Traditional Musician, Storyteller Robert Tincher Opens 'Appalachia in the Bluegrass' Concert Series

Robert Tincher performs "The Lady of Carlisle." 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2015) — The "Appalachia in the Bluegrass" concert series returns this fall with the musical stylings of traditional musician Robert Tincher. Tincher will kick off the season at noon Friday, Sept. 4, in the Niles Gallery of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music, located at the University of Kentucky's Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center. The Tincher concert and future series concerts are free and open to the public.

Robert Tincher is a native of Berea, Kentucky. A master singer, musician and storyteller specializing in traditional songs and ballads, he has been inspired by his Appalachian roots, field collecting experience and over 40 years of studying musical traditions in England, Scotland and Ireland. If you are a fan of traditional folk, old time or Celtic music, you will enjoy Tincher's performance.

Tincher has played music venues and festivals across Kentucky, and occasionally in the northeastern U.S. In recognition of his artistic excellence, Tincher was selected to participate in the state's Performing Arts Directory.

The "Appalachia in the Bluegrass" concert series celebrates the old time roots of American folk music by featuring a diverse range of traditional musical expression. The concert series will showcase 12 different artists, duos and groups from southern Appalachia ranging from artists straight off their front porch to those who have earned international acclaim.

This year's other series artists and their performance dates are:

· Tall Dark and Handsome, an acoustic jazz-grass quartet, Sept. 11;  

· Rayna Gellert and the Brothers, featuring fiddle and guitar, Sept. 18;

· Cari and Mike Norris, known for their work playing ancient ballads, Sept. 25;  

· Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones, old time musicians and inspired tunesmiths, Oct. 2;

· Lee "Boy" Sexton, banjo master, and his son Johnny Sexton, Oct. 9;  

· The Local Honeys, old time string band, Oct. 16;

· Sheila Kay Adams, a seventh-generation ballad singer, storyteller and banjo player, Oct. 23; 

· Dan Dutton at Hallowe'en, acoustic, bluegrass and folk musician, Oct. 30;

· The Wells Family, a band with Eastern Kentucky music influences, Nov. 6;

· Rich Kirby and Nate Pohly, members of Rich and the Po' Folks whose musical influences hail from Eastern Kentucky and southwest Virginia, Nov. 13; and 

· Don Pedi, acclaimed dulcimer player, Nov. 20.

All Friday concerts begin at noon at the Niles Gallery.

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 Robert Tincher concert or the “Appalachia in the Bluegrass” concert series, contact Ron Pen, director of the Niles Center, by email to Ron.Pen@uky.edu or visit the website at http://finearts.uky.edu/music/niles.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu