By Alexandra Kern, Eng 336.001
Nothing compares to the beautiful sound of mountain folk music on a Saturday afternoon. Throughout the day, many acts came on stage near Sowers Hall to celebrate the sixth annual Appalachian Festival. The second a visitor arrived, they were greeted with the tempting smell of crab soup and homemade Amish baked goods. “A lot of people work very hard to make this happen,” said Greg Latta, the emcee of the event. They sacrifice their time to make sure that people from all around West Virginia and Maryland can experience the Appalachian culture at its finest. Most people do not seem to realize the value of the festival and what can be learned from being there for the experience.
The environment was happy, friendly, and full of information and entertainment. Although it was chilly and dreary outside, there was a surplus of people watching the musicians. No one cared that it was cold. They bundled up in their warmest clothes and still managed to have a fun.
The Time Travelers were one of the many acts that came to Frostburg State University. The band consisted of two men and two women. A vast age difference between all the members of the band was extremely noticeable. However, they complemented each other in such a way that the difference did not have any negative effects.
The Time Travelers mixed folk and Christian music. They used a cello, fiddle, and two different types of guitars to create their eclectic sound. With their unique sound, the Time Travelers have a way of making a listener fall in love with their lyrics and melodies. During their performance, the Travelers played about ten or eleven songs. Of all the songs, there were three that seemed to make a big impact on the crowd. Fly Away, Amazing Grace, and West Virginia My Home brought tears to more than half the people in attendance. “The way they play their music just makes my heart happy,” exclaimed Grace Harding, a native of Cumberland who has been a fan of the Time Travelers for years.
The youngest member of the band, Lauren, shared her thoughts about why she loves playing folk music. “Now day’s people are completely obsessed with rap and hip hop but why? It has no value. What we play means something.” She then went on to explain how important it is to stick with what you love and to never give up.
Although they may never be fortunate enough to win a Grammy award, the Time Traveler’s have something much better. They have heart, soul, and beautiful vocals. The way they presented themselves with such confidence and relaxation amazed everyone that was watching them. “Being from a small town is not a bad thing,” said Chuck, the cello player of the group. The group explained how they did not care if ten, twenty, or a hundred people came to their show. All they cared about was reaching those that wanted to listen.
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