LOWELL W.Va. (Hinton News) – The second annual Cabin Fever Concert at the historic Graham House in Lowell, WV is right around the corner and promises to be a great show! On Saturday, Feb. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m., three very talented musicians – Tish Westman, Hunter Walker, and Lewis Prichard – will join Appalachian duo Little Maggie to present a mix of traditional and original songs and tunes featuring a passel of instruments from clawhammer banjo to upright bass, fiddle to bowed psaltery, lap dulcimer to ukelele, mandolin to autoharp and more, in combinations perhaps never before heard.
For Tish Westman music is a way of life. As a youngster, she often found herself in trouble for whistling and humming at school. She now teaches, performs, sings, and composes on a variety of instruments, most notably lap dulcimer and bowed psaltery. Since 2001, she and her husband Greg have been the resident woodworkers at Tamarack where they build and sell instruments along with recordings and books of music instruction in their Noted Note style. In addition, they produce an annual Bowed Psaltery Symphony performance featuring as many as 60 musicians from across the United States. Among all these pursuits, Westman says her greatest passion is teaching others to play and watching them experience the joy of music. In 2011, she performed on Mountain Stage with her group Psaltrio, which included a budding young musician named Hunter Walker.
Walker began learning dulcimer from Westman when he was 13 years old. A quick learner, he started competing and went on to win numerous competitions including the West Virginia State Championship. But he didn’t stop there! His prodigious skill on clawhammer banjo landed him more first-place wins including another state title. To hear him play is to appreciate why. He’s an in-demand musician with extensive performance experience, a composer, a teacher known for his kind, approachable style, a founding member of Long Point String Band, and a West Virginia native proud of his roots.
Lewis Prichard, also from West Virginia, grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at an early age. He took up mandolin as a teen and fiddle in his twenties. Skilled in a variety of genres from Old-Time to Celtic, his instrumental versatility and easy demeanor make him a welcome addition to many ensembles. Past adventures include taking his music as far away as Norway and playing in Virginia’s Mando Mafia. He is currently a member of Beckley, West Virginia’s Long Point String Band and Greenhouse of Lexington, Virginia.
Rounding out this unique collaboration will be Mary Dailey and Cheryl Mansley of Little Maggie with songs old and new – heartfelt, humorous, and haunting – as well as instrumental accompaniment on some ordinary and not-so-ordinary instruments. As hosts of a monthly Old-Time Mountain Music Jam, Dailey and Mansley love fostering community participation in the living tradition of Appalachian music. This year’s Cabin Fever concert is dedicated to that tradition and will celebrate the tunes and songs, musicians and instruments, and listeners – all part of what makes it so grand.
The Graham House is located at 131 Graham House Road in Lowell, off Route 3 and 12, between Talcott and Pence Springs. Admission is $20/person at the door. Cash only. Doors open at 2:15 p.m., and seating is first come, first served.
In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place the next day, Sunday, Feb. 23.
For more information contact Cheryl Mansley at 304-702-0554 or cherylmansley@gmail.com, or visit ArtBeat of the Mountains on Facebook.
Organizes said, “We would like to thank Graham House, the New River Gateway CVB, and the Hinton Area Foundation for their support in making this event possible. We look forward to seeing you at this one-of-a-kind show that’s sure to cure even the most serious case of cabin fever!”
