High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music
A film by Rachel Liebling

This is one of those enthralling documentaries that draw their heretofore-unexplored subject matter with supreme ease. You need not have the slightest interest in bluegrass music to find this film a fascinating bit of Americana, a patchwork of historical, moral and cultural influences that conspired in creating an unusually pure American folk tradition.

Filmmaker Rachel Liebling makes this an exceptional enterprising musical portrait. She displays extensive research as well as a deep understanding of the forces that worked together to create bluegrass music. The central focus of the film is Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music. Interspersing a wonderful array of musical experts with flicker archival images of rural life, Liebling deftly traces bluegrass and its history. High Lonesome documents many different influences that shaped bluegrass music including that of black laborers who arrived in Appalachia who introduced the banjo – an African instrument. It also traces the music back to the Scottish-Irish origins.

Location: Library, Room 108
Time: 3:30 p.m.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are a group of young Africian-American string band musicians that have come together to play the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music in Carolina’s piedmont region. Featured in the movie The Great Debaters, the Carolina Chocolate Drops will perform in Brock Auditorium. Co-sponsored with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and Student Life.

Location: Brock Auditorium, Coates Building
Time: 7 p.m.

Is this APPALACHIA? "A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains"

EKU Reads and the Center for Appalachian Studies present the ABC 20/20 special with Diane Sawyer reporting on children living in poverty in Appalachia. Come to SSB Auditorium to watch the feature presentation followed by a panel discussion with EKU student Ivy Brashear, EKU professor Dr. Ken Tunnell, Christian Appalachian Project’s Garry Vickers and Appalachian author Betty Dotson-Lewis

Location: Student Services Building
Time: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Film Presentation: The Ralph Stanley Story
With Appalshop Filmmaker Herb E. Smith

Ralph Stanley's Story is a portrait of the Grammy award-winning bluegrass great and star of the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. For over 50 years, Ralph Stanley’s banjo playing, haunting tenor voice and tradition-inspired repertoire have epitomized old time bluegrass music. This documentary explores Stanley's musical roots in the Clinch Mountains of Virginia, the early days of The Stanley Brothers, and Ralph's decision to continue on after the untimely death of brother Carter. Interviews with Ralph, former band members, and fellow musicians like Patty Loveless and Dwight Yoakum are intercut with live performances of such songs as "Rank Stranger," "Pretty Polly," and "Man of Constant Sorrow." Ralph also performs with Larry Sparks and Ricky Skaggs at his annual "Hills of Home Bluegrass Festival."

The Stanley sound is true old-time, mountain style bluegrass music. This film tells Ralph's story through interviews with those who know him best

Location: Library, Room 108
Time: 3:30 p.m.

A Conversation with Kentucky Poet Laureate, Gurney Norman

Gurney Norman was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to serve as Kentucky Poet Laureate for the 2009-2010 term. As Poet Laureate, Norman promotes the arts and leads the state in literary endeavors, including Kentucky Writers' Day which is celebrated on April 24th of each year to honor the birth date of Kentucky author and poet Robert Penn Warren, the nation's first Poet Laureate.

Norman was formally inducted at a public ceremony and reception on April 24, 2009 in the Capitol Rotunda. The Kentucky Poet Laureate nomination and selection process for recommendation to the governor is coordinated and administered by the Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.

Additional information about this event will be posted soon. Please check back.

Location: Library, Room 108
Time: 3:30 p.m.