Events

Amythyst Kiah – Mountain Soul Concert Series

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Amythyst Kiah

Amythyst Kiah

Musician and songwriter, Amythyst Kiah is coming to Sparta on November 22nd as part of the Mountain Soul concert series.   She will perform at the Christ Church on Hwy. 21 South, Sparta at 6:30 pm.  In cooperation with the Grassroots Arts Project, a matinee performance will be held at 2:00 pm at the The Priser Theater on 22 S. Main Street, Sparta    Both performances are free to the public.

Ms.  Kiah is a Southern Gothic, alt-country blues singer/songwriter based out of Johnson City, TN which has been her permanent residence for nearly a decade. She will play original material as well as her renditions of blues and country classics.  She will discuss the African American influences in her music, and how she has merged traditional and contemporary roots music to create her own unique sound.

Her musical influences are eclectic and span across decades. She draws heavily from Old Time music (Mississippi Sheiks, Son House, Jimmie Rodgers, Olla Belle Reed, Carter Family) and is inspired by vocal stylings of R&B and Country music from the ’50s-’70s (Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn.) She blends those influences with those of contemporary artists that have similar powerful vocal integrity (Adele, Florence and the Machine, Megan Jean and the KFB, Janelle Monae, Thom Yorke, Tori Amos, Bonnie Raitt). Her sound has been described as raw and sparse, with heavy lyrical content regarding such themes as loss and betrayal.

Ms. Kiah has performed on Mountain Stage and Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City as a singer and guitarist for the East Tennessee Old Time Pride Band, opened solo for Tim O-Brien and Darrell Scott at the Barter Theatre in Abington, VA, and she performed at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival 2012 alongside the Ebony Hillbillies and Sparky and Rhonda Rucker.

CDs will be on sale after each concert.

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This program is supported by the Grassroots Arts Project of the Arts Guild, and by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources. For more information contact grassrootsartspromo@gmail.com.

For more information about the artist go to http://musiccityroots.com/artist/amythyst-kiah/

NC Mountain Arts Adventure Studio Tour 2015

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tour 001Mid-October is one of the best times to visit Alleghany County.  Backroads wind through the county revealing beautiful fall foliage canopying each curve.  The days are light-jacket crisp with cool, but moderate temperatures.  Leftover pumpkins litter the fields as farmers take a brief break before beginning the Christmas tree the harvest.  An easy conversation can begin by asking the locals who the Appalachian State Mountaineers play that week.

A welcome addition to this autumn ritual is the NC Mountain Arts Adventure studio tour.  It is a great opportunity to visit with the artists where the art is made.  The tour is self-paced and guests can set out to cover all 16 artists, or choose to spend more time getting to know a few of the craftsmen.

Jewelweed Studio is number 6 on the tour.  Located at 185 Gumtree Lane, Sparta, Gary Medley and Alan Joyce create true works of art in stained glass.  Examples of their work can be found at http://www.jewelweedstudio.com/ or you can follow them on Facebook here.

Cave Rock Chapel

Cave Rock Chapel – Stained glass by Jewelweed Studio

Carolina Farm Table is located in Sparta at the corner of East Doughton and Alleghany Street beside the Alleghany Law Enforcement Center.  Their custom furniture shop specializes in handcrafted farm tables.  Their product line can be viewed at http://www.carolinafarmtable.com/ and here on Pinterest.  A profile of co-owner Devin Ulery can be read on the Absolutely Alleghany blog.

Handcrafted by Carolina Farm Table

Handcrafted by Carolina Farm Table

Located on Main Street in Sparta, Studio Redwood offers a variety of art classes including painted furniture and faux finish.  Offered for sale are one of a kind repurposed furniture, framed prints and whimsical, handmade items.  Owner Chris Davis’ work can be seen here on Studio Redwood’s Facebook page.

