While field recordings are often considered something of the past associated with the likes of Alan Lomax or Jean Jenkins (Godmother of ‘world music’) there are still many devotees out there doing some incredible work. One such name which came to our attention last year was Dolceola Recordings. Their mission is to document community-based music in the US in analog field-recording fashion. Our first experience of that mission was Boykin, Alabama: Sacred Spirituals of Gee’s Bend. Reviewed by David Kidman here, it featured ‘music from the isolated African-American community of Gee’s Bend in the heartland of Alabama State: a collection of 19 traditional sacred spirituals sung by a close-knit group of four quilters (all bearing the surname Pettway, which implies a sibling connection). The tradition of quilting in that region goes back to the 19th century, and the singing that accompanies this activity is regarded as a healing for the soul; as one member of the quartet, China Pettway, also puts it: “while quilting, I sing because it’s a sound of whistling humming God gave me”.’
In January 2021, Dolceola Recordings they will be releasing a double vinyl LP (and digital) titled Just Behind the Creek: Field Recording at Kickin’ It on the Creek 2019 which is available to pre-order now (see below).
Kickin’ It on the Creek is now one of the best music festivals in Appalachia, organized by Byron Roberts of Wolfpen Productions and staged in Ross Creek, Kentucky, at Robert’s farm. The festival started in 2015, after a successful celebration for Robert’s son and a CD benefit for Tyler Childers in 2014. Since then, Kickin’ It on the Creek has been featuring local and regional bands in the mountains of Estill and Lee County Kentucky, as well as practitioners of traditional music styles from all over the country.
This album, “Just Behind the Creek: Field Recording at Kickin’ It on the Creek 2019” was recorded at Robert’s living room just behind the stage and shows a wide variety of music with renowned and talented musicians playing traditional tunes as well as their own beautiful original songs. The record features various artists such as Grammy-nominated fiddler Bobby Britt (Town Mountain), Jesse Wells (Tyler Childers & The Food Stamps), Joe Macheret (The Tillers & Joe’s Truck Stop), Montana Hobbs (The Local Honeys), Chris Shouse (Hancock & Shouse), Teresa Prince (Luna and the Mountain Jets), Brett Ratliff, Senora May and many others, and “truly captures the magic of this mountain music we so dearly treasure” as told by the festival owner Roberts. He also says, “Music heals in a lot more ways than we all realize”, and “Music has helped the people of Appalachia through rough times for generations”. Kickin’ It on the Creek is now playing a significant role in connecting music lovers and healing the people with the great mountain music, as well as showcasing the real Appalachian culture.
The album documents the current situation of various kinds of mountain music played by 19 artists and shows how musical traditions in the mountains are inherited to younger generations.
To celebrate the release, we have a video premiere of Senora May performing Semper Fi from the album. It was shot and recorded at 5th annual Kickin’ It on the Creek, with Ampex 601 and RCA 77DX.
We’ll be bringing you more on the album soon but if the above recording is anything to go by then I wouldn’t hesitate in pre-ordering that album now:
“Just Behind the Creek: Field Recording at Kickin’ It on the Creek 2019” available on 1/15/2021 – preorder here: https://lnkfi.re/justbehindthecreek