Can you think of a better way to celebrate Halloween than with a good murder ballad and some scary stories? Well, we can’t so, come out and join us for a special SPOOKY edition of Ballad Night on October 25th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
The Ballad Singers plan to dress up as their favorite characters from the old love songs! Throw on a costume and join us for a fun and frightful evening. Come early to get a table, order yourself some supper and a few drinks!
Some of our regular Ballad Singers:
- Sheila Kay Adams
- Donna Ray Norton
- Branson Raines
- Leila Weinstein
- Sarah Songbird Burkey
- Susan Pepper
- John Analoe Phillips
- Judy Rhodes
- William & Sarah Ritter
- and more (you can never tell who might show up!)
The Ballad Swap at the Old Marshall Jail Hotel is a great opportunity to experience an important part of our Appalachian Heritage and it is the only recurring Ballad Swap in the area. Hosted by Josh Copus, Donna Ray Norton, and Sheila Kay Adams. A ballad is a story or narrative poem sung to a melody and is a type of folk song passed down through oral tradition. 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.
There will be a round robin style ballad swap that takes place on the patio of Zadie’s restaurant in the Old Marshall Jail. We have several ballad singers that join us each month from different counties. This is a very casual event where we tell stories, sing songs, talk about our history, and have a great time!
