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Letters from middle school students about the 04 Festival

Corn Island Storytelling

Information about 2004 festival...

Lyrics, Lies and Lore

Every fall for 29 years, storytellers and their audiences have converged on the Corn Island Storytelling Festival in Louisville, Kentucky to revel in that most ancient form of historical preservation, storytelling. Named for a long submerged Ohio River island that is the genesis of Louisville, the Festival holds a venerable historical position (it’s the 2^nd oldest festival in the country) in the efforts to revive nearly lost oral traditions.

In 1778, George Rogers Clark and a small band of volunteer adventurers paddled down the great river on a secret mission known only to Clark. They were surrounded by hostile lands on both sides of the river; on the south bank was the “Dark and Bloody” Cain-Tuk-Y and on the northern bank was Canada (present day Indiana). At the impassible Falls of the Ohio they pulled out of the spring rain-fed cataract and onto a 7 acre island near the South shore.

Clark had his men build a stockade and plant a large crop of corn and only then did he tell them the story of their secret mission to wrest control of the Western Frontier from the British. After a summer full of days of hard preparation and nights of campfires, stories, music and the odd prevarication, they pushed off from Corn Island, straight into swirling water, a portentous full eclipse of the sun and national legend.

This year, a new generation of adventurous Corn Island Volunteers will recapture some of the magic and goose bumps of that great adventure with an entertaining program of stories, songs and the occasional exaggeration. The line up combines seasoned, national storytelling circuit regulars like Mary Hamilton, Lloyd Wilson and Graham Shelby with nationally known storyteller/musician/entertainers: Zoe Speaks, The Twa Sisters, and John Gage.

Thursday, September 16^th, The festival will begin, fittingly, with a Storytellers Ghost Walk in haunted downtown Louisville. The walk will start at the Holiday Inn Downtown (at 2^nd and Broadway) and will feature stops at “The Castle” at Jefferson Community College, The Brown Hotel, The Louisville Palace, The Brennan House, The Old City Jail, The Seelbach hotel and the Galt House. (The Holiday Inn Downtown is the Official Hotel of the 2004 Corn Island Storytelling Festival)

Friday, September 17^thThe Brown-Forman Amphitheater, on the banks of the Ohio overlooking the sight of the original Corn Island will be the site of a program (10am-12am) that will include in the audience bus loads of school children from the area.

Friday night the Festival moves to the Kentucky Theater (651 So. 4^th Street) in the heart of Louisville’s historic 4^th Street Entertainment District and will provide listeners with a comfortable, air-conditioned setting to enjoy a two hour program of music and storytelling that will be taped for rebroadcast as a part of the Kentucky Homefront Series on public radio. The program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday September 18^th, The Festival continues at the Kentucky Theater for two separate 1 ½ hour programs. (10:30 am-12 pm and 1 pm-2:30 pm)

Saturday night September 18^th. Moving back to the Brown-Forman Amphitheater on the banks of the Ohio River, the tellers will compete to send the most chills up your spine as the Festival culminates with the most popular and hair raising event, the Corn Island Ghost Tales. It is guaranteed that spirits of Corn Island Volunteers, past and present, will appear and disappear throughout the night.

Please note, not all Storytellers will appear at all programs, so check the schedule if there is a particular teller you wish to see. Or better yet, save money and buy a Package Ticket for the whole festival and don’t miss anyone.

* The inclement weather back up site for Friday’s morning program and Saturdays Ghost Tales is at Expo 5 at 2900 South Seventh Street Rd. Expo 5 can be reached by going out Seventh Street or from the Dixie Hwy exit off of I-264. (see map)

The appearance of Zoe Speaks, Mary Hamilton and John Gage has been made possible by a grant from the Kentucky Arts Council.

A cement mill quarried out the limestone foundations of Corn Island in the late 1800’s and McAlpine Dam raised the level of the river, inundating what was left of the island. The River Falls Fountain was later anchored to the remnants of the island in the late 1980’s.






