Description

The Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap is a celebration of Appalachian heritage. This casual “front porch” gathering brings together traditional ballad singers from across the region to share stories and songs that have been passed down for generations. Madison County, known for its rich ballad tradition, was famously described by English folk song collector Cecil Sharp as a “nest of singing birds” in 1916. The ballad tradition here goes back at least nine generations, making it one of the oldest unbroken oral traditions in the U.S. The Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap is the only recurring ballad swap happening today, and White Horse Black Mountain is honored to be hosting this special evening while WNC, the Jail and the community of Marshall recover from Hurricane Helene.