On the beat
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Donated photo
Mountain Faith, Primitive Quartet in Franklin
Acclaimed gospel groups Mountain Faith and the Primitive Quartet will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Primitive Quartet backs their soulful harmony with the sounds of acoustical instruments such as the mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, and acoustic bass. Joining them will be Mountain Faith, who has performed at venues such as Dollywood and Silver Dollar City and who has appeared on the award-winning Great American Gospel show. The stellar sound is a combination of gospel and bluegrass. Tickets are $15 per person. www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.
An “Appalachian Heritage Music Guitar Class” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, from Sept. 9 through Nov. 18, at Haywood Community College in Clyde. This course is for beginners as well as for those who have some playing experience. Students will learn basic flat-picked lead playing and accompaniment, with emphasis on clarity, smoothness, and solid
• Singer/songwriter Ashli Rose hits the stage at 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Water’n Hole Bar and Grill in Waynesville. Free. 828.456.4750.
• The Freestylers will play at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at City Lights Café in Sylva. Free. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.
• The Music in the Mountains concert series continues with an Elvis tribute act at 6:30
p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in Bryson City. The group plays Americana, jazz and modern rock. The free concert series brings together local residents, visitors and musicians for an evening of melodies and mountains. The series is sponsored by the Swain County Chamber of Commerce and the Swain County Tourism Development Authority. www.greatsmokies.com.
ALSO:
• The Pickin’ On The Square summer concert series continues with 1970s/oldies The Rhey Holler Boys at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the lower level town hall in Franklin. At 6:30 p.m. the stage is opened for anyone wanting to play a few songs. Free. 828.524.2516 or www.franklinnc.com/pickin.html.
Smoky Mountain News
• The Screaming J’s, Porch 40, American Gonzos, and Caleb Crawford will perform at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. The Screaming J’s plays Sept. 5, with Porch 40 Sept. 6, American Gonzos Sept. 7 and Caleb Crawford Sept. 8. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m., with Sunday performances at 4 p.m. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.
rhythm with a focus on folk, bluegrass, gospel, and country traditions. Scales, basic chords, and simple songs will be taught, along with variations of different strums. Instructor will be Travis Stuart. Stuart has played as part of a duo with his brother Trevor for more than 20 years. Though their music has deep roots in the local area, they have also carried their music far abroad playing for dances, festivals, music camps, and concerts all through the United States, as well as in England, Ireland, Germany and Russia. Course fee is $105 per person. 828.627.4500.
September 4-10, 2013
HCC to hold Appalachian heritage music guitar class
Cullen is the eccentric host of “The Motorhead Traveler,” a reality show on MavTV (Movies, Adventure, Variety). A feverish globetrotter in search of motorsport adventures, unique artisans and outdoor endeavors, he’s snowmobiled Siberia and Greenland, driven racecars on various international courses, hit the desert in a sand-buggy and jet-skied waters around the world. His energy is infectious, his ambition unrelenting. “I’m one of the people who believes that what you want to do when you’re off work is what you should do for work,” he said. Sitting on Cathey’s porch, Cullen is taking a break from the day’s project. Filming the latest episode of “The Motorhead Traveler,” Cullen decided on exploring North Carolina. When he contacted the state tourism office, they suggested something NASCAR related, which resulted in a trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and a chance to drive Jeff Gordon’s racecar. The office also suggested something Southern Appalachian related, perhaps a trip to the mountains in search of an artist to profile. Sifting through possible candidates, he picked Cathey. “He called me and asked if I wanted to do a project together, so I started thinking about things that symbolize this area,” she said. “I wanted something to incorporate the winding roads and motorcycles, the plant and mountain life of the Great Smokies.” The duo decided to make a handcrafted metal mirror. Adorned with S-curve road lines and majestic trees, the piece is a 34-inch square, Kevin Cullen, aka “The Motorhead Traveler,” at work some three inches in depth. Besides on the handcrafted metal mirror that will be featured the hours planning and putting his show of the same name. The episode will air this together a design, Cathey and Fall on MavTV, which is Channel 148 on Dish and 219 Cullen spent a whole day cutting, on DirecTV. Garret K. Woodward photo welding and grinding all the intricate pieces together into a functional work of art. “Experientially speaking, when you come “I’ve welded before, but into a community and learn from a local when you get a chance artist, who has spent years developing their craft and style, it’s a humbling experience to see such beautiful that can be also intimidating,” he said. “But, the feeling you get working on and completcreations like hers up ing an art piece is very similar to the exciteclose, it’s incredible.” ment you get when driving a racecar — it’s exhilarating.” — Kevin Cullen, Based out of Toronto, Cullen has been a ‘The Motorhead Traveler’ television personality for over 15 years. Creatively unfulfilled as a marketing executive in the electronics industry, he ditched the breath and smiled. Though there’s still a full suit and tie to pursue a dream incorporating afternoon of work left to do on the project, it’s his travel bug with a lifelong fascination for another day in paradise and she’s glad to motorsports. In 1997, he launched “Personal spend it creating, surrounded by the natural Watercraft Television” on the Outdoor beauty of Southern Appalachia. “There’s a feeling you get when you come Channel, which lasted 130 episodes viewed in over 140 countries. From there, he created here, it’s in the air, the mountains, the water,” “Sled Sense,” where he jumped on a snowmo- she said. “With the presence, energies and bile and hit some of the most remote areas on vibrations, you could feel it even if you were blind. The vision here is so rewarding — it the planet. His latest endeavor, “The Motorhead brings out your soul.” 25
arts & entertainment
Mountain Faith (pictured) and Primitive Quartet perform in Franklin on Sept. 13.
Traveler” combines the mechanical culture of a community with its artistic and culinary flavors. Cullen not only wanted to learn as much as he can about anything unknown he crossed paths with, he also felt the urge to get his hands dirty in the process, where experiences are up close and every bit as unique and real as the subjects themselves. “It’s a real bonding experience when you’re doing this much work with somebody and getting dirty together,” he said. “It’s about ongoing learning. Always keep learning, always keep exploring.” As Cathey gazed off her front porch and down into the lush valley, she took a deep