The Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in our Appalachian Heritage. This unique event, hosted by Josh Copus, Donna Ray Norton, Sheila Kay Adams, and Melanie Rice celebrates the rich tradition of ballads in Southern Appalachia. Ballads are hauntingly beautiful stories and narrative poems passed down through oral tradition and are told in song. This is a very casual event that we like to think of as a front porch experience, where ballad singers from across the region tell stories, sing songs, talk about our history, and have a great time!
While ballads have been sung throughout Southern Appalachia, Madison County in particular is known for its rich treasure trove of ballads and ballad singers. When English folk song collector Cecil Sharp visited Madison County in 1916, he said he had found a “nest of singing birds.” The ballad tradition in Madison County alone goes back at least 9 generations, making it one of the oldest unbroken oral traditions in the United States.
**UPDATED TO ADD: We WILL be having a ballad swap on 10/30/24 at the OMJH from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM with the permission of the Town of Marshall. This event will be Halloween themed, so feel free to dress up!
Due to damages from Hurricane Helene, the Ballad Swap at the Old Marshall Jail is temporarily on hold, but we are determined to bring this cherished tradition to different locations until we can return home. Next stop… The Grey Eagle in Asheville – more info to come soon!
Some of our regular Ballad Singers:
- Sheila Kay Adams
- Donna Ray Norton
- Melanie Rice
- Branson Raines
- Leila Weinstein
- Sarah Songbird Burkey
- Susan Pepper
- John Analo Phillips
- Judy Rhodes
- William & Sarah Ritter
- and more (you can never tell who might show up!)
Come early to get a table, order yourself some supper and a few drinks!
Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies
