Wednesday, October 16 – Sunday, October 20, 2024
Join us for Augusta’s October Old-Time Retreat at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, WV. The event will take place in this authentic West Virginian timber town which has been turned into a beautiful WV State Park. Stay in newly renovated houses that were once homes to the many workers and tradesfolk that lived in this area during its bustling heyday. Classrooms include the company house living rooms, mayor’s office and the company store. Share meals in the old Masonic lodge, dance in the community hall, enjoy the train whistle echoing through the hollers, and jam on the many front porches overlooking the Greenbrier River.
This year’s staff includes Rachel Eddy (multi-instrument class, Augusta Advisor for the week), Erynn Marshall (fiddle), Jesse Milnes (fiddle), Brad Kolodner (banjo), Hilary Hawke (banjo), Carl Jones (guitar), Danny Knicely (mandolin), and Evie Ladin (singing). All of the classes for October Old-Time Retreat are geared towards Intermediate and Advanced players.
See more information about the instructors and their classes below; scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for FAQs and housing information.
Tuition for the event is $495, with options to add housing and meals.
NEW THIS YEAR:
Catering this year is by the incredible Ging Murdoch of Gingrollsandpancit! Ging was born and raised in the Phiippennes and has been running a catering business in Elkins, WV for the past 10 years. The menu will be a mixture of Filipino and American cuisine, with everything homemade by Ging and her mother, Minda.
Augusta has arranged the option to ride one of the historic Cass steam trains on Sunday, October 20. We have reserved blocks of tickets on two different trains for Sunday afternoon, following the final sing. OPTION 1) The train to Bald Knob, which offers some beautiful views. This train leaves at noon and returns at 5:00 pm. Price is $95. Read more about the Bald Knob route. OPTION 2) The train to Whittaker Station, which is a little shorter (leaving at 2pm, returning at 4pm). Price is $72. Read more about the Whittaker route. You can add the train ticket to your registration when you sign up for Augusta. Secure your ride soon as all unsold tickets be offered to members of our community programs beginning in September.
Schedule:
Wednesday
3 – 6 pm: Student Check-in
6 – 7:00 pm: Dinner
7:15 – 8:30 pm: Orientation and Staff Sampler Concert
8:30 pm – 10 pm: Welcome Jam
Thursday – Saturday
8 am – 9:15 am: Breakfast
9:30 am – 12 pm: Morning Classes with your main instructor
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch break
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm: Cultural Sessions
3 pm – 4:30 pm: One-shot workshops (three to choose from each day)
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm: Augusta Happy Hour (AHH!): Different theme each day– tune jams, song jams, open mics.
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Dinner break
7:30 pm – 8:45 pm: Evening Activity (concerts, dances, jams)
8:45 pm – late: Jamming
Sunday
8 am – 9:30 am: Breakfast (final meal)
9:30 am – 10:30 am: Class showcases
10:30 am – 11:30 am: Farewell group sing
11:30 am: Goodbyes
12:00 – 5:00 pm OR 2:00 – 4:00 pm: Optional train rides
Instructors and Class Information
Rachel Eddy, OOTR Advisor | Rhythm and Repertoire for All Instruments (Int/Adv)
Rachel Eddy is a native of West Virginia who grew up in a musical family steeped in the traditions of Appalachian music and dance. Rachel is known throughout the world as both a dynamic, emotionally powerful performer and an engaging, thoughtful teacher. Rachel’s soulful singing and multi-instrumental finesse—including fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin—may be heard on numerous solo and collaborative recordings as well as at dances and jam sessions, where they are dedicated to fostering community and sharing a love of music with others.
Rhythm and Repertoire: This class is open to all instruments, and will be geared toward intermediate/advanced levels. We will learn a variety of tunes in different keys that you can take home to your local jams and share! I also hope to discuss the different roles each instrument plays, how to maximize your contribution to ensemble playing, and how to learn tunes quicker in jam settings. Most importantly we will pay close attention to the rhythm and groove of the tunes we learn as we play them together!
Erynn Marshall | Fiddle (Advanced)
Erynn Marshall is an old-time fiddler who lives in Hillsville, Virginia and is known internationally for her traditional music. She learned the nuances of Appalachian old-time fiddling from visiting elder, southern fiddlers and through her love of archival recordings. Erynn was the first woman to win 1st place fiddle at Clifftop (The Appalachian Stringband Festival) among other awards and is featured in the 2023 exhibit, “Women of Old-Time Music,” at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum (Bristol, VA). Erynn and husband Carl Jones have toured and taught at music camps across North America, Europe, China and Australia. Erynn has numerous recordings, is featured in five films, three books, and is coordinator for Swannanoa Old-Time & Dance Week (NC). www.dittyville.com
Advanced Fiddle: Let’s have fun exploring some great tunes, style and technique from some of the best older-generation fiddlers to come out of the state of West Virginia including Clark Kessinger, Melvin Wine, Leland Hall, Lester McCumbers and others. We will delve into old-time ornaments, bowing secrets and how to bring life to your fiddling. Bring a recorder and get ready to learn some beautiful archaic or spirited blue-ribbon tunes. Tunes will be taught by ear and handouts provided. Erynn is happy to return to Augusta October Old-Time Week– one of her favorite music gatherings of the year.
Jesse Milnes | Fiddle (Intermediate)
Jesse Milnes grew up in the world of West Virginia old-time music (his father is fiddler and folklorist Gerry Milnes). Though he is widely known as a fiddle player, Jesse’s first instrument was a guitar and he has developed a personal style of finger-picking, drawing on influences from blues to bluegrass to country. He has played fiddle and guitar with many country, old-time and bluegrass bands over the years, including the Sweetback Sisters, a country band for which he was also a main songwriter. Jesse has won many local and regional fiddle contests, including the WV State Folk Festival in Glenville, WV, and the Ed Haley Fiddle Contest in Ashland, KY. Jesse and his wife, Emily Miller, recently toured in Australia and California and recorded their first album as a duo. They live in Valley Bend, WV.
Intermediate Fiddle: In this class, we will learn a bunch of great West Virginia fiddle tunes that I have learned over the years from my dad, Gerry Milnes, and many great fiddlers around the state including Melvin Wine, Woody Simmons, Vernon Burky, Bruce Betler, Murrell Hamrick and others. We will work on getting a good shuffle and danceable rhythm into our bow arms as well as just immersing ourselves in good West Virginia old-time tunes.
Brad Kolodner | Banjo (Advanced)
Growing up in a musical family, Brad Kolodner was exposed to old time and folk music from birth. His father Ken Kolodner is a renowned hammered dulcimer player and fiddler who toured for many years in the folk trio Helicon. When Brad picked up the banjo at age 17 after taking a clawhammer banjo course from Richie Stearns, everything started to click into place. Since then, he’s charted a path centered on performing, recording, broadcasting and community organizing. He’s an acclaimed clawhammer banjo player who performs with the chart-topping Irish, Old-Time, Bluegrass fusion quartet Charm City Junction. He’s recorded four albums of old time and original music with his father Ken under the name Ken & Brad Kolodner including their latest Billboard-charting release Stony Run (2020). Joined by their bandmates Rachel Eddy and Alex Lacquement, the quartet won first place in the neo-traditional band contest at Clifftop in 2019. Brad is a six-time finalist in the banjo contest at Clifftop. He’s performed across the country on some of the biggest stages for folk and bluegrass music including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore, American Folk Festival, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Charm City Bluegrass Festival and Old Songs Folk Festival. His debut solo album Chimney Swifts released in the fall of 2021. He represents the next generation of Old Time musicians pushing the boundaries of the tradition into uncharted territory. Regarded for his delicate touch, expressive style, and original compositions, Kolodner has rapidly gained national attention for his unique approach to the banjo.
Advanced Banjo: In this workshop, Brad will explore the versatile nature of old-time banjo and go “beyond the bum-ditty.” Kolodner walks the line between the rhythmic and melodic styles of clawhammer banjo playing with an emphasis on pushing the boundaries of clawhammer. Tunes in a variety of tunings will be taught as vehicles for exploring an array of techniques and ideas including but not limited to drop-thumb, playing back up, bass lines, going up the neck, learning by ear, incorporating variations and achieving good tone. Regardless of your skill level, you will walk out of the workshop with a fresh approach to clawhammer and practical tools to sharpen your skills.
Hilary Hawke | Banjo (Intermediate)
Based out of NYC, and originally from upstate, NY, Hilary Hawke has had a harmonious balance of performing, teaching and directing music for the past 20 years in bands, schools, and in the theatre world. She is currently playing her own original music with brilliant guitarist, Ross Martin and up and coming fiddler Camie Howes. She debuted her first mostly instrumental album last year called “Lilygild” with guitarist, Reed Stutz (Molsky’s Mountain Drifters) and also wrote an album of neo-classical music called “Open the Doors” (Adhyaropa Records) with pianist and synthesist Ola & Claude Aldous. Hilary is currently playing festivals and shows with her own music, playing with the great fiddler, Eileen Ivers in a cross-over Irish and Americana band called the Brigideens, and looking forward to more exciting collaborations. Hilary is also the producer, engineer and host of the podcast, Banjo Chat w/Hilary Hawke that interviews inspiring banjo players from all walks of life.
Intermediate Banjo: Take your clawhammer banjo playing to the next level with Hilary Hawke. This workshop will strengthen right hand techniques, add drive to your playing and work on chords in different tunings. You’ll come out of the workshop with a couple new songs, how to accompany them beyond playing the melody, as well as tips for picking up melodies by ear.
