Category: Culture

With its heartfelt melodies, Bluegrass is where the stories of Southern Appalachian culture can be found. Bluegrass music, unique in sound, is often heard with the sound of five essential instruments: guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, and mandolin. With the guitar’s rhythm, the banjo’s plucking, and the fiddle’s melodies, each instrument helps to create a sound that shares the spirit of Bluegrass, celebrating community and expressing the heart of Appalachia with those who listen. 

Bluegrass music has always been shaped by the passionate musicians who have been just as much a part of it as it has been a part of them. Bill Monroe, Curtis Blackwell, Ralph Stanley, and Ricky Skaggs all played a big part in keeping this style of music alive. Monroe, frequently called the “Father of Bluegrass,” made the fast-playing and rich harmonies popular. Curtis Blackwell and Ralph Stanley kept the traditional bluegrass sound alive, while Ricky Skaggs made it popular with more people. These artists helped make Bluegrass an important part of Appalachian culture, sharing the culture and pride of Appalachia with the world.

In the hills of Southern Appalachia, Bluegrass music has filled the air for decades, often carrying stories as old as the mountains themselves. Born from blending Northern European and African traditions, Bluegrass is rooted in a community that finds beauty in simplicity and strength. The beginnings of Bluegrass are relatively recent, as it started to take shape in the early 20th century and was influenced by the folk music of European settlers and the rhythms brought by African Americans. Through its growth in the 40s to today, Bluegrass remains a celebration of community and resilience, honoring its rich origins.

Have you ever heard about Foxfire? It all started in the mountains of Georgia with a teacher and a group of high school students who wanted to make learning more exciting. Instead of using boring textbooks, their teacher encouraged them to go out into their community and learn from the people around them. In the 1960s, these students began interviewing older folks in their community, asking about their lives, traditions, and skills. They wrote down everything they learned and published it in a little magazine called “Foxfire.” What started as a small class project soon grew into something much bigger. People loved reading the magazine, and soon the stories were put together in a book. In fact, the Foxfire books became really popular, showing people all over the world what it was like to live in Southern Appalachia. The books talked about everything from making soap and weaving baskets to telling old stories and folklore. Foxfire was not just about making magazines and books. It was also about students doing real projects that helped their community. They learned about building log cabins, making pottery, and preserving old traditions that were at risk of being forgotten. The project brought generations together, with young people learning from the wisdom of their elders. The idea behind Foxfire made a big impact. It helped students learn in a hands-on way, connected people in the community, and kept Appalachian culture alive for everyone to enjoy. Foxfire still inspires people today to learn from each other and the Appalachian heritage and stories alive and well.