The Arts Center of Cannon County will give Scot-Irish locals an opportunity to trace their heritage in a special concert with Bruce Nemerov and Amy Macy at 7:30 Friday night, August 31st.
The evening explores the intersection of Celtic and Appalachian Music through guitar, banjo, fiddle and vocal harmony as Bruce Nemerov and Amy Macy perform songs and tunes that are regarded as deep-rooted southern American folk music, but often have little-known ancestors in England, Scotland and Ireland.
For example, the jubilant Civil War song When Johnny Comes Marching Home (Hurrah, Hurrah), was written by an Irish immigrant to Massachusetts who formed a brass band and enlisted in the Union army. Patrick Gilmore recalled an Irish anti-war ballad from his childhood, appropriated the melody and changed the melancholy lyrics to the ebullient flag waver America knows today. Amy and Bruce play the Irish original, Johnnie I Hardly Knew Ye, in concert.
Amy Macy is a superb old-time banjo player, fiddler and singer. She has performed at the Ryman and toured internationally. Bruce Nemerov is a Grammy-winning guitarist and music historian.
Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students or groups and may be purchased by call the ArtsCenter box office at 615-563-2787 or 1-800-235-9073. The Cannon County Center for the Arts is at 1424 John Bragg Highway in neighboring Woodbury.