Carl Jones | Guitar (Intermediate/Advanced)
Carl Jones is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born in Macon, Georgia. He presently lives in Galax, Virginia and is widely respected for his instrumental talents and original songs about the joys and tribulations of life in the south. Carl’s songs have been recorded by The Nashville Bluegrass Band, Kate Campbell, Rickie Simpkins w/ Tony Rice, and others. His song Last Time On The Road was on the GRAMMY award winning album Unleashed by The Nashville Bluegrass Band. He has recordings with Beverly Smith, James Bryan, and also with The Rising Fawn String ensemble (James along w/ Norman & Nancy Blake). For many years now he has recorded and tours with his wife, fiddler Erynn Marshall. Their latest release is entitled Old Tin. www.dittyville.com
Intermediate / Advanced Guitar: In this class we will learn some tools to improve our fiddle tune back up skills and add variety to our playing. Our goal will be having fun as we expand our guitar skillsets. A small bit of music theory will pave the way to more variety in our bass walks, song accompaniment, and finding melodies easier. We will back up some old time fiddle tunes and song gems using two and three string chord shapes. This will give us more confidence in fingerboard navigation, give us better plectrum skills, and help us to realize how smaller stringsets are “handy” (pun intended) and sound great. We will explore just how amazing & fun playing the guitar can be with classic tunes and songs for examples.
Danny Knicely | Mandolin (Intermediate/Advanced)
Danny Knicely comes from a musical family steeped in a mountain music tradition for generations. He first learned from his grandparents who played dances and social events in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia as far back as the 1930’s. Danny has used his roots in old-time and bluegrass to explore various types of music. He has shared his music and collaborated with musicians in over a dozen countries. He’s won many awards for his mandolin, guitar, fiddle and flat-foot dance expertise and has the chameleon-like ability to blend into almost any musical situation. Danny has taught at some of the leading music camps in the U.S., including Augusta Heritage Center, Common Ground on the Hill, Louis J. Meyers Music Camp, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Millwood Blues Week and Swannanoa Gathering and was a Master artist in Virginia Folklife Organization’s Apprenticeship Program.
Intermediate/Advanced Mandolin: In Old Time Mandolin, we’ll learn some tunes and how to add the rhythmic emphasis to them that makes people want to dance. We’ll also explore ways to play in the rhythm section that add dynamics and counterpoint for ensembles of different sizes. Classes will be taught by ear. Students are welcome to bring a note pad and a small recording devise for documentation.
Evie Ladin | Singing (Intermediate/Advanced)
The polyrhythmic heat of Evie Ladin’s clawhammer banjo, resonant voice, real stories and rhythmic dance have been heard from A Prairie Home Companion to Lincoln Center, Celtic Connections to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Brazil to Bali. A prolific creator and gracious facilitator, Evie grew up steeped in traditional folk music/dance up and down the East Coast, bringing a syncretic vision to new work while holding fast to the roots.
Evie writes clever lyrics with mature arrangements, calls rowdy square dances for urban crowds, choreographs new body music/percussive dance for contemporary dance and film, leads seminars in movement anthropology, rocks straight up old time clawhammer banjo, and gardens, from the vibrant homebase of Oakland, California. She’s won ribbons and arts fellowships, performed in sold out concert halls and cozy living rooms, and toured around the world, to every state in the US except Florida. She’s never been to Florida.
Intermediate/Advanced Singing: Using the Carter Family and other Appalachian influences as a jumping off place, we will work with three part harmony in this beautiful style. Finding harmony lines that sometimes weave around the melody, sometimes cross or create unisons, students will develop a better ability to hear and find parts, as well as learn what gives these harmonies their particular old-time country sound, and power. We will also dive into some ideas of how to open your singing voice, support your tone, and blend with others. Mostly we’ll sing, sing, sing!
FAQs
HOUSING INFORMATION:
A “private room” in one of Augusta’s shared company houses is a room with either a double or two single beds (choose which one you prefer when you register) and a door that closes for privacy. These rooms can be shared by two people. There is a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living area in the company house. Price for a private room: $450
A “hostel bed” in one of Augusta’s shared company houses is a bed in a suite of adjoining rooms that will be shared by several students of the same gender. These suites require pass-through of one room to access the other. There is a shared bathroom, kitchen, and living area. Price for a hostel bed is $225.
PLEASE NOTE: All of the Cass Company Houses have stairs, with the vast majority of the bedrooms being located on the second floor
If you would like to rent a whole Cass company house yourself, please contact Cass State Park directly at (304) 456-4300
MEAL INFORMATION:
Augusta has hired a caterer to provide meals from Wednesday dinner through Sunday breakfast. These meals will be served buffet-style in the Cass Masonic Lodge. To participate in the group meals, you must purchase a meal card. Meals are not available a la carte at this event.
All of the company houses are equipped with shared kitchens if you would prefer to cook for yourself.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
All cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the event are 95% refundable. Cancellations between 30 and 8 days prior to the event are 70% refundable. Cancellations made within 7 days of the event are 45% refundable. Participants who do not attend and have not communicated with the AHC will be charged the total tuition amount. If you have reserved your own room, please refer to the hotel for their cancellation policies.