Opening for Ralph Stanley and an Ocracoke 4th of July!

Molasses Creek at the Lost Colony Waterside Theatre, Roanoke Island, NC

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Hi friends!

This last week was a busy one with 4th of July activities here at home on Ocracoke Island, and a Sunday opening for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys at the Lost Colony Waterside Theatre on Roanoke Island.

Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys

The Waterside Theatre is a beautiful and fascinating place to perform.  The set for the world famous Lost Colony outdoor drama, we fully expected colonists and natives to come surging out on to the stage during a fiddle breakdown.  Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paul Green, The Lost Colony outdoor drama is celebrating its 76th season this year!  You can read more about it at http://thelostcolony.org.

As the sun set, the light on the sound waters behind the theater palisade faded and the starry night sky formed a seamless backdrop, joining with the canopy of live oak trees that border the audience and the stage.  We couldn't think of a more beautiful place to enjoy a concert by one of the cultural treasures of our country.  At 86, Ralph Stanley stood on stage for the entire concert, gracing the audience with sounds and songs from the mountain communities of old. 

Here are some more pictures around the stage of the Waterside Theatre.

Costumes from the Lost Colony production

Louie, Marcy, and Gerald in the costume greenroom (Marcy had to be dragged away!)

 

4th of July Fun on Ocracoke Island

Blackbeard getting a picture with a young fan

While we are talking about famous historic places and characters of the Outer Banks, we will give you a shot of Emmet Temple as Blackbeard the pirate.  Blackbeard met his fate off of Ocracoke Island in November of 1718 when he was hunted down by Lt. Robert Maynard.  Ever since then, his ghost has reappeared (with head) at holiday events around the island . . . and 4th of July is no exception.

Blackbeard being interviewed Ocracoke Radio personality, Daphne Bennink

The 4th kicked off with a flag raising, a sandcastle contest, and a fig cake bakeoff.  Fiddler Dave joined Captain Rob Temple for two pirate shows during the afternoon, the Ocracoke parade wound its way through the village, and the evening rounded off with Molasses Creek playing for a traditional Ocracoke squaredance, hosted by local caller and island historian Philip Howard.  Unfortunately a quick storm popped up right as Martin Garrish and the Ocracoke Rockers were set to perform . . . but other than that weather event, the day went perfectly.

A stunning beach day for the 4th!

Here are some sandcastle contest entries . . . 

Alice in Wondersand and the Mad Hatteras

Sea Serpent

Fat Tub

SPF Infinity

A model of Ocracoke Island (looking on Silver Lake Harbor)

Octopus

Sandgloo

 The parade is always an audience favorite!

Showering with a friend . . . an Ocracoke tradition.

The Holy Mackerals barbershop (with Donald Davis, Bill Jones, David Senseney, and Gary Mitchell of Molasses Creek)

 That's about all for now.  If you are heading to Ocracoke Island, come and visit us at our weekly shows at our Deepwater Theater.  Wednesday nights are the Ocrafolk Opry and Thursday nights, Molasses Creek.  For tickets and more information visit http://www.molassescreek.com/deepwatertheater.cfm.  Our next off island performance is on August 18 for Greenville, NC Sunday in the Park.  Visit our calendar for more information. 

Don't forget, our new "Festival Release 2013" album is now available at our online store, along with T-shirts, hand-through pottery mugs and more! 

Thanks!

Your Molasses Creek crew
Gary, Fiddler Dave, Marcy, Lou, & Gerald.

Ocrafolk Festival 2013 was a Blast! 2013 Season Begins at Molasses Creek's Deepwater Theater

Excited crowds at Ocrafolk Festival 2013

Hey there Molasses Creek fans!  What an exciting ride these past couple of weeks have been.  Our 2013 Festival Release album landed on our doorstep two weeks ago, and the Ocrafolk Festival swept into town on June 7, along with tropical storm Andrea.  Despite uncertain forecasts, the eye of the storm zipped west of of us and was north of our region by Saturday.  Although, Friday night's auction and Festival Feed were a little hairy, the breezy weather heralded in a gorgeous, rain-free weekend!

Craicdown & Cassie & Maggie MacDonald at the Friday Night Celtic Jam

L Shape Lot Rocks Ocrafolk Festival Saturday Night

Cassie MacDonald (Halifax, NS) and island Storyteller Philip Howard dance to the fancy fiddling of Caravan of Thieves's Ben Dean at the Ocrafolk Festival wrapup party.

We enjoyed reunions with old friends and getting to know new performers (Caravan of Thieves, Cassie & Maggie MacDonald, Jeanne Jolly, The Outliers, Alberti's Flea Circus, Paperhand Puppets and others) Find out more about this year's Ocrafolk Festival at http://www.ocracokealive.org

Ocracoke School finished up the first week of June with some great field trips and performances.  Cassie and Maggie MacDonald were in town from Nova Scotia and gave the elementary school kids a great concert of fancy fiddling and footwork.  Fiddler Dave's son, Lachlan, and his class made a trip to the Ocracoke Preservation Society for a tour and stories.