		Zoe Speaks



The duo Zoe Speaks consists of Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover, who jump in and out of their east Kentucky vernacular to play everything from traditional ballads to guitar-thumping contemporary acoustic tunes. Their music is drenched in the sounds of the Appalachian music they were raised with, but they draw from other influences and do not try to hold the music static and unchanging. Whether they're playing as a duo or jamming with the band, vocal harmonies are a defining feature of their sound. Their relaxed performance style and accessible attitude allow audiences to feel as if they are getting to know Mitch and Carla. They accompany themselves on guitar, clawhammer banjo, and dulcimer. Sometimes Mitch throws in a story, or Carla some clogging. The two have won a variety of songwriting awards and tour full-time in a large van with their two daughters, Zoe and Maizie. Mitch grew up in the foothills of the Appalachians in Madison County, KY. He spent much of his childhood divided between his grandfathers' houses, one a fox hunter and tobacco farmer who plowed with mules and the other a musician and farmer, of sorts (he grew corn with which he made moonshine). In the course of learning his grandfathers' trades, there was much time for stories, jokes, and especially music. Mitch demonstrated musical talent from an early age, and performed with his mother in a regionally sought-after mountain duo. At age 17, he set out for the east coast as part of the folk duo Mandala, with whom he played for over 10 years. After moving back to Kentucky , he began to hone his storytelling skills, drawing on the life stories and experiences rare among his generation and those following. In 1996 he met Carla Gover and decided to refocus on his music career as part of a duo based on songwriting, vocal harmony, and perpetuating Appalachian culture. Since then, he has won both the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award. Growing up in the rural Eastern Kentucky coal town of Whitesburg, Carla's early years were filled with music. She was first immersed in the a capella hymn-singing of her grandmother, Ollie Gilbert Hudson (who also taught her herbalism, cooking, sewing, quilting, gardening, and many other things she considered to be important to her education). Later she absorbed the old time banjo/fiddle at the dances on Saturday nights at the schoolhouse, the twang of local bluegrass festivals, and the soul of mountain church music. Her older brother also made a point of exposing her to great songwriters and singers of many genres, including the Beatles, Steve Goodman, John Prine, Tom Waits, and Dolly Parton. It was always clear to her that she wanted to pursue a career in music. As a youth she played piano, guitar, saxophone and French Horn. In college, Carla studied music while earning a degree in Appalachian Studies and singing in local clubs. Shortly thereafter she recorded her first album for JuneAppal Records with a mixed cast of bluegrass and old-time musicians. She then moved to the Washington, D.C. area where she performed with the percussive dance ensemble Footworks. She returned to Kentucky out of homesickness, and a desire to explore a new direction as a singer/songwriter with husband Mitch. She has won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, and Acoustic Guitar called her "one of the 30 essential artists of the next generation". Additional information can be found at http://www.zoespeaks.com



		John Gage



John Gage is an established folk singer/songwriter who has made a career of entertaining audiences with his resonant tenor voice and flat-picking guitar. John performs on arts and festival stages, in concert halls, classrooms, and anyplace else where there is a potential audience wanting to sing along. John has extensive experience planning collaboratively with classroom teachers for arts education programs and participating in curriculum planning. In addition, he conducts interactive workshops and motivational speeches throughout the southeast region in an effort to help educators and parents understand how personal involvement with music and other performing arts contribute to improved academic learning and overall personal well being. In addition, John is a veteran stage emcee and is host of Kentucky Homefront, a radio show that preserves Kentucky's cultural heritage through story telling and traditional music. He also works with master Andean folk musician Fernando Moya to present bilingual programs that demonstrate through music and narration how we are all connected.



