A Nest of Singing Birds: Songs and Stories from the Appalachian Mountains

A Nest of Singing Birds: Songs and Stories from the Appalachian Mountains presented by PineCone Piedmont Council of Traditional Music at the Fletcher Opera House on January 24, 2020. When folklorist Cecil Sharp came to North Carolina to collect ballads, he found a treasure trove in Madison County, which he called "A Nest of Singing Birds." Today, NC's Appalachian Mountains are widely recognized for a long-standing, unbroken tradition of ballad singing. Many traditional ballad singers live in rural counties in western NC, and it is a rare and special occasion for audiences in the Piedmont to hear this art form performed live. North Carolina ballad singers Sheila Kay Adams, Bobby McMillon, Donna Ray Norton, and Joe Penland, along with musician and master of ceremonies Laura Boosinger, shared a night of songs and stories in a ballad circle format. North Carolina is home to some of the finest singers, songwriters, musicians, and luthiers in the world. Ballad singing, blues, bluegrass, gospel, and old-time string band music are examples of the folk music traditions passed down through generations that remain prominent in our communities today. Located in the NC Piedmont, in the capital city of Raleigh, PineCone is the largest, most active presenter of folk music in the state. https://www.pinecone.org/