The Craddock Center will welcome back a folk singer and a storyteller who’ve previously delighted audiences there for a free event that combines both those forms of entertainment.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Songs and Stories event planned for Saturday, Feb. 3, at The Craddock Center has been cancelled. The event has been rescheduled for March 9, 3 p.m., at the Craddock Center, located just off Highway 515 at 186 Fred Craddock Drive.
John McCutcheon will return to entertain with his songs and proficiency with a number of stringed instruments, while Natalie Jones will tell tales from her more than 20 years as a professional storyteller.
“This will be our third year in a row with both John and Natalie. John had been the guest (musician) in the past, then there were some other artists, but we’ve been fortunate to have both of them perform three years in a row,” said Kirk Cameron, Craddock Center director. “Reservations are not required, but people might want to get there early. We had 180 people here last year. That’s all the chairs we have.”
McCutcheon, whose talents have earned him the accolade “folk music’s Renaissance man,” plays guitar, banjo, fiddle, hammered dulcimer, autoharp and piano, among other instruments. He’s collaborated with some of American folk music’s all-time greats, including Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton, while penning hundreds of songs and releasing more than 45 albums of his own. He and Paxton recently released their first joint album, “Together.”
“John is internationally known, and he lives up here part time and performs (often in Gilmer County). He recently performed at Gilmer Arts’ Christmas concert at Victory Christian Center with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra,” said Cameron. “He brings about 12 different instruments. To me, the most beautiful one he plays is the hammered dulcimer. The sounds he makes with that are just incredible.”
Jones, who’s performed across the southeast as a professional storyteller, has told stories at such venues as the Jimmy Carter Library, the National Storytelling Conference in Gatlinburg, Tenn., and at schools and libraries all across Georgia. Cameron said her stories range from material for preschoolers up to adult audiences.
Songs and Stories is free to attend, but donations will also be accepted. Any money raised goes toward purchasing books for children in the Craddock’ Center’s service area. The books are given out by the center’s children’s enrichment program through the school year.
“We give out books in early March around Read Across America Day, which are Dr. Seuss books. Each child also gets two new books in May as a result of our Summer Sendoff program, and a brand-new book in November before the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ve raised almost $6,500 total the last two years (through Songs and Stories),” said Cameron.