Appalachia abounds with lonesome songs about killing. Famous Appalachian murder ballads include “Pretty Polly,” “Frankie and Johnny,” “The Knoxville Girl,” “Banks of the Ohio” and of course, “Tom Dooley,” which is based on a disputed murder in neighboring Wilkes County. The term ballad applied to traditional or folk music means a narrative song.
Murder ballads are a sub-genre of the traditional ballad form dealing with a crime or a gruesome death. Their lyrics form a narrative describing the events of a murder, often including the lead-up and/or aftermath. Perspectives are numerous. Some murder ballads tell the story from the point of view of the murderer or attempt to portray the murderer in a somewhat sympathetic light. Other murder ballads tell the tale of the crime from the point of view of the victim. No matter the perspective, murder ballads continue to be performed by artists in every genre. Directed by Kattagast, come join what promises to be a spectacular cast of local musicians who are ready to “kill it” on stage for this fun, adult-only evening of Appalachian Murder Ballads.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a rental event presented by Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music, Brewer World Tour, Holloway Corner Kitchen & Kattagast Music present
https://www.apptheatre.org/events-and-tickets/appalachian-murder-ballads-2025
