Joe Penland in concert at the Madison County Arts Center April 16

PRESS RELEASE:

Joe Penland in Concert
Saturday, April 16, 7:30 $15
The Madison County Arts Center
90 S. Main Street Marshall
(828)649-1301
www.madisoncountyarts.com

To Catch A Love Song  or  Cecil and Maud In The Laurels

It was hot and humid when English folksong collectors Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles made their way through the flood ravaged town of Marshall, North Carolina.

Most of the town was gone. “Fifty three houses, most of the stores, and the café where we used to eat”* were ripped from their foundations and washed away. Boulders, trees and axle deep mud greeted the weary travelers on their way to the Presbyterian outpost at Allen’s Stand on Little Laurel Creek.

How could they know they were only hours from discovering what Sharp would later describe as “the largest repository of the English folk song in the world.”

This year, 2016, is the one hundredth anniversary of their arrival. It is also the centennial of the most devastating flood of the French Broad River in modern history and, on a brighter note, the establishment of the Pisgah National Forest.

In the inaugural performance of his 2016 season, balladeer, songwriter and master storyteller Joe Penland will dive headlong into these stories and more. Growing up on the streets of Marshall and roaming the backwoods of the Laurel Valleys with his friend Jerry Adams, Joe’s tales open the past with words, music, humor and emotion.

Sam Lee, organizer of England’s most awarded Folk Club and BBC 2’s 2016 Folk Singer of the Year, says: “Joe transports you to his world and you come away knowing those most haloed people and places of the past.” Or as someone else said: “His humor and hypnotizing southern drawl delight the ears and relax the senses. Joe Penland, he’s like a slug of real good bourbon.”

Show time is 7:30, Saturday, April 16th at the Madison County Arts Center, 90 South Main Street, Marshall. Tickets are $16. For more information call (828) 649-1301 or visit www.madisoncountyarts.com

*From Roar, Old River, Roar by Joe Penland

SHARE
About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.