A visit to "The Blanche" at the Ocracoke Preservation Society.

A selection of anchors at the OPS Museum.

Molasses Creek's Deepwater Theater began the season the first week of June with the Ocrafolk Opry on Wednesdays and Molasses Creek concerts on Thursdays.  If you are headed to Ocracoke Island, you can reserve shows ahead of time by visiting the Molasses Creek website and clicking on the Deepwater Theater page.  This week we had a special appearance by storyteller Donald Davis.  Donald and his wife Merle life on Ocracoke when they are not traveling the world performing.  Twice a summer they host workshop weeks, inviting around 20 participants to the island to work on storytelling skills and tales.  Their group shared stories at the Ocracoke Preservation Museum and a special Friday night concert at Deepwater Theater.  Also joining Molasses Creek at the Ocrafolk Opry this week were April Trueblood, Capt. Rob Temple & Sundae Horn, the Ocracoke Jazz Society, and Philip Howard and Lou Ann Homan.

That's all for now.  Hope to see you on the island.  The weather is not too hot or humid and the bugs have been mellow so far this year!

Our next major off island performance is opening for Ralph Stanley at the Lost Colony Theater on Roanoke Island, NC on Sunday, July 7.  Hope to see you there!

A Beautiful Ocracoke Harbor Sunset

The Island Breeze Tells us that Fall is in the Air

Hi there friends!

The summertime season has wound down on Ocracoke Island as the kids head back to school.  Now there is touch of cool in the air, and island residents can take a breather and make plans for off season projects.  Molasses Creek is eyeing Gary's Soundside Studio and plotting a new recording.  Fiddler Dave just planted lettuce, kale, and spinach seeds for his raised garden, and the fig trees have about run their course of fruit, and the baby loggerhead turtles have climbed out of their nests and made their way into the pounding surf.

Baby Lettuce & Spinach hope for a mild winter.

Two weeks ago Gerald Hampton’s daughter, Rebecca, got married!  One of the great things about being in a band is that when your relatives have a major life event happening, you get to invite your favorite folks to the celebration . . . AND they bring their instruments! 

Molasses Creek assembled in Franklinville, NC (Gerald Hampton’s home base) for a Friday rehearsal, after which we attending an incredible dinner at the Goat Lady Dairy, and a Saturday ceremony.  The weekend went over with a hitch.  Congratulations to Rebecca and Dillon!

Upcoming Performances

At the end of this week on September 14th, Molasses Creek with be hosted by the Wilson Arts Council in Wilson, NC for a 7:30 PM concert at the Boykin Center.  We hope to see you there for a fun evening of song and shenanigans!  For more details visit http://www.wilsonarts.com/.

            If you are headed to Ocracoke Island in September, make sure to plan an evening at Molasses Creek’s Deepwater Theater on School Road.  Monday, Fiddler Dave joins his wife, Amy Howard, and father-in-law, Philip Howard, for an evening of “You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet: Strange Stories and Tales from Ocracoke Island.”  Amy and Philip are descendents of William Howard, the quartermaster on Blackbeard’s ship, so you know they have some interesting tales.  On Wednesday nights Molasses Creek hosts the Ocrafolk Opry, featuring local musicians and storytellers, and on Thursday is an all Molasses Creek show.   For show details visit http://www.molassescreek.com/deepwatertheater.cfm.

             Although Molasses Creek will be performing at quite a few private events off of Ocracoke in these next couple of weeks, our next public performance after this Friday’s concert in Wilson is on Wednesday, October 10th at Ashland Coffee and Tea in Ashland,VA (near Richmond).  Friday (October 12) we will be doing residencies and a concert at the Avalon Theater in Easton, MD.  The next weekend we will be at the first annual Outer Banks Seafood Festival on October 20.  At the end of October, Molasses Creek will appear on Saturday, October 27 at the RA Fountain General Store in Fountain, NC, and then on Sunday, Oct 28 at a community concert series at Music at St Alban’s Church in Davidson, NC.

On Thursday, November 1st, we will be at Baldwin Station in Sykesville, MD for a performance with Uptown Concerts, and then will scoot up to Pennsylvania for a concert and potluck with the Susquehanna Folk Music Society at the Fort Hunter Centennial Barn (Friday, Nov 2), and a Saturday evening performance at the Hershey Area Playhouse in Hershey, PA (Nov 3).  The following week we are headed to the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (read more below). 

