass, blues, rags, and older country. interspersed with as many of our own songs as the audiences will bear at the bars, weddings, festivals, coffeehouses, and house parties where we play. We probably sound like the East Tennessee valley where we're from.
Fine & Fire is a D.I.Y. folk music duo from the north woods of Minnesota. They blend traditional roots music influences with a modern punk sentiment, creating a unique and driving sound. Together they sing original songs woven with themes of love, escapism, home, and growth. Since their start in 2019, pine & fire have released three self-produced projects.
The East Tennessee Demijohns is a showcase band comprised of The East Tennessee Bluegrass Association (ETNBA) members. This showcase band is comprised of members who frequently host open bluegrass jams around East Tennessee and play music with each other and with anyone who attends the jams. ETNBA a non-profit organization committed to promoting traditional bluegrass music through education, outreach and community. We organize events featuring local artists, provide music education and host jams around East Tennessee.
My New Favorites is a band that has traveled far and wide to come home to their Appalachian and honkey-tonk roots. With a sound that is both original and familiar, My New Favorites is sure to get you moving. My New Favorites showcases both originals and covers, but always in the band's roots style. If you're into Appalachian music, but think an Allman Brothers song on the banjo is cool, My New Favorites is the band for you.
Y’uns are a good time acoustic band that blend jug band music with elements of swing, country, blues, and an eclectic mix of modern songwriters. Steve Wildsmith, writing for the Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times describes Y'uns as "pure, straight fun: 150 proof.... just chock full of old-timey honky-tonk barn-dance joy." Featuring Danny Gammon on mandolin, fiddle, vocals and jug; Steve Horton on guitar, kazoo, slide whistle and vocals; JP Reddick guitar, kazoo, and vocals; Michael Crawley harmonica and vocals; Will Ross on bass, and J. Miller on assorted percussion (including rubber chicken and washboard tie).
Formed in 2018 by two brothers and their best friend, the Sequatchie River Band began life as a haphazard acoustic jam trio. Over the years, they have added a third brother and another close friend, and refined their sound, while maintaining a diverse repertoire of classic rock, folk, country, blues, and sacred music covers, with a contemporary spin. Several originals have been produced in the process, in a variety of styles. The band also develops music appreciation curriculum for their homeschool community, and provides specific instrument instruction as well. Recently, the members have crafted an alter ego, Interval, to distinguish their indie/alt-rock side.
Sparky and Rhonda are sure to deliver an uplifting presentation of toe-tapping music spiced with humor, history, and tall tales. They take their audience on an educational and emotional journey that ranges from poignant stories of slavery and war to an amusing rendition of a Brer Rabbit tale or their witty commentaries on current events. Their music includes a variety of old-time blues, Appalachian music, slave songs, Civil War music, spirituals, work songs, ballads, civil rights music, and their own original compositions.
The Flying J's, a salute to the beginnings of Country Music. You'll hear songs that date all the way back to Hayride Days and the early days of the Grand Ole Opry and always spiced up with a little down home humor. Their individual back grounds include everything from school teachers to a retired city Mayor, to a hotdog vendor and retired road musician. Instruments include guitars, dobro, mandolin, a snare drum as well as the upright bass. All that added to vocals and back ground harmonies and you've got quite the show. John Price, Johnny Greer, Chip McClain, Matt Hurd and John Brown together bring the good times and memories to any stage they play. The Flying J's, check them out when you can.
Blue Ridge Gathering is an old-time mountain music trio from Knoxville, TN featuring fiddle player Cody Bauer, banjoist Jessica Watson, and guitarist Duck Ryan. The trio features stirring Appalachian melodies that will tug at your heart and rousing fiddle tunes that will get your feet tapping.
Storytelling
Dancers
Saturday October 28, 2023
11:00am - Wallace Shealy
11:30am - Catherine Yael Serota (Shealy
12:00pm-Michael Reno Harrell
12:30pm-Michael Reno Harrell
1:00pm - Wallace Shealy
1:30pm - Bill Landry
2:00pm - Kelle Jolle
2:30pm - Bill Landry
3:00pm - Kelle Jolle
3:30pm - Catherine Yael Serota
10:45 - 11:30 am Percision Dance Center
12:15 - 1:00 pm Steppin' Out Line Dancers
1:00 - 1:45 pm Morristown School of Dance of Arts
2:30 - 3:15 pm Broken Spur Dance ClubJamie
Sunday October 29, 2023
11:00am-Linda Poland
11:30am-Libby Street
12:00am-Linda Poland
12:30am-Libby Street
1:00pm-Jim Claborn
1:30pm-Don Britton
2:00pm-Jim Claborn
2:30pm-Open Mic
3:00pm-Don Britton
3:30pm-Glenn Spayth
1:15 - 2:00pm - Morristown School of Dance
2:15 - 2:45pm - Tennessee Foothill Cloggers
2:45 - 3:30pm - TN Hoedowners
Storytelling
Michael Reno Harrell
Michael Reno Harrell is an award-winning songwriter, a published author, a nationally known storyteller and a visual artist. And he’s from the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina where all those things are as much a part of life as breathing. Michael’s talents in the aforementioned fields have taken him to forty-four states and several foreign countries over his over Fifty plus year career. His work is based in life experiences that reflect the culture of his mountain roots, which go back eight generations. Michael’s stories, songs and artworks reflect not only the southern experience, but also American’s story. His work, in whichever form it may take, all comes down to one thing...story.
