Appalachian Roots

What is “Appalachian Roots?”

Old-time country music comes from the Appalachian mountains of America. Derived from the folk music of the English, Scottish and Irish pioneers, it fused with the rhythms of the native Americans and the African slaves to become everything from soul searching ballad to energetic dance music.

Old-time music has recently been celebrated in the sound tracks of films such as Brother Where Art Thou and Cold Mountain. The music is cited as a main influence of 20th century artists including Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, John Renbourne and Alison Krauss to name but few.

Riley Baugus

Riley Baugus is an original North Carolina mountain man. As a blacksmith by day he learned his Roundpeak 5 string banjo style from one of the true greats, Tommy Jarrell.

One fateful day he received a call from his long while collaborator, Dirk Powell who was involved in the musical direction of the Oscar winning film Cold Mountain. Riley sang and played on the soundtrack to the film. Since then Riley has produced a string of albums and collaborated with such greats as T-Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Tim O’Brien, and Willie Nelson. 

Riley is recognised around the globe as arguably the best clawhammer banjo player and old-time traditional musician of this era. The real deal! His earthy and worldly-wise performance make him to old-time music what Seasick Steve is to the blues.

Ira Bernstein

Ira Bernstein hales from Malverne, Long Island but moved to Pennsylvania in the early 80’s where he discovered his love for American traditional dance. 

He calls himself a "percussive step dancer who specializes in Appalachian flatfooting," and also dances Green Grass style Appalachian clogging, English clogging, French-Canadian step dancing, Irish step dancing, and South African gumboot dancing. If you’re still unsure, think Riverdance meets Deliverance! As well as a world class dancer, Ira is also an accomplished old-time fiddle player.

Appalachian Roots

Appalachian Roots features Ira’s fiddle playing, flatfooting and humour which combine perfectly with Riley’s banjo, fiddle, and vocals to provide the most authentic taste of traditional music from the Appalachian mountains of America. Add anecdotes 
from Riley’s rural upbringing and his pithy observations of Hollywood and you have an all round entertaining evening with Appalachian Roots!