The proteges of Warren Wilson College Appalachian music professor Wayne Erbsen are departing to cousin England for a large folklore festival in the town of Billingham in North East England. The Warren Wilson Bluegrass Band will be performing in tandem with the champion Bailey Mountain Cloggers of Mars Hill University. The two groups will then make a small European tour out of the venture by traveling on to Greece for the International Folklore Festival of Lefkada.
Press release from Warren Wilson College:
The Warren Wilson College Bluegrass Band is set to play the Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance Aug. 7-15, 2015, in Billingham, England. The band, made up of Warren Wilson College students and graduates, and led by Appalachian music professor Wayne Erbsen, is performing in support and at the invitation of the 21-time National Champion Bailey Mountain Cloggers of Mars Hill University at the 51st annual Festival, which attracts up to 10,000 people.
“As a university-based program, we always enjoy bringing other college students with us to provide the same experience for students of the same age,” said Danielle Plimpton, managing director, Bailey Mountain Cloggers. “After playing for the Bailey Mountain Cloggers for a Barn Dance, we were able to hear the level of talent that these [Warren Wilson College] students possessed.”
The Warren Wilson College Bluegrass Band is comprised of senior fiddler Michael Pittard, sophomore banjo picker Kyle Gnadinger, 2014 graduate Jake Yochem on bass, and Colin Martin, a 2015 graduate and guitarist. Accompanying the group is Holly McIntyre on mandolin and three former East Tennessee State University players.
“The students are all mega-talented players,” said Erbsen. “It’s a chance of a lifetime. Over the 30 years this band has been around, this is the best opportunity we’ve had to showcase the students’ talents at this level. I am excited to see them get the exposure they all deserve.”
The Warren Wilson College Bluegrass Band is part of only two combined groups representing the United States in Billingham, where performers from Chile, China, Italy, Mexico and Serbia round out the 2015 lineup. Following the Billingham Festival, the group will travel with the Bailey Mountain Cloggers to Greece for the 45th International Folklore Festival of Lefkada.
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