The Beaufort County Arts Council will present the Beaufort County Traditional Music Festival on Saturday, April 4, 2009 in downtown Washington. This daylong event will involve three venues (Civic Center, Turnage Theater, and a special waterfront pavilion near the Estuarium) presenting simultaneous programming from 9am-5pm featuring performances, workshops, jam sessions, demonstrations, and more. Local pickers, bands, and amateur groups will participate along side more professional and seasoned musicians. Bluegrass, Old-Time, Gospel, World, Ethnic, Progressive traditional music and more will be available throughout the day for FREE to the public. Workshops will include gospel singing, clogging, traditional dance, and also various demos of specific instruments used in traditional music, and more. Smaller venues and performance spots will dot the waterfront between Market and Gladden Streets.

The day will culminate with an evening concert (ticketed event) at the Turnage Theater with Molasses Creek and the Barnraisers and other special guests.

The event will also be billed as Beaufort County's first 'GREEN' event. This concept will carry out through participating vendors that will reflect an awareness of environmental issues whether it is with good information, products, or food. Environmental issues will also be included in the demonstration and workshop schedule. Artisans and craftspeople will compliment this theme as well. All vendor involvement will be vetted to make sure that they 'fit' this aspect of the festival. Vendors will be placed along the promenade on the waterfront, the green space by the Arts Council, and the green space at the Evans property.

PRESENTER INFORMATION
The Beaufort County Arts Council (BCAC) is the main presenter of the festival and will manage all aspects of the event. BCAC is located at 108 Gladden Street in downtown Washington. Contact information is PO Box 634, Washington, NC; Phone 252.946.2504; Fax 252.975.6948; Email beaufortcountyarts@embarqmail.com; on the web at www.beaufortcountyartscouncil.org.

BCAC is working closely with the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association regarding performance scheduling and local musician involvement.

BCAC is contracting with professional artists to present an event that will attract visitors from throughout eastern NC.