Spring Break
Folk festival supports simpler times
MARIE UHLER
Issue date: 9/18/08 Section: Out & About
In today's culture, when music and art can be created electronically, it can be difficult to imagine a time without synthesizers and digital cameras.
The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society will host the North Georgia Folk Festival on Saturday, giving local residents the chance to delve into a simpler time.
This year, Sandy Creek Park will host the festivities, though there will be pre-festival contra dancing and an acoustic jam at Memorial Park from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Where: Sandy Creek Park
Cost: $10 for adults, Free for children under 12, $5 for students with ID
Contra dancing is a folk dance style in which couples face each other in lines. The event is open to anyone regardless of experience, but novices can show up at 7:30 a.m. to learn the basics.
Musicians are also invited at that time for an acoustic bluegrass jam outside of the dance hall.
For music enthusiasts who would rather sleep in, Sandy Creek Park will host continuous live music later in the day.
"We made a wish list of all our favorite bands we wanted to hear," said festival coordinator Tommy Jordan.
"We ended up with a range of elderly musicians who have been doing this for 70 or 80 years and a newer crop of musicians such as Hope for Agoldensummer and Packway Handle Band."
One of the local folk acts that will be playing for the first time at the festival is The Corduroy Road.
Drew Carman, who plays banjo and harmonica, said it is "quite an honor for us to be playing with these musicians at a festival like this. [They're] a lot of the local and regional folk bands that I personally listen to."
Saturday's festival will also feature unique arts and crafts.
Planned demonstrations include metalsmithing, spinning, quilting and broom making.
Patrons can peruse handmade jewelry, pottery, walking canes and crocheted rugs, all of which are available for purchase.
The festival offers an opportunity to travel back in time and explore this region's cultural history.
"Every region in every country has got its own traditions," Jordan said. "I think it's important for us all to understand that what we have today came from someplace else."
The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society will host the North Georgia Folk Festival on Saturday, giving local residents the chance to delve into a simpler time.
This year, Sandy Creek Park will host the festivities, though there will be pre-festival contra dancing and an acoustic jam at Memorial Park from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
NORTH GEORGIA FOLK FESTIVAL
When: 10:30 a.m. SaturdayWhere: Sandy Creek Park
Cost: $10 for adults, Free for children under 12, $5 for students with ID
Contra dancing is a folk dance style in which couples face each other in lines. The event is open to anyone regardless of experience, but novices can show up at 7:30 a.m. to learn the basics.
Musicians are also invited at that time for an acoustic bluegrass jam outside of the dance hall.
For music enthusiasts who would rather sleep in, Sandy Creek Park will host continuous live music later in the day.
"We made a wish list of all our favorite bands we wanted to hear," said festival coordinator Tommy Jordan.
"We ended up with a range of elderly musicians who have been doing this for 70 or 80 years and a newer crop of musicians such as Hope for Agoldensummer and Packway Handle Band."
One of the local folk acts that will be playing for the first time at the festival is The Corduroy Road.
Drew Carman, who plays banjo and harmonica, said it is "quite an honor for us to be playing with these musicians at a festival like this. [They're] a lot of the local and regional folk bands that I personally listen to."
Saturday's festival will also feature unique arts and crafts.
Planned demonstrations include metalsmithing, spinning, quilting and broom making.
Patrons can peruse handmade jewelry, pottery, walking canes and crocheted rugs, all of which are available for purchase.
The festival offers an opportunity to travel back in time and explore this region's cultural history.
"Every region in every country has got its own traditions," Jordan said. "I think it's important for us all to understand that what we have today came from someplace else."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
David G. Edwards
posted 9/18/08 @ 6:10 PM EST
The contra dance and Jam is at 7:30 PM at Memorial Park, not 7:30 AM.
Memorial Park
298 Gran Ellen Drive
Athens Ga.
Friday, September 19th, 2008
7:30 PM until 11:00 PM
Admission: $7. (Continued…)
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