2019
Tutors
23rd-25th October 2019
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BROADCASTERS bring a unique brand of American roots music that hearkens back to the 1930s and 40s – a time when country music was inclusive and uncomplicated – to the stage. Their razor sharp harmonies, exceptional multiinstrumentation, and fabulous song selection will have listeners riveted to their seats. This unique trio has put their own spin on the music of the foothills. They’ve been members of The Whitetop Mountain Band and Roan Mountain Hilltoppers yet they’re not looking backward. Between Jackson Cunningham and David Sheppard’s ability to write a new song that sounds old and Ivy Sheppard’s prowess for digging up forgotten recordings, The Broadcasters most always have new songs in the works. Their recent releases “We’ll Sing Once More” and “A Distant Land To Roam” feature a broad and mature mix of sounds ranging from Surry County bluegrass to Carter Family country and even the Cajun sounds of Lafayette. Audiences wherever they go connect with the Broadcasters through heart songs and good old fashioned entertainment.
Ivy Sheppard lives a life dedicated to the pursuit of old-time music, be it on the stage, via radio broadcast, or serious record collecting and music preservation. There’s not an hour of any day where music is not in her heart or on her mind. She learned banjo and fiddle at the feet of Bill Birchfield of the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers and has been playing music professionally for 25 years.
David Sheppard grew up in his grandfather’s church towered by grown-ups belting out old hymns while his mother beat on the piano. He picked up the guitar at a young age and studied the recordings of early blues and country legends while developing his own hard-driving sound. He is a world-renowned luthier and guitar builder specializing in the restoration of Gibson guitars.
Jackson Cunningham Multi-instrumentalist Jackson Cunningham has performed all around the globe, including shows and festivals across the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. An accomplished singer and regular performer on guitar, mandolin, and clawhammer banjo, Jackson currently plays with the South Carolina Broadcasters and also leads his own band, Nobody’s Business. He has also performed extensively with the Whitetop Mountaineers, the Cabin Creek Boys, Mac and Jenny Traynham, and was featured on The Crooked Road compilation entitled “A Century of Heritage Guitar Music”.
Since moving to Virginia 15 years ago, Jackson has gained a reputation as an accomplished luthier specializing in vintage Gibson-style reproduction building including archtop guitar models, jumbo and small body flat top guitars, as well as custom hand made fiddles and banjos. His instruments are played by discerning musicians all over the world.
Mando maestro Andrew Collins finds himself –through no actual fault of his own –at the epicentre of Canada’s burgeoning acoustic/roots music scene. He didn’t invent it –but he’s certainly been a contributor, having co-founded seriously noteworthy Canadian bands like the Creaking Tree String Quartet, the Foggy Hogtown Boys and, more recently, his namesakeTrio. That’s not to mention the fact that this prolific, robust performer –comfortable on mandolin, fiddle, guitar, mandola and mandocello –composes, produces, arranges, writes and teaches across multiple genres, including a popular collision of folk, jazz, bluegrass, celtic, and classical.
As Collins gathers up innumerable JUNO nominations (5) and Canadian Folk Music Awards (7) won by his various ensembles, he’s zeroing in on the work he does with Trio-mates: fellow string guru Mike Mezzatesta, whose versatility shines through on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and mandola, and in-the-pocket James McEleney holding it down on the bass, mandocello and vocals. Showcasing a dizzying number of styles and instruments on stage, Collins and Co. appear tolive by the old adage, “idle hands are the devil’s workshop”, likely keeping them just ahead of his grasp.Bending and blending genres, these musical shape shifters land somewhere between the re-imagined worlds of Béla Fleck and Newgrass invader, David Grisman.They just released a new double album, grafting 11 vocal cuts (tongues) to 11 instrumentals (grooves) to create a seamless finish with their cleverly monikered double album, Tongue & Groove. Each cut is milled to perfection and represents a back-to-basics visitation on what the band does best –spontaneity of the stage and rapid-fire, improvisational exchanges.
ROD & JUDY JONES
Rod & Judy Jones have been singing and playing old-time country, traditional bluegrass and Appalachian mountain music together for several decades. Rod plays fiddle, mandolin and guitar; Judy plays clawhammer banjo, guitar, autoharpand bass. Both have won awards at Old-time Music conventions in the USA, for duet singing and instrumental performances. They make frequent trips to the Southern mountain regions of the USA where the music originated -and thrives to this day, to catch up with their ‘other’ music family. Both have years of on-stage experience, as a duet and in bands.They have a particular interest in the vocal styles used in old-time country music. Judy also calls old-time mountain square dances.
“Over our many years of playing this music, exponents of the old-time music styles have generously shared with us their insights and knowledge about playing and performing.We would like to apply this information, along with some of our own ideas, in an active learning situation where participants can develop and practice new skills.”
Rod & Judy have more than 40 years of continuous involvement in old-time music in Australia. Along with Phil Moore, they established the Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society of Australia in 1975 and, with other volunteers, coordinate the Sydney Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Get-together (now in its 44th year). They were also members of the coordinating group for the Harrietville Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Convention, which ran for 24 years.