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Beverly Heritage Days to showcase music

Submitted photos A variety of music will be showcased at Beverly Heritage Days: Centuries of History, set for July 14-16.

BEVERLY — Walt Whitman once wrote, “I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear.” Soon Beverly will be singing, and that variety will be showcased in numerous live music offerings during Beverly Heritage Days: Centuries of History, set for July 14-16. The varied musical selections will correspond with the timeline theme of the event.

“The musical groups represent a timeline of American heritage music,” said Les Caraher, organizer of music for the event and an accomplished banjo player. “The timeline will range from traditional Appalachian, to Civil War era, to swing and jug band music from the 1920s and singer/songwriter music of today,” he said.

Caraher shared how music was brought into the region by early settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries: “They eventually developed their own unique style on fiddle and banjo, mostly in isolation.” Popular music in the 19th century then built on those traditions. “Heart and minstrel songs were sung in family parlors and played on stage before the Civil War,” he said. “Then came ragtime and blues music, beginning in the 1880s and popular in the 20s and 30s. So much of contemporary American music reaches back to those earlier styles.”

Music begins at 7:30 p.m. on July 14 with a concert performed by the Blue and Gray Choir at the Beverly Presbyterian Church. Songs will include African American spirituals, Stephen Foster standards and Civil War era tunes.

Live music will begin at 10 a.m. July 14 on the back porch of the Goff house. Gerry Milnes will play traditional fiddle music and share West Virginia folklore. Michael and Carrie Kline will sing traditional and contemporary folk songs. The Potluck Jug Band will perform music from the 1920s. Push to Start will feature bluegrass arrangements of Stephen Foster and Civil War songs. Falling Branch String Band will present traditional mountain music, and Ken Sheller will play the hammered dulcimer.

Time Travel Dance will begin at 7:30 p.m. July 14 at the Beverly IOOF hall will feature live music provided by the Rich Mountain String Band. Attendees will learn the dance steps of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century dances.

Music resumes at 10 a.m. July 15 on the Goff House back porch. The Senior Moments Mountain Swing Band will play tin pan alley and traditional fiddle tunes.

Don Olson will share swing and jazz music on guitar and harmonica. Musical festivities conclude with Sound of the Mountains on hammered dulcimer, guitar and bass.

“Our lineup represents a variety of musical styles which all developed during the golden age of American music,” Caraher said. “All of these musical styles and threads will be offered to the public during Beverly Heritage Days.”

Don’t miss out on other activities throughout town. Living history camps representing Early Settlement, Civil War and World War II periods will allow visitors to travel through time and history in a short walk around Beverly. Children’s activities and photo opportunities are available in the town square.

Visitors also are encouraged to check out the Civil War camp on Rich Mountain, where a skirmish is scheduled for July14, and a reenactment of the Battle of Rich Mountain will wrap up the weekend on July 15. All activities are free and open to the public.

Music will begin at 7:30 p.m. July 14 with the Blue and Gray Choir concert at Beverly Presbyterian Church.

Music will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 15 and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 16 on the Goff House back porch.

Beverly Heritage Days will take place July 14-16 with many events representing Centuries of History. For more information, call the Beverly Heritage Center at 304-637-7424 or email info@beverlyheritagecenter.org. For a detailed schedule of events, visit www.beverlyheritagecenter.org.

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