Art students at Studio Redwood

Art students at Studio Redwood

High on a hill overlooking the mountains, Mountain Jazmin Baskets owner Kathryn Abernathy weaves a variety of natural materials into intricate and aesthetically pleasing baskets.  While each basket is a piece of art, all are practical and functional.  Mountain Jazmin Baskets is located at 292 Walnut Branch Church Rd., Sparta, NC.

Mountain Jazmin Baskets

The natural beauty of Alleghany County coupled with the work of fine artists reinforces the opinion of many that fall is truly the best season of the year.

tour artists

tour map

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Mountain Soul Concert series – Bandit’s Roost

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This Sunday, September 27 at 6:30 pm, members of Christ Church invite everyone to an evening of music by Bandit’s Roost.  Bandit’s Roost plays an eclectic mix of Folk, Celtic, Newgrass and Americana music.  Based in Elkin, NC the band features Caroline Noel Beverley on guitar, bass and vocals; Julian Charles on guitar, bass and vocals; RG Absher on banjo, guitar and vocals; and David Blackmon on fiddle.  Samples of their music can be found here.

Admission is free.  Refreshments follow the concert at Becca’s Backwoods Bean Coffee Shop in Sparta.

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Christ Church is located approximately 2.5 miles south of Sparta at 2543 Hwy, 21 South.

Hawk Count at Mahogany Rock Overlook

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Each fall thousands of hawks and eagles migrate southward along the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The Blue Ridge Parkway, with its overlooks and sweeping vistas, offer numerous opportunities to observe this annual migration.  One of the most popular spots is located near milepost 235 at the Mahogany Rock Overlook.

Jim Keighton and other members of the Blue Ridge Birders spend countless hours at the overlook observing the passing hawks.  They then log the numbers and types of birds seen into a Hawk Count summary which can be viewed here.

Jim Keighton watches for passing hawks at the Mahogany Rock Overlook

Jim Keighton watches for passing hawks at the Mahogany Rock Overlook

The birders also spend time talking with visitors about their work.  A silhouette chart helps novices identify the various species as they pass overhead.  Often little more than black dots, the birds standout especially well on days with high clouds.  The white clouds offer contrast that make the birds more visible. While the birds often pass singularly or in small numbers, occasionally observers will see flocks of over 100 in what are known as “kettles” as the birds circle in updrafts to save energy for the flight to South or Central America

Kettle of Broad-winged hawks over Grandfather Mtn. photo by Monty Combs

Kettle of Broad-winged hawks over Grandfather Mtn. photo by Monty Combs

While various species of hawks are most commonly seen, both Bald and Golden Eagles also use the Blue Ridge as a travel corridor.

A Blad Eagle passes over Grandfather Mtn. Photo by Monty Combs

A Blad Eagle passes over Grandfather Mtn. Photo by Monty Combs

Weather permitting, volunteers can be found at Mahogany Rock Overlook most days from September into early November.

Mahogany Rock is located less than 1½ hours from Charlotte, Winston Salem and Greensboro.  The overlook offers a large grassy area that is perfect for picnicking while the hawks pass overhead.  No admission fees are required.

Other popular hawk watch sites in western North Carolina include Grandfather Mountain and Pilot Mountain State Park.

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Appalachian Images – The Alleghany Historical Museum

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courtesy of Imagining Specialists

courtesy of Imaging Specialists

The Alleghany Historical-Genealogical Society will host an exhibit of vintage photographs of scenes from Alleghany County from September through December, 2015.  The exhibit will be displayed in the Alleghany Historical Museum located across from the courthouse at 7 North Main Street in Sparta.

courtesy of Imaging Specialists

courtesy of Imagining Specialists

This exhibit coincides with the Looking at Appalachia exhibition being held at the Blue Ridge Business Development Center from September 19 through October 31, 2015.

courtesy of Imaging Specialists

courtesy of Imagining Specialists

As we look at these images from the past and examine those from the present, we hope to generate conversation of what Alleghany County will look like in the future.

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