Sunday, October 1st, 2023
2:00 p.m.
Lyric Theater
16620 Broad St, St Paul, VA 24283
Tickets: $10 at the door
Children and students admitted free
W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series
Ken Waldman plays old-time Appalachian-style fiddle, writes smart poems, and tells Alaska-set stories. This performance will feature Janie Rothfield and Allan Carr. Allan was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland—a region known for its rich traditional musical heritage. He began singing traditional songs in his teens and winning traditional singing competitions throughout Scotland. In the 80’s Allan teamed up with American fiddler Jane Rothfield—Allan’s traditional Scottish singing and Celtic guitar styles melding with Jane’s Old Time fiddle and banjo styles for a unique sound. Jane is an award-winning fiddler, tune composer, and clawhammer banjo player adept in both the Celtic and American Appalachian music and song traditions. In addition to her work with Allan Carr, Jane has played fiddle and sung with Rude Girls, Groovemama, and with her own contradance band, Jane’s Gang. You can find more about Janie and Allan here.
Together, Ken Waldman with Janie Rothfield and Allan Carr offer a show that’s fun, inspiring, and full of surprises. The Wild Ones are going to do what a bunch of ramblers with fiddles, banjos, and guitars are apt to do—make it a party.
Ken Waldman has drawn on 37 years as an Alaska resident to produce poems, stories, and fiddle tunes that combine into a performance uniquely his. 12 CDs mix Appalachian-style string-band music with original poetry (and he’s recorded over 100 of his own compositions—tunes that sound like they ought to be traditional). 20 books include 16 poetry collections, a memoir, a children’s book, a creative writing manual, and a novel. Since 1995 he’s performed at leading concert series, festivals, universities, arts centers, and clubs. Though he’ll still occasionally perform solo, he prefers to bring an accompanist or two, or a whole troupe of musicians, many of them often headliners themselves—and have included Willi Carlisle, Riley Baugus, The Early Mays, and others who know their way around old-time string-band music.
Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals with mobility issues or general questions are encouraged to call (276) 376-4520 or email the Pro-Art office at pro-art@uvawise.edu. For evolving conditions related to weather cancellations, or similar unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for up-to-date information.
Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Mountain Empire Community College, the Columbus Phipps Foundation, and the Lee County Community Foundation.