Traveling the Mountain Music Trail & more Inside Appalachia

In this episode of Inside Appalachia, we’ll hear why Davis and Elkins College offers a unique type of scholarship for students who play traditional folk music. And we’ll hear about a new tourism music trail in West Virginia called The Mountain Music Trail.

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Calling Appalachian Hip Hop Artists!

We’d like to hear how you mix up old music with new sounds. We’re looking to feature Appalachian hip hop artists- so send us your samples and links to your favorite hip hop artists in Appalachia.

The best entries will be featured in a future episode of our show- dedicated to the growing hip hop scene here in Appalachia.  Who knows maybe, we’ll have to host a DJ or emcee battle or two in this area.

Students Awarded College Scholarships to Play Appalachian Music & Dance

Our episode begins with a story about the Appalachian Ensemble– a touring string band and dance ensemble. The college treats the musicians and flatfoot dancers like sports stars: it offers them scholarships to play traditional Appalachian music. The student arrange the music for contemporary audiences though- and sometimes they blend other styles of swing, cajun, pop, country, tap, and even belly-dancing and break-dancing into their musical and dance performances.

Credit Mountain Stage/ Pat Sergent

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Mountain Music Trail Creates “Virtual Test Drive” of Heritage Tour

The West Virginia Division of Tourism and West Virginia Public Broadcasting’sMountain Stage teamed up to promote the Mountain Music Trail and the state’s music heritage. They’ve been working to create videos from stops along the trail. In this week’s episode of Inside Appalachia, Host Jessica Lilly talks to Mountain Stage’s Vasilia Scouras about the videos.