Folk Festivals Invites
Sacred Steel Artist!
2022 Richmond Folk Festival
A female Sacred Steel player and Hall of Fame Member, Fran E. Grace, also known as "Lady Strings," was invited to represent Sacred Steel along with her family band at the 2022 Richmond Folk Festival. Tressa Boles (vocals), Angela Grace Russell (vocals, keyboard, rhythm guitar), Del Grace Sr (lap steel), Jay Caver (rhythm guitar), Chris Pope (drums), Del Grace Jr (bass guitar), and Kelli Grace (videographer, photographer).
For the first time, the Virginia Folklife Area is produced as a partnership between the Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities and the newly formed Center for Cultural Vibrancy. Along with this newly formed partnership, this year provides many reasons to celebrate. 2022 marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program, which supports the continuation of living traditions by giving direct support and a public platform to artists. In addition to an interactive exhibit to celebrate this milestone, there will be an Instrument Makers Workshop spotlighting several current and previous apprenticeship artists.
The festival has become one of Virginia’s largest, drawing fans each year to downtown Richmond’s riverfront to celebrate the roots, richness, and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and food. Featuring six stages and showcasing music and dance from more than 30 artists from around the nation and the world, the Richmond Folk Festival promises, as always, to return with a culturally diverse and impressive program.
Sacred Steel @ 2011 Memphis Folk Alliance International
Over 2200 Folk music professionals from around the world will gather for the 23rd time on February 2011 in Memphis (Tennessee), to celebrate the music and culture of multi generations of songwriters, performers, and industry at the 2011 International Folk Alliance Conference.
Under the leadership of South by Southwest (SXSW) co-founder, Louis Jay Meyers, Folk Alliance leads the way in celebrating the past, present, and future of Folk, Traditional, and Roots Music. 2011 marks the return of the Folk Alliance Sacred Steel Summit featuring all of the top performers of the Sacred Steel world. Darick Campbell, Del Grace Sr, Calvin Cooke, Kashiah Hunter, Aubrey Ghent, Ted Beard, Eric Lewis, and Colin Lake.
Stax Music Academy
Del Grace Sr, Phil Campbell and a group of sacred steel players conduct an off-sight workshop for students at the Stax Music Academy that ends in a wild improvisational gospel jam with the students. Grammy Award winner, Kirk Whalen serves as the CEO of the Stax Music academy and Soulsville Foundation, a charter school with a music theme.
Each of the Special Sessions provides a unique series of panels, workshops, clinics, jam sessions, and concerts.
Del Grace Sr, Phil Campbell and a group of sacred steel players conduct an off-sight workshop for students at the Stax Music Academy that ends in a wild improvisational gospel jam with the students. Grammy Award winner, Kirk Whalen serves as the CEO of the Stax Music academy and Soulsville Foundation, a charter school with a music theme.
Each of the Special Sessions provides a unique series of panels, workshops, clinics, jam sessions, and concerts.
NPR radio show
Beale Street Caravan will be capturing the Blues and Sacred Steel shows all conference weekend long at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, adjacent to the Downtown Memphis Marriott. Beale Street Caravan, the most widely distributed Blues radio program in the world, attracts more than 2.4 million listeners each week. Produced in Memphis, Beale Street Caravan covers the world with the heartfelt sounds and colorful stories of the Blues and its music makers.
NPR radio show
This year, Folk Alliance will welcome the PBS television music series Jammin at Hippie Jack’s to the 23rd annual International Folk Alliance Conference. Jammin at Hippie Jack’s celebrates and preserves the work of Americana singers, songwriters, and musicians. Their public television music series is broadcast to over 70 million people in over 150 PBS markets throughout North America. Jammin at Hippie Jack’s will be taping various performances for their upcoming season while at the conference including artists such as The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Paul Thorn, Sacred Steel and conference Keynote Speaker, Dave Bromberg.
FAQS
What is Sacred Steel?
Sacred Steel is an African-American gospel tradition that features the steel guitar in religious services. It originated in Pentecostal churches in the 1930s
Where did Sacred Steel originate?
It developed in the Church of the Living God, particularly in the Keith and Jewell Dominions.
How did Sacred Steel gain popularity?
Sacred Steel gained wider recognition through performances by artists like Robert Randolph, Calvin Cooke, Aubrey Ghent and the Campbell Brothers, who brought the genre to international fame.
God Bless Sacred Steel!
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