The 2022 West Virginia Folk Artist of the Year will present at the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center on Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m. as part of his statewide Tall Tales of Tony Beaver Storytelling Tour.
Join storyteller Adam Booth in concert as he performs historical West Virginia tall tales featuring Tony Beaver, our native son lumberjack. The program is free and open to the public, with all stories suitable for a general audience.
This program is presented with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.
“We are thrilled to host Adam as part of his tour,” said Dr. Francene Kirk, director of the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center. “The Tony Beaver stories with their connection to West Virginia’s 20th Century timber industry are near and dear to our hearts. Adam came to the Center last fall to do some research in our archives. He is an amazing scholar as well as a highly talented performer.”
Booth is the recipient of the 2022 Governor’s Arts Award for Folk Arts in West Virginia. His original storytelling blends traditional mountain folklore, music and an awareness of contemporary Appalachia. A focus on craft propels his handling of story.
Booth’s career highlights include Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, three-time Teller-In-Residence at the International Storytelling Center, The National Storytelling Festival, Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, the Appalachian Studies Association Conference, the National Academy of Medicine and Spoken Word Resident at the Banff Centre (Alberta). He is a member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) and his recordings have received a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, two Parents’ Choice Silver Honors and five Storytelling World Awards and Honors. He is a four-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Contest.
Visit www.adam-booth.com for additional dates, venues and details.
The Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center is located in a restored barn on the campus of Fairmont State University. It houses the Ruth Ann Musick Folklore Archives, the Patty Looman Traditional Music Collection and the D.D. Meighen Media Collection. The Center’s Trunk of Traditional Tunes Exhibit, an exploration of West Virginia’s old-time music, is currently on display. The Folklife Center is the home of Fairmont State University’s academic programs in folklore and museum studies. For additional information or to schedule a tour, contact 304-367-4403.