		Mary Hamilton



Mary Hamilton's early adventures in the storytelling spotlight led to a note on her report card, trips to the confessional, and smiles of delight on the faces of her 3rd grade classmates. When it was Mary's turn to stand in front of her class and tell what she had done over the weekend, she did not hesitate to describe how she rode her horse bareback. Carefully, she used her hands to demonstrate how she slid off the rump of her galloping horse, barely grabbing the tail. She showed them how she struggled to climb the tail, then held tight to the mane to finish her ride. The story was most convincing, especially from a girl who owned no horse. While her classmates were thrilled, her teacher recognized a disturbing lack of truth in need of correction instead of talent in need of encouragement and direction. A note to Mary's parents resulted in reminders that telling stories was sinful. For years Mary confessed her sins and struggled to overcome her talent. Thank goodness, she failed. In 1983, after brief careers as a high school English teacher and a public library children's librarian, Mary embraced professional storytelling. With her ever-expanding repertoire, In 1983, after brief careers as a high school English teacher and a public library children's librarian, Mary embraced professional storytelling. With her ever-expanding repertoire, Mary delights audiences throughout the USA. She tells tales in a straightforward "just talking" style. Yes, she still uses her hands to help tell the tale. Today, when Mary takes the stage, the show unfolds in the hearts and minds of her audiences - just as it did for her 3rd grade classmates so many years ago. Mary entertains audiences of adults, families, or children with Kentucky tales, world folk & fairy tales, plus a few myths, legends, true stories, and original fiction. Her work has been featured at storytelling festivals including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee; the Hoosier Storytelling Festival, Indianapolis, IN; the Storytelling Festival of Nebraska, and many more. She has performed for university students, entertained families and children in libraries, told tales to accompany museum exhibits, and presented hundreds of school assembly programs. Mary's storytelling is also listed in the Kentucky Performing Arts Directory, a juried directory of Kentucky's finest performers. In addition to teaching teachers through workshops, Mary also encourages teachers to use storytelling techniques in their classrooms through her work as an artist in residence. The Kentucky School Media Association presented Mary with the 1999-2000 Jesse Stuart Media Award. This award recognizes creative development in any medium of service to Kentucky schools. Mary is the first storyteller to receive this award. Mary also encourages the growth of her storytelling colleagues by co-facilitating WOW (Working on Our Work) Storytelling Weekends with Cynthia Changaris. In a small group retreat setting Mary and Cynthia host gatherings of tellers, using an Artistic Response Process to help tellers work on their work together. Mary and her husband live on a Frankfort, Kentucky hillside. With a wooded view from the windows and frequent deer, groundhogs, squirrels, birds and other wildlife in the yard, Mary and Charles enjoy a peace-filled life. When asked, "Who is your favorite audience?" Mary's response hasn't changed since 3rd grade. "Whether I'm telling stories, teaching storytelling, or using storytelling in a classroom, my favorite audience is always the group in front of me." One thing has changed since 3rd grade. Instead of viewing herself as a sinner girl, Mary now proudly claims the title professional storyteller Mary’s website is: www.maryhamilton.info



		Madafo Lloyd Wilson



Madafo Lloyd Wilson is a Storyteller and Musician who presents in the tradition of the "Griot"; those individuals responsible for keeping the History, Traditions and Principles and Values of the people alive and vibrant. His Folktales, Myths, Poetry and Music programs speak to the African and African American experience. Madafo has collaborated with musicians of many genres, throughout the USA, as well as parts of East and West Africa. He combines traditional and contemporary percussion instruments to accentuate the imagery created in the minds of the listener. With chants, demonstration, characterization and audience participation, a Madafo performance is sure to be fun-filled, enchanting, educational and therapeutic. HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS * Strong in Planning and Implementing Youth Programs * Highly skilled Musician and Storyteller * Emerging Artist Grant Recipient * Coordinated Award Winning Mentoring Program * Writer and Host of a Public Radio Storytelling Program * Featured Storyteller at Festivals throughout USA & East Africa * Experienced performer of Stage, Radio, Television and Film For more information about Madafo, take a look at his website at: www.madafo.com



		Graham Shelby



Graham Shelby spent three years teaching English in rural Japan. He came home with a head full of stories, both real and make-believe. He's been telling those stories in schools, at festivals and on the radio ever since. Graham has performed at the Tejas Storytelling Festival, Texas Folklife Festival, George West Storyfest, Institute for Texas Cultures and the Mountain Tales Festival. Graham is an announcer for public radio station WFPL in Louisville and a commentator for KUT Radio in Austin, Texas. He's also a writer who has written for the Courier-Journal, Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky Monthly and the public radio program A Prairie Home Companion.



Contact Info:		For further information regarding EARS or the Corn Island Storytelling Festival, please visit our website at www.cornislandstorytellingfestival.com or call our office at 502-245-0643 or email us at cornislandstorytelling@msn.com.

Volunteer opportunities:		There are so many things beyond the festival that EARS and Corn Island need help with. If you have any interest in helping with any of the following, please contact the office: Grant writing, Marketing, Fundraising, Website design, Tale Trader layout, writing,…Membership coordination, Ghost walks

Hotel Information:		If you need a place to stay while you’re in Louisville, please call the Holiday Inn Downtown at 502-582-2241 and ask for the $69 Corn Island rate.

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