Thomas Lee “Snuffy” Smith, bass fiddler with the Bluegrass Experience, grew up on a one-horse tobacco farm in rural Lee County listening to his father play guitar in a square dance band. “He showed me some chords so I started messing with the guitar,“ he said. In addition to playing music, living on the farm… Read More →
Sheila Fleming, Performing Songwriter
Go See This: Old-Time, Celtic, and World Music
This month’s “Go See This” is written by guest blogger Elisabeth Lewis Corley. “The show always goes on, even if it’s six months later,” says Pittsboro musical artist, Sue Wilson. Wilson recalls that the upcoming concert of old-time, celtic, and world music by Baltimore’s nationally acclaimed father-son roots duo Ken & Brad Kolodner, joined by guitarist Luke Chohany making it a trio, was originally scheduled… Read More →
Go See This: Day of the Books / El Día de los Libros
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”― Albert Einstein The annual Day of the Books/ El Día de los Libros is coming up on Saturday, April 29th, ready to bring books to life and delight in both… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Bluegrass icon Tony Williamson overcomes pain, finds purpose on his farm
Born into a multi-generational family of musicians, Tony Williamson and his brother Gary quickly earned the title of “child sensations” on the national bluegrass stage. Back home at their school in rural Randolph County, however, their music earned them some teasing from their classmates. Tony and Gary were undeterred. “Music was such a fun… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Pain fueled creativity & spirit for Onicas Gaddis
Onicas Gaddis has only one photograph from his childhood. “This is me and my two brothers, Bart and Phillip, and my sister Josephine – before I was taken away,” he said. The photo is blurry, his siblings’ faces like a misty dream. When he said good-bye to his family, he had only his memory to keep… Read More →
Breadfoot
Meet This Artist: Leandra Strope is empowering girls to find their voices
While other toddlers were smearing yogurt in their hair and coloring on the walls with crayons, Leandra Strope at age two was learning to play the violin. “My mother was committed to the idea that my brother and I would be musically literate,” said Leandra. By the time she was in elementary school, she had… Read More →
Go See This: Shakori Hills Stimulates the Senses
For four days in the fall and spring, the bucolic Chatham County community of Silk Hope is enhanced with an event that awakens all the senses. Celebrating its fourteenth year, the Shakori Festival of Music and Dance is a world of sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that helps make Chatham an especially amazing place. Bands from across the state and around… Read More →
Go See This: 4th Annual Mardi Gras Party
A recent six-alarm fire on Canal Street has worried Crescent City revelers that Mardi Gras might be curtailed this year. But Chathamites need not be concerned. The 4th Annual Mardi Gras Party, hosted by the North Carolina Arts Incubator, will bring the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of New Orleans to Siler City. “The annual… Read More →