This presentation and performance traces the history behind ballads from the Blue Ridge Mountains. While strongly associated with European and British Isles traditions, balladry in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia reflects a broad range of cultural influences, including roots in and stories connected to African and Native American experiences. This revisitation of ballads from the Blue Ridge, stretching from the mid-18th century to the present, examines the histories behind these story songs and their continued relevance in the vast musical landscape of 21st century Appalachia.
Trevor’s Bio:
Trevor McKenzie is a musician and historian rooted in traditional music and community histories from along the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Virginia. He has performed as a solo artist and with regional string bands including Nobody's Business, The Little Stony Nighthawks, and The Elkville String Band. He has been an instructor for the Junior Appalachian Musicians program and taught workshops at gatherings such as Augusta Heritage Center's Old-Time Week, Bluff Country Gathering, the Floyd Old-Time Music Get-Together, and the Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival.
McKenzie is the Director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University, founded in 1978 to illuminate and sustain the region's rich history, cultures, communities, and ecology. He is a member of the SouthArts Emerging Traditional Artists Cohort, and was the recipient of a 2020 SouthArts/NC Arts In These Mountains Apprenticeship to study fiddle traditions with master musician and radio host Paul Brown. He has contributed to radio stories and podcasts, including WVPB's Inside Appalachia, BBC4 Front Row, and PRX's Magic in the United States. Otto Wood the Bandit: The Freighthopping Thief, Bootlegger, and Convicted Murderer behind the Appalachian Ballads, published in 2021 by The University of North Carolina Press, is his first book.