Updated December 14, 2011

2012 Breakin' Up Winter
Musicians and Presenters

The presenters teach, perform, and lead guided jams.

Whatever else you do during this great weekend, you won't want to miss the living heritage that will be walking and playing amongst us at Cedars of Lebanon State Park for this great weekend of traditional music.

Lester McCumbers

Lester McCumbers is an illustrious and venerated fiddler from West Virginia, a First Prize winner at Clifftop, and our Heritage Award recipient for 2012.

He will be accompanied by banjo player Kim Johnson, with whom he often performs. YouTube has wonderful videos of his playing, like:

Cotton-Eyed Joe

Black Mountain Rag.

Alice Gerrard

Founding Editor of The Old-Time Herald, Alice has known, learned from, and performed with many of the old-time and bluegrass greats, and has earned worldwide respect for her own contributions to the music spanning some 40 years. She currently teaches and performs all over the world on guitar, fiddle, and voice.

Alice’s two solo albums, Pieces of My Heart and Calling Me Home, were released on the Copper Creek label in 1995 and 2004, respectively, to critical acclaim. These superb recordings showcase Alice’s many talents: her compelling, eclectic songwriting; her powerful, hard-edged vocals; and her instrumental mastery on rhythm guitar, banjo, and old-time fiddle.

Alice is particularly known for her collaborations with Appalachia singer Hazel Dickens and their four albums continue to inspire.

Visit Alice's website

Watch and learn more about Alice in this YouTube video.

Dan Gellert

Dan is a formidable talent and has spent his life bringing the ancient sounds of his playing and voice to bear on the body of OT music he shares.

He is returning to BUW for a second visit as artist and lecturer.

Growing up in New Jersey, the folk revival of the 60's reached him in a profound musical way. He devotes himself to mastering banjo, guitar, and fiddle the way we hear it on those old 70's.

He was made for this music, as seen in this singing/banjo video and in this "Old Sledge" fiddle video.

Wayne Daniel

Daniel, a life-long fan of country, Southern gospel, and bluegrass music, has written more than 200 articles on these subjects.

Wayne is also the author of Pickin’ On Peachtree, A History of Country Music in Atlanta, Georgia.

He will present a lecture on the early twentieth century Atlanta fiddle contests.

Wayne is an expert on the music business and music as big business in Atlanta. He also profiles a vast array of performers, radio personalities, and recording moguls who transformed the Peachtree city into a nerve center of early country music

The Georgia Crackers

Multiple opportunities to hear, dance to, and learn from the members of this high-energy Atlanta band composed of Mick Kinney, Chip Corbitt, Andy Edmonstone, and Kenneth Johnson.

They will carry you back to the sounds of 1920s string bands when they play the Saturday Night Dance. Band members will also lead workshops on Georgia tune repertoire and buck dancing on Saturday.

Fun samples can be found on YouTube, like this one.

Roby Cogswell

Musician and Director of Folklife for the Tennessee Arts Commissison, Roby is a great supporter and participant in old-time music. He serves as Master of Ceremonies for our Roots of Old-Time Music Day.

Martin Fisher

Martin comes to every Breakin' Up Winter (and other NOTSBA events) to share his passion and expertise in old-time recording techniques. His wax-cylinder recordings are as authentic as it can get, and he'll show you how it's done and record you in true old-time style.