'Appalachia in the Bluegrass' Continues Fall Concert Series With Brett Ratliff, The Local Honeys

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 4, 2017) — The next performances in the "Appalachia in the Bluegrass" concert series showcase artists who have dedicated their lives to the performance and preservation of old-time music. On Oct. 6, banjo player Brett Ratliff will perform. On Oct. 13, the traditional music duo The Local Honeys will play. Both free public concerts will take place at noon, at the Niles Gallery, located in the University of Kentucky Lucille Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. 

Kentucky’s Banjo Man

Referred to as the “best banjo balladeer in the Eastern Kentucky style of old-time music” by Dom Flemons of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Brett Ratliff is a native of Van Lear, Kentucky, the historic coal camp that gave birth to Loretta Lynn. A musician and community organizer, he has been an activist for the connection between the arts, foodways and economic development since graduating from Morehead State University in 2007. Ratliff has worked toward the wellness of his region with such organizations as Appalshop and Hindman Settlement School, and founded such festivals as the Morehead Old Time Music Festival and the Lexington Old Time Gathering.

In With the Old, In With the New – Music That Is

From the rolling hills of the Bluegrass and the foothills of the Appalachia, Linda Jean Stokley and Montana Hobbs have dedicated themselves to the preservation of old-time music as well as the creation of new music. The Local Honeys’ debut album “Little Girls Actin' Like Men” debunks the ideas of what subject matter “little girls” should talk about. It includes both original and traditional songs, fiddle tunes and masterful storytelling. The duo makes their stop in Lexington after touring the U.S., Jamaica and Ireland.

The “Appalachia in the Bluegrass” concert series celebrates the old-time roots of American folk music by highlighting a diverse range of traditional musical expression. The concert series will showcase 12 different artists, duos and groups from southern Appalachia ranging from hometown heroes to those who have earned international acclaim.

The John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, host of the concert series, is a collaborative research and performance center maintained by the UK College of Fine Arts, UK School of Music and UK Libraries.

For more information on the “Appalachia in the Bluegrass” concert series or the concerts featuring the Brett Ratliff or The Local Honeys, contact Revell Carr, director of the Niles Center, by email to revell.carr@uky.edu, or visit the center’s website at http://finearts.uky.edu/music/niles.