Storytelling Brings a Unique Element to Clintwood Festival

TOM NETHERLAND | SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER
Published: September 26, 2008

Appalachian oral traditions of course highlight music.
Music will reside front and center at the Ralph Stanley Festival in Clintwood. Headlined by the John Cowan Band and Abingdon’s Dixie Bee-Liners, the program that runs from Sept. 26-28 also includes Bristol’s Fire in the Kitchen and the Mullins Family Singers.
Storytelling occupies significant space, too, said Aaron Davis, executive director and curator of the Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center.
“Everybody likes a good story,” Davis said. “There is a tradition of storytelling in this region. We’re natural storytellers here in Appalachia.”
Enter Anndrena Belcher. Famed author and historian Studs Terkel called the storyteller a national treasure.
“I was just honored. It’s like being dubbed a queen,” Belcher said from her home in Gate City, Va. “He gave that quote after he saw the documentary film ‘Long Journey Home,’ which my family was in.”
Belcher will of course tell stories. Her stories often contain autobiographical references via looks back at her ancestors, and through doing so she tells in part aspects of Appalachian culture of generations gone by.
“The most important story I tell is of my family migrating out of the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky and into the inner city of Chicago,” Belcher said. “Alex Haley in ‘Roots’ said that we have stories so we know who we are.”
Even though her family left the land of its roots, they did not simply destroy their roots. They took them with them.
“At the crux of Appalachian culture is creativity,” Belcher said. “The mountains and the land remind us of it, but the people carry it wherever they go.”
Inclusion of such stories in the festival makes complete sense, said Aaron Davis.
“Storytelling and music go together naturally because of their similar roots and themes,” Davis said. “Storytelling works so well because it’s great for all ages. Storytelling is always a crowd pleaser. People love it.”
People love music, too. Belcher hopes to satisfy in that area as well, as she will spice her stories with occasional performances of traditional music.
“It’s an improvisation,” Belcher said. “I integrate stories and poems and songs and sometimes dance. Art has been a part of everyday life in my family.”
As with music, storytelling serves an essential role in ensuring the survival of various aspects of Appalachian culture. Storytelling offers a bridge among the generations, across which stories from prior generations traversed and thus survived.
“It’s about maintaining who we are,” Davis said. “It’s such a part of our culture and he we so often communicate. It is a way of perpetuating what our history is, what our culture is and who we are.”
Listen to music and stories will emerge. Rural-based music has long thrived upon the strength of stories.
“We combine music and stories together and call them ballads,” Davis said. “You may hear a song but they are linked by stories.”
Much as cave paintings offer insights into early Native American life, storytelling has helped to preserve early Appalachian ways of life, which otherwise could possibly have been lost to the ravages of time.
“It’s such an important part of transmitting our history and how we got here,” Davis said. “This festival was created to reflect and promote our culture. We’re proud of that. Storytelling is who we are.”

IF YOU GO
What: Ralph Stanley Festival
When: Sept. 26-28
Where: Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center, Main Street, Clintwood, Va.
Admission: Sept. 26, $20; Sept. 27-28, free
Info: (276) 926-8550
Web: http://www.rsmmountainmusicfestival.googlepages.com/home
And: http://www.ralphstanleymuseum.com

SCHEDULE
Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m. indoors at the Jettie Baker Center
The John Cowan Band

Sept. 27, 11 a.m.
Main Stage
Ken Childress and Jimmy Mullins, Phil and Ann Case, Arthur Johnson, Dovie Sowards, Moore Brothers, Jeff Kennedy and Big Caney Bluegrass, Coaltown, East KY Tyme, Keeping Tradition, Fire in the Kitchen, The Dixie Bee-Liners
Storytelling Stage
Anndrena Belcher at 1 and 3 p.m., free showing of “The Ralph Stanley Story: Part I” at 2 p.m., and “The Ralph Stanley Story: Part II” at 5 p.m.

Sept. 28, Gospel at the Jettie Baker Center
Mullins Family Singers, Tymes 2, and Randy Davis & Gospel Tradition

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .