“It was nice to see that UK makes traditional bluegrass music available to students. I hope that this continues,” said Dominick Romeo a political science senior. The Appalachia in the Bluegrass Series is a story hour for students and community members alike.

Carol Seiler, a CCLD senior, is enrolled in the music class (MUS 301) directly associated with the Appalachian series. “I feel like I get better understanding about Appalachian culture when I attend the concerts.  Listening to the music, hearing the musicians stories behind the songs and about their personal lives really makes the concepts I learn in my Appalachian class come alive.  The concerts make it an easier way to absorb the information that is being taught in class.”

Rich and the Po' Folks

Director of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, Ron Pen, has hosted the series since 2004. Traditional clogging, string bands and shape note singing are among the traditional Appalachian heritage featured. This season included artists, Lee Sexton, Don Pedi, and granddaughter of Lily May Ledford, leader of the first all-women string band in radio, Cari Norris.

“I think any display of art and culture is important and exactly the kind of thing the University should be spending money to promote.  It’s interesting also to see examples of the music and culture that we all hear about through stereotypes and second hand accounts, but don’t get to experience firsthand very much,” said Travis Walker, a UK student also enrolled in MUS 301.

All the seats were filled for this rare Monday performance, as most of the performances in the series have taken place on Friday.

The couple from Rhode Island, brought their own style to Appalachian Bluegrass as they warmed up the room with their melodic voices and a variety of  musical instruments. Atwater also awed the crowd with her French Canadian footwork, tap and clogging- a type of Appalachian folk dance, which she was able to do while playing the banjo in one musical number. Along with the banjo, Atwater also played for the crowd the Appalachian mountain dulcimer- Kentucky’s state instrument, and a variety of whistles including the Irish tin whistle and the  aluminum penny whistle.

Atwater was inspired by Jean Ritchie. Ritchie, a female folk singer with strong roots to Appalachia,  was born the 14th child to an Appalachian family. Ritchie now 88-years-old, performed folk music around the country until she was 87- years-old, said Atwater.

Like Ritchie, Atwater uses her music as a gentle way to voice her opinion she says. Atwater said her roots are tied to the coal industry, where her grandfather and great -grandafther made their money owning coal mines in Appalachia over a hundred years ago. Atwater, who said she does not agree with her family’s politics uses music as her rebuttal in songs such as “When I go to West Virginia.”