Old-Time Music
is the name used as long ago as the 1920's for the dance tunes, songs and solo
pieces people played for entertainment before radio and recordings caused most
people to put their instruments away.
With roots in Ireland and northern Europe, and African influences, the music
adatpted to many American environments as it was played and passed from person
to person. New tunes were "made" and became part of the tradition.
Banjos joined fiddles, and when the era of the mail-order catalog came, guitars
were added, too.
By the mid-1920's, the new recording industry in the United States became interested
in recording the traditional dance tunes. Sentimental and religious songs also
became part of the old-time music captured on heavy 78 RPM discs.
Old-time music at its best is tunes and songs and the stories that give them life.
Played from the heart, the music conveys the feelings and stories of those who
played it first.
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Tom's radio program In The Tradition
airs on WDIY 88.1 FM
every Wednesday from 7 to 9 pm
"American music from the roots to the branches"
He can also be heard on WXLV 90.3 FM every Thursday from noon to 4 pm
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Back Home
Our new CD! Recorded live in performance at Godfrey Daniels in
Bethlehem, PA and at our home, it includes songs from the Carter family, Dave Bing,
Uncle Dave Macon, Julie Miller, Bob Dylan, and more.
For online ordering information, please visit our merchandise page.
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Upcoming Events
- May 23, 2008 - 12:15 - 1:00 pm
WXLV Radio Concert
Through the airwaves or on a computer near you! We'll visit Theo Anderson for an informal lunchtime concert. Listen in
on 90.3 FM or on the web. The plan is to talk a little, play and sing some favorites, and have a good time in the WXLV
Roots 90.3 studios.
www.wxlv.org
- May 25, 2008 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Emmaus Farmers' Market, Emmaus, PA
Radishes, spring onions, flower and vegetable plants, honey, goat's milk, old-time music and more. Listen and shop
locally! Their website has the details, with a harvest calendar to check what's in and coming in soon.
www.emmausmarket.com
- May 30, 2008 - noon - 1:00 pm
Good Shepherd 100th Anniversary Celebration, Allentown, PA
This is the place where Tom worked for many years before he became a full-time musician, teacher and writer. He promised
to come back for their Centennial celebration, and so we shall.
- June 13, 2008 - 7:30 pm
Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
We were pleased to be asked again to be part of this concert series. There's always a friendly audience, and they
listen and ask good questions, too. Check the library's website for information about this Second Friday series and
many other library events.
www.ivpl.org
- June 15, 2008
Lehigh Valley Civil War Days, Whitehall, PA
Battle & Skirmishes!!! Artillery Firing Demonstrations!!! Civil War Music!!! Free admission!!! Rain or shine!!!
Saturday Evening Candlelight Tour!!! Living History Scenarios and Camp Life Displays!!! The event runs June 13-15 at
the Whitehall Parkway Recreational Area. Visit their website for information, directions and registration.
www.campgeiger.org
- June 27, 2008
Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild Mini-Festival
At Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, PA. We'll be part of a concert of songs and stories, one of our favorite combinations.
More details to be decided as time draws near, but we'll spin a couple of good stories and play the tunes that go with
them and maybe sing a song or two. The best place to find out more? Right here, for now. Others will perform, also,
and we'll post them soon.
www.godfreydaniels.org
- July 1, 2008
"Horses Sing None Of It" Television Taping
We'll be taping a visit for "Horses Sing None Of It," Ralph Litwin's syndicated cable old-time music show.
We've finally worked out a date and time to do this; it will be some talking and some playing. Look for it in the
future on SEC-TV, and other outlets. We'll let you know about air dates when we know.
www.folkproject.org/fp_folkTV.html
- July 5, 2008 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Emmaus Farmers' Market, Emmaus, PA
Zucchini, flowers, ground buffalo meat (the other red meat?) bread, fruit pies, etc. We'll bring our old-time
tunes and rare song gems from the past to the Market.
www.emmausmarket.com
- July 12, 2008
2nd Annual Music in the Valley Day Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, Stroudsburg, PA
Local and regional musicians present a variety of traditional music in a beautiful and peaceful setting. The farm is
located a few minutes off Route 33.
www.quietvalley.org
- July 20, 2008 - 1:00 pm - whenever
Meadowood Music, Blandon, PA
It's the Meadowood Music Birthday Party! Food, open mic and scheduled performers, food, music, friendship, food, fine musical
instruments, food, and surprises. Check the Meadowood website for directions and updates. Tom will MC, Betty and Tom
expect to perform, but Nathan will be in the mountains of West Virginia for most of July and part of August, and gas
will cost too much for him to drive back even for this annual picnic. Free and open to everyone who'd like to find out
more about their teachers, the store, or their fine instruments. Meadowood is located at 8521 Allentown Pike in Blandon,
but that's just Route 222 about 7 miles past Kutztown, and easy to find.
