BRIAR BRANCH is a homegrown, hometown string band. Long time Black
Mountain residents, Julia Weatherford and Pearl Shirley, mother and daughter, have
been singing and playing together since the 1980s. Expect to hear mountain
music with sweet vocal harmonies, toe-tapping banjo songs, and hard driving Old
Time fiddle tunes. Be delighted with magical hand crafted “Crankies”, moving
panoramas illustrating song verses. Feel the pull of sweet sad ballads with rich
cello accompaniment.
JULIA WEATHERFORD - VOCALS, CELLO, FIDDLE, GUITAR
Julia Weatherford has been a full-time artist/musician for as long as anyone can
remember. She is veteran performer on both cello and fiddle with notable
performing groups that range from The Asheville Symphony to the world fusion
Akira Satake Band. She was the artistic director of the legendary Black Mountain
Festival in its early years, and more recently the Coordinator of Fiddle Week at
The Swannanoa Gathering. Currently she performs regionally with StrathSpan and
Ceilidh Doon, and is the cellist of choice for the Canote Brothers, and is the
mother of Pearl.
PEARL ANGELINE SHIRLEY - VOCALS, FIDDLE, BANJO.
Pearl Shirley grew up in Black Mountain, NC, soaking up traditional Appalachian
music and dance almost without noticing. She picked up a tiny violin at age 5, and
since then has fiddled her way through hundreds of foot-stomping contra dances
and folk concerts. Pearl has toured with the popular contra dance band Mock
Turtle Soup, and she currently performs with the acclaimed old-time band, Blue
Eyed Girl. Pearl is the daughter of Julia.
Tickets are $15. Doors open at 6:30pm and seating is first come first served. Online ticket sales end an hour before the performance time, but there may still be tickets available for purchase at the door. Call BMCA for availability at 828.669.0930.
