Ballad Night at the Old Marshall Jail Hotel

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Ballad Night at the Old Marshall Jail Hotel

December 9, 2026 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

|Recurring Event (See all)

An event every month that begins at 6:00 pm on day Second of the month, repeating indefinitely

One event on October 25, 2023 at 6:00 pm

One event on October 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm

*****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 across the region, until we can return home once the rebuild has taken place. *****

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 non-indigenous oral traditions in the United States.

Some of our regular Ballad Singers: 

  • Sheila Kay Adams 
  • Donna Ray Norton
  • Melanie Rice
  • William & Sarah Ritter 
  • Branson Raines
  • Leila Weinstein
  • Sarah Songbird Burkey
  • Susan Pepper
  • John Analo Phillips
  • Judy Rhodes
  • and more (you can never tell who might show up!) 

Come early to get a table, order yourself some supper and a few drinks!

Details

Date:
December 9, 2026
Time:
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Music Styles:
, , ,
Event Type:
Ballad Swap
  • Food Service
  • Pet Friendly
  • Picnic Space
Visit Website

Other

Phone
828.575.7605
Email
donnaraynorton@gmail.com

Details

Date:
December 9, 2026
Time:
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Music Styles:
, , ,
Event Type:
Ballad Swap
  • Food Service
  • Pet Friendly
  • Picnic Space
Visit Website

Other

Phone
828.575.7605
Email
donnaraynorton@gmail.com