One could compare Michael's performances to his granddaddy's pocketknife: well-worn and
familiar feeling, but razor sharp and with a point. His brand of entertainment appeals to a very diverse audience.
Michael's natural knack for storytelling, in print, song and spoken word has earned him praise from not only the music community but from the literary and storytelling worlds as well, having had the honor of being a Featured Teller at the National Storytelling Festival and to be Teller
in Residence at the International Storytelling Center, as well as performing at major music events like MerleFest and the Walnut Valley Festival. Along with his performances, Michael often conducts workshops in songwriting and storytelling as well.
His humor and wit, as well as the emotional depth of his work, keep his fan base growing and staying tuned in for whatever comes next. Don’t miss the chance to experience what those faithful fans keep returning again and again to enjoy.
Catherine Yael Serota
Catherine Yael is a native of Asheville and spent much of her life in Western North Carolina. Her stories paint vivid pictures of childhood and heritage. Her storytelling portfolio contains tales of Appalachian historical, folk, tall tales, personal vignettes, and literary masterpieces seasoned with humor. She has told at Asheville’s Front Porch, TELLABRATION!TM, house concerts, libraries, synagogues, Center for Art and Inspiration, corporate and therapeutic venues.
Wallace Shealy
Arts Center of the Southeast declared Wallace Shealy the Southeast Bold-Faced Liar Champion by jury. With a twinkle in his eye Shealy said, “of course I embellished the truth slightly.” The Mountain Xpress said in their opinion “Shealy exaggerates more than slightly.” The Tribune revealed that this upstanding local had been caught lying. It doesn’t matter if he is recalling a tale from his childhood, telling a story based on the Good Book or spinning a yarn you will be delighted listening to him stretch the truth all out of proportion.
Linda Poland
Poland was honored in 1997 with the title
of Jonesborough's Resident Storyteller. This is a true honor since Jonesborough ignited the renaissance of the spoken word over 50 years ago and is now known as the Storytelling Capital of the World. She is a founding member of the Jonesborough Storyteller's Guild, which will celebrate its 30th year as the only Guild in the country to have a weekly public venue for
storytelling. Linda believes you can empower your family and community by helping them learn the importance of their stories. Her repertoire includes a multitude of stories collected over the years while traveling, teaching, and telling. Ireland and more recently Israel have been two of her favorite places to share her stories. Linda is a true Raconteur that uses the art of storytelling to craft stories about people and places she visits. She carries the stories of Jonesborough, TN in her heart and throughout the world.
Jim Claborn
Born Caddo, Oklahoma became a Tennessean at age 4. He is the author of two books. He has appeared in Last of the Mohicans, Disney’s Davy Crockett, and the Biography Channels Heartlands Series. He learned stories of Appalachia from his mother and other mountain folks.
Libby Street
Libby Street, known as the “Mountain Terp Teller,” hails from Flag Pond, where she works as a professional sign language interpreter. She artfully combines sign language, gesture, and voice to share stories that delve into her Appalachian heritage and her roots in a deaf Appalachian family. Libby’s storytelling repertoire includes folktales, fairytales, narratives of healing, historical accounts, traditional ballads, and stories about her four children. Her dedication to storytelling extends beyond her performances; she has served as the past president of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, contributed to the Healing Story Alliance’s executive board, and currently holds the position of Vice-President for the Tennessee Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Moreover, she is the Interpreter Coordinator at Tennessee Schools for the Deaf.
Don Britton
Morristown artist and storyteller, Don Britton completes undergraduate and graduate studies from the University of Tennessee in fine arts. Throughout his career he has won awards in various media, including pencil, watercolors, and sculpture.
Don's art follows the tradition of "storyteller" artists who freeze action in the moment and leave questions to be answered with their images.
As a storyteller, his cowboy poetry and "yarns" are told with humor and simplicity in the vernacular inherited from his Appalachian ancestors.
He says, "if these tales aren't true, they should be. Just maybe, some are!"
Glenn Spayth
Is a musician, songwriter, and storyteller originally from Michigan who has traveled throughout the country performing in all types of venues. He has written songs for several recording artist and engages in storytelling at local venues and festivals.
Kelle Jolly
Vocalist Kelle Jolly describes hers-self as an “Affrilachian Georgia-line Peach”. Kelle Jolly is one of East Tennessee’s most celebrated musicians. She and her husband, saxophonist Will Boyd, were the 2015 MLK Art Award recipients in Knoxville. She is the founder of Ukesphere of Knoxville, a ukulele group for all ages. As an ambassador of jazz, she has traveled to Muroran, Japan as Knoxville's Sister City representative at various jazz festivals and events. Kelle Jolly is the host of Jazz Jam with Kelle Jolly, an hour-long show that celebrates great local, national and international singers of jazz on WUOT 91.9FM. She is also the founder of the Women in Jazz Jam Festival. Kelle is a teaching artist on the Tennessee Arts Commission Roster. Kelle is a member of the Jonesborough Storytelling Guild. She is a 2023 Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellow.
Authors
Please double-click on the YouTube image above to see the festival video and relive the art, music, crafts, and community spirit in the past festivals we have had.
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