(jump to specific events via these links or scroll down to see all)
Book Signing
Ancient Creek
by Gurney Norman
Appalshop Conference Room
Friday, June 7th, 5:00 – 6:00 PM
Shape Note Singing
Dr. Ron Pen of the University of Kentucky
Appalshop Theater
Saturday, June 8th, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Pen, a founding member of the Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers, will be teaching Seedtime participants the American singing tradition known as “shape note singing.” This musical style, often called “Sacred Harp” singing, is a type of sight-reading harmonization that is a rich part of American heritage. Dr. Pen’s workshop will be open to everyone willing to participate and will include some background history and social context for the music. No musical experience necessary.
Literary Readings
Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative (SAWC)
Appalshop Conference Room, Saturday, June 8, 2013 – Noon
Seedtime on the Cumberland is happy to announce literary readings by members of the Southern Appalachian Writers Coorperative (SAWC) at this year’s festival. In 1974, a group of writers gathered at Highlander Center to form what became the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative. Founding members of SAWC include Gurney Norman, Peggy Dotson Hall, Jim Webb and Ron Short. During the 1970s SAWC sponsored readings and published New Ground, an anthology of contemporary Appalachian literature.
In the 1980s Norman, along with poets George Ella Lyon and Bob Henry Baber facilitated the Appalachian Poetry Project, breathing new life into SAWC as poets and writers from throughout the Appalachian region gathered in their own and one anothers communities, and celebrated together at Highlander Center. SAWC has met (almost) annually since this time, always in the fall. Through this Writers Gathering, as well as a newly annual SAWC Summer Gathering at Wiley’s Last Resort atop Pine Mountain in Whitesburg, KY, and by sponsoring local readings and the literary magazine, Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel, SAWC continues its original mission to foster community among and encourage publication of Appalachia’s writers.
SAWC readers at Seedtime will include:
Gurney Norman
Richard Hague
Pauletta Hansel
Scott Goebel
Misty Skaggs
Dale Marie Prenatt
Frankie Finley
Dana Wildsmith
and Minnie Moore (as time allows)
Jim Webb, Emcee
Seedtime Hike, The Town Hill Trail
Sponsored by Pathfinders of Perry County
This year’s Seedtime Hike will explore Whitesburg’s Town Hill Trail with it’s beautiful view’s of downtown Whitesburg and of Pine Mountain. The hike will be led by Jenny Williams of WMMT’s What’s Cookin’ Now! and chair of Pathfinders of Perry County. Pathfinders of Perry County is a non-profit citizen action group that promotes community well-being, engagement, outdoor recreation and education in Perry County.
The Town Hill Trail connects from downtown Whitesburg across a former wagon road to the top of Town Hill, with trail access to the communities of Cowan and Little Cowan as well as to High Rock, a large rock face on Pine Mountain.
It’s recommended that participants be in good physical condition. Long pants and good hiking shoes/boots are also recommended in case there are some slippery spots on the trail. And don’t forget your camera, bottles of water, or a rain coat if things look inclement (though we at Seedtime don’t like to speak of such things).
*Allow 2 hours for the hike
We look forward to hearing from you, and see you on the trail!
Carcassonne Square Dance at Seedtime!
Appalshop Grounds
Saturday, June 8th at 9 PM
Admission: Free
Experience Kentucky’s longest continuing community square dance at Seedtime on the Cumberland! The Carcassonne Community Square Dance will hold it’s June dance under the main stage tent on the Appalshop Grounds during this year’s festival.
The Carcassonne Community Center was built as the Carcassonne School in 1924. After a fire destroyed the original structure, it was rebuilt in it’s current form in 1931. It functioned as a school for the students of Letcher County, Kentucky until the 1960′s and on a limited basis into the seventies. It is famous for it’s quilting club and The Carcassonne Square Dance, the longest continuous community square dance in Kentucky. Set somewhat in-between Hazard and Whitesburg, the old school building that houses the center lies in a secluded area amid hills and trees in Letcher County. It features the best old-time musicians Kentucky has to offer as well as food and hospitality for attendees learning and performing traditional square dance.
People from the community of Carcassonne have danced at several Kentucky Folklife Festivals and were featured on the Mall in Washington, D.C. at the 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Enjoy this film produced by local students Matthew Baily, T.J. Boggs, and Chasity Watts for Appalshop’s Appalachian Media Institute.
Castle of the Mountains: The Carcassonne Community Center
…and this original music video by Appalshop filmmaker Herb E. Smith, filmed at the Carcassonne Community Center.
Whoa Mule
Youth Bored Annual Punk Show and Flea Market
@ the Boone Motor Building
7 PM, Saturday, June 8th
The Annual Youth Bored Punk Show Featuring:
Line-up: TBA