Molasses Creek's Fall Touring Schedule in a Nutshell

Saturday, Sept 14,7:30 PM ~ Arts Council of Wilson, NC

Wednesday, Oct 10, 8 PM ~ Ashland Coffee and Tea, VA

Friday, October 12, 8 PM ~ Concert at the Avalon Theatre Stoltz Listening Room, Easton, MD

Saturday, Oct 20 ~ Outer Banks Seafood Festival, NC

Saturday, Oct 27, 8 PM ~ RA Fountain General Store, Fountain, NC

Sunday, Oct 28, 3:00 PM ~ Music at St. Albans, Davidson, NC

Thursday, Nov 1, 8:00 PM ~ Baldwin Station, Sykesville, MD

Friday, Nov 2, 6:00 Potluck, 7:30 Concert ~ Susquehanna Folk Music Society, New Cumberland,PA

Saturday, Nov 3, 7:30 ~ Hersey Area Playhouse, Hershey, PA

If you are interested in helping to promote any shows in your region, please visit our Street Team page at http://www.molassescreek.com/streetteam.cfm.  We'll send you at least 10 posters to put up and the new album as a thank you!

***If you are traveling to Ocracoke Island, NC June-Sept, Molasses Creek performs every Thursday night at their own Deepwater Theater ***

Retreat to Molasses Creek’s Home Island of Ocracoke for the 6^th Annual Ocrafolk School!

 Would you like to rehearse and jam with Molasses Creek, be a part of a recording in Soundside Studio, eat great food and just 'hang' with the Ocracoke musicians? You should sign up for "Exploring Ocracoke Music" w/Gary Mitchell, a class offered this year as a part of the Ocrafolk School, October 14-19.

Ocracoke Island is known for having quite a vibrant music scene. In the "Exploring Ocracoke Music" class, students will spend the week 'behind the scenes' exploring and visiting the musicians, rehearsals, recording studios, history, venues and local radio that make it all happen. No musical experience is necessary! (but certainly welcome). Gary Mitchell is a founding member of Molasses Creek band, the Ocrafolk Opry and Ocrafolk Festival, and has made his home on Ocracoke Island since 1978.

If you would like to focus on another class for the week, this year’s Ocrafolk School is also offering classes in Wood Carving, IslandCooking, a Wellness Week, and an Ocracoke Sampler focusing on Ocracoke Island’s History, Culture and Seafaring Traditions. 

For more details visit the website at http://www.ocrafolkschool.org.

Reflections on a Week in Donald Davis’s Storytelling Workshop ~ by Marcy Brenner of Molasses Creek.

Donald Davis is an American storyteller and author (Donald also had a twenty year career as a minister before he became a professional storyteller). He has recorded over 25 storytelling albums and written several books based on those stories.

For Donald Davis, storytelling is a way of giving and living life.  He invites each listener to come along, to pull deep inside for one's own stories, to personally share and co-create the common experiences that celebrate the creative spirit.  For Donald Davis storytelling "is not what I do for a living...it is how I do all that I do while I am living."

The Donald Davis LIFE STORY WORKSHOPS are held each year in June, two separate one-week sessions on Ocracoke Island, NC.  These experiential workshops are designed to tap memory processes and begin to shape personal and family-based stories.  His wife Merle creates a safe and inspired space for this magical experience.  During the week the group is invited to tell stories at the Ocracoke Preservation Society’s Porch Talk during the week (typically Wednesday and Thursday mornings) and then hold a public storytelling evening at Deepwater Theater.

As a songwriter, musician, breast cancer advocate and writer, I am telling stories.  As a reader and music lover, I’m listening to stories.  I figure all we really have are our stories!  Working with Donald I’ve discovered how to “mine” my own stories and trust the power of story.

http://www.ddavisstoryteller.com.

Molasses Creek T-shirts Have Just Been Released!

 We are sooo excited that the new Molasses Creek T-shirt are in!  We want to make sure that everyone gets one . . . and so to help you out, for the first week (until midnight on Friday, September 21), anyone who orders will get free shipping (a $6 value!).  T-shirts are $20 dollars.  We have the five colors pictured below in sizes (S, M, L, XL, and XXL).  Get em while they are hot!

The Green is this color with Black Image

Molasses Creek to "Officially Showcase" at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference in November

NERFA Showcase ~ Molasses Creek was very excited this week when we learned that we had been awarded one of the fourteen official showcase spots at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference in November.  Each year the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference attracts of 750 folk musicians and fans for a four day retreat at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa in Kerhonkson, NY (south of Albany).  

 The conference is wild fun with 14 official showcases as well as other conference showcases and what is termed "private or guerrilla showcases" (no monkeys or guns involved).  If you would like to experience the feel of a hotel taken over by a folk festival, walking down a conventional hotel hall dodging 8 standup bassists, 14 banjo players, and other assorted instruments you have never seen before, then this is the place for you!  Here are the other groups that were awarded official showcase spots for this year.  Can't wait to see and meet them! 

Brother Sun, Gypsophilia, ilyAIMY (I love you And I Miss You), Zoe Lewis,Molasses Creek, Greg Klyma,The Tres Amigos, Putnam Street Trio, Ariana Gillis, Suzie Vinnick,The Stray Birds, Connor Garvey, Carolyn Waters, Honor Finnegan

That's all for now.  Hope to see you out on the road or on Ocracoke Island!
Much love from your Molasses Creek crew (Gary, Fiddler Dave, Marcy, Lou & Gerald)