The Music of Joe Thompson & the Thompson Family

Saturday, 3:30pm: In recognition of the upcoming Hook & Line Thompson Music & Arts Heritage Festival in October, this showcase will celebrate the legacy of Joe Thompson and the Thompson Family of Mebane, NC. Joe, his brother Nate, and his cousin Odell were inheritors of a centuries-old Black fiddle and banjo tradition. From his time touring with Odell to his later work with the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Joe helped inspire a movement to reclaim the African-American origins of old-time stringband music. Although his influence reached across the world, his roots were right here in the North Carolina Piedmont, where Joe is still remembered fondly as a mentor, neighbor, and friend.
Participants: Wayne Martin, Justin Robinson, Margaret Martin, Earl White, and Molly Stouten.

Singing the Gospel, II

Saturday, 12:30pm: Featuring Jon and Iris Newlin, Amy Davis and Ed Norman. Gospel can refer to any style of religious music performed by individual artists, quartets, or choirs. From old-time mountain praise to urban spirituals rooted in late nineteenth-century blues, and ragtime, North Carolina is rich in this musical tradition, in all its varied forms. This year’s showcase rendition is led by local luminaries, The Shape Note Shifters (Jon and Iris Newlin, Amy Davis and Ed Norman). They will be performing sacred songs a cappella and otherwise, from North Carolina sources and demonstrating a variety of styles.
Shape note hymns, black jubilee quartets, old-time string band and bluegrass gospel. Songs from North Carolina legends Doc Watson, Tommy Jarrell, Charles Johnson, and E.C. Ball will be included.

And if you like to sing...stick around 'til the end for a gospel sing-a-long!

The Red Hots! Tunes and Talk

Saturday 2pm: Describing their music as Regressive Old-Time, The Red Hots have been performing together in one variation or another for around 40 years, and the name says it all, although some other descriptors that have been used in print are “ballsy” and “intense.” If you know North Carolina old-time music, then they need no introduction, and if you haven’t heard, then you should definitely stop by this showcase. “They are one of the few old time string bands that combine authenticity with newer and younger audiences,” according to FireAnt Music. The band typically and lately consists of Joe Thrift on fiddle, Tom Riccio on banjo, Riley Baugus on guitar and Steve Mason on upright bass.