www.meadowoodmusic.com
- July 28 - August 1, 2008
Folk Arts Week, Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV
For those who'd like a sampler of traditional crafts, music and dance, whether as a family or an individual, we welcome
you to try this intergenerational week at Augusta. We've assembled a great group of people with experience as both
"do-ers" and teachers of music, basket making, dance and storytelling to help you have an amazing experience
in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. For ages 7 to ???. Betty is the Coordinator, and Tom is the Elderhostel
Coordinator for 2008. Folk Arts Week runs concurrently with Bluegrass Week.
www.augustaheritage.com
- August 3 - 8, 2008
Old-Time Week, Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins, WV
Tom will teach a Beginning/Intermediate guitar class in the morning, and many other fine musicians will offer instruction
on banjo, fiddle and mandolin, too. Beyond whatever class you take, there are afternoon workshops, visits with master
musicians, concerts and jamming through the night. Vocal Week and Dance Week will also take place during this week at Augusta.
www.augustaheritage.com
- August 8 - 10, 2008
The Augusta Festival Elkins City Park & Davis and Elkins College, Elkins, WV
The end-of-summer weekend for the five-week Augusta Heritage program. Crafts and music and dance in the park, concert and
dance on campus, gospel in the chapel on Sunday morning. Exact schedules won't be finalized until early August, but it will
be a good time no matter who's involved.
www.augustaheritage.com
- September 7, 2008 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Emmaus Farmers' Market, Emmaus, PA
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, maybe mums, garlic, jams and jellies and some dance tunes for your restless feet.
www.emmausmarket.com
- September 12-14, 2008
Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering, Huntingdon County, PA
The Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering is a weekend of music workshops, jamming, concerts and dancing at Greenwood Furnace
State Park in Central Pennsylvania, and this year they will celebrate their fifth year. The park is on the western edge
of an area of Central Pennsylvania known as the Seven Mountains. It is an area of "rugged beauty, abundant wildlife,
breathtaking vistas and peaceful solitude" according to the
park website —
and the photos are beautiful! We'll be there for the weekend, with details of workshops to be announced later.
www.simplegiftsmusic.com/greenwood
- September 19, 2008 - 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Global Libations, 21 East Main Street, Kutztown PA
A first musical visit to this fine coffeehouse that offers music every Friday night. Betty recommends their mocha lattes.
We'll be in the front window, not on a front porch, but we hope to keep the same effect. 484-646-9683 for more information
about Global Libations.
- September 21, 2008 - all day, into the evening
Lyons Fall Fiddle Festival, Lyons, PA
Always a fall highlight if you like bluegrass and/or old-time music, or just old-time community events with food prepared
by local church groups and great ice cream. Bring your lawn chairs, and be in time for the special musical guest, famed
bluegrass star Jesse McReynolds. Listen or play in the many jams, enjoy the fiddle contest and end the day with the
Bluegrass Gospel church service at 6:00 p.m.
www.lyonsfiddlefest.com
- October 11 & 12, 2008
Harvest Festival Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, Stroudsburg, PA
Crafts, demonstrations, farm animals, and lots of good old-fashioned food like apple dumplings (Betty personally recommends
these!). Music, too, on stage and on porches. Hope it's a little cooler than October 2007!
www.quietvalley.org
- October 24, 2008 - 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Global Libations, 21 East Main Street, Kutztown PA
Spend a cool autumn evening listening to tunes and enjoying some coffee and the surroundings. 484-646-9683.
- April 4, 2009 - 8:00 pm
Mountain Moon Coffeehouse, Wheeling, WV
Over the mountains of Western PA, to a city filled with hills, highways, rivers and railroads. We often tell stories
about the beautiful building that houses the Mountain Moon concert series — the real Tiffany windows dripping
with rosebuds, the tin ceiling in the concert room, the checkered tablecloths and Barb's fine cookies. Bob Heyer and his
wife Barbara have managed The Mountain Moon for many years; Bob is a fine singer and musician himself (visit
www.bobheyer.com to find out more) and we hope he'll join us for
a song or two.
www.oionline.com/mountainmoon
We also host two old-time jams each month:
- First Tuesday of each month at
Godfrey Daniels
in Bethlehem, an open old-time jam from 7-9:00 p.m. Admission ($2.50 to play or listen)
helps to cover the electric bill!
- Fourth Friday of each month at
Meadowood Music
in Blandon, PA, along Route 222. 7-9:00 p.m. Free.
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