The Opera House Story Sessions

Aug 29 2022 2

The Opera House Story Sessions Podcast artwork

Carried on the transcendent tones of fiddle and banjo, this podcast blends music and storytelling to showcase the artists preserving central Appalachia’s musical history. Come along as we hear about the first families of old-time and bluegrass, the 1970’s festival scene, and pickin’ parties where classic tunes are passed down. Starting in 2020, when the Pocahontas County Opera House couldn’t have live concerts because of the pandemic, we individually hosted local musical legends to share songs and stories in our beautiful, empty opera house. This podcast is the result of those story sessions. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/story-sessions/support

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Mary Sue Burns

Aug 29 2022 26 mins

In this episode, I sit down with Mary Sue Burns. She is best known for her Paleozoic banjo picking, shaping young minds, and playing in groups like Juanita Fireball and the Continental Drifters. We will also hear about the first women in banjo and how she found a silver lining in the pandemic when she picked back up the fiddle. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.c

Dwight Diller

Aug 22 2022 25 mins

In this episode, we will hear from my conversation with Dwight Diller. Dwight is a banjo player and teacher known for the "sledgehammer" banjo style and for documenting the stories and songs of the Hammons family. It is because of Dwight and people like Carl Fleischer and Alan Jabbour that we have records of the songs that were born out of these hills and hollers. --- Support this

Homer Hunter

Aug 15 2022 30 mins

Today we’ll hear from Homer Hunter. Homer is known locally for his tall tales, kindness towards others, and booming voice that he learned later in life to meld and weave into bluegrass tunes — playing and harmonizing with others in a truly special way. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/story-sessions/support

Dave Bing

Aug 08 2022 24 mins

Today we’ll hear from Dave Bing, the fiddle-playing brother of the old-time band, The Bing Brothers. We interviewed Mike Bing, the mandolin-playing brother, on an earlier podcast episode. But today, we focus on Dave. Like all the musicians who’ve played for the story sessions, Dave came to the Opera House to bow a little for us and tell stories. Still, Dave has such an immense

Mike Bing

Aug 01 2022 28 mins

In today's episode, we’ll sit down with Mandolin player Mike Bing. He is one of three brothers who together formed the old-time band, The Bing Brothers, but he is one-of-a-kind. His mandolin chops and the band's prowess have carried him as far away as Ireland and Australia, but his roots are dug deep into the Appalachian soil. So far on the Story Sessions, we’ve covered b

Mike Burns

Jun 06 2022 25 mins

Mike Burn's first foray into Old-Time music was as a spoons player in the West Virginia University Forestry Club jug band. He soon moved on to guitar. The Forestry Club led him to Elkins for the Forest Festival where he heard Dwight Diller play in the banjo contest. It was the first time that Mike heard the clawhammer style of banjo playing and he instantly knew that was what he wa

Kelsey Beverage

May 30 2022 13 mins

Kelsey keeps the tradition of old-time music alive and thriving. She is a native of Pocahontas County, growing up with Clover Lick on her generational family farm. Arts, music, and crafts are something that has been a long tradition in her family. At an early age, she started taking banjo lessons from Pam Lund, who taught her many songs featured in the story sessions. When she's no

Trevor Hammons

May 23 2022 25 mins

Trevor lives in Pocahontas Co. West Virginia where he continues to pass on the “old-time music” and traditions of the famous Hammons Family. He is the great-grandson of musician, Lee Hammons. Trevor is an award-winning banjo and fiddle player. He started lessons when he was eight years old with Pam Lund of Woodrow. She played with the Hammons and learned from them in the ’70s

Jake Krack

May 16 2022 20 mins

Jake Krack is an exceptional fiddler within the old-time tradition. Most often performing with The Bing Brothers, Jake has won multiple awards and fiddling competitions across Appalachia. From early childhood, Jake was mentored by many legendary fiddlers including Melvin Wine. The remarkable relationship between Melvin and Jake is beautifully captured in the children’s book Passi

Richard Hefner

May 09 2022 19 mins

Richard Hefner is a founding member of the Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, West Virginia’s longest-running bluegrass band. Hefner’s bluegrass banjo playing and tenor vocals have contributed both continuity and much of the “high lonesome” sound for which the band has become so well-known. He has displayed his banjo skills many times as a victor in contests and at the Vandalia