Topic: The Cantrells

Folk, fiddling and down-home music

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 19, 2007 |

In an intimate setting at the Customs House Museum Saturday night, The Cantrells delivered a toe-tapping concert performance of many of their unique blend of folk, fiddling and down-home music.

While the audience was small, enthusiasm for these performers was deservedly huge. The repertoire ranged from a rendition of Fats Waller’s Honeysuckle Rose to a striking cover of Autumn Leaves, from a step in Appalachian Spring to This Quilt, a story song of a quilt and the “threads of time.”

Al and Emily Cantrell

Al and Emily Cantrell (above), simply dressed (but with a splash of glittery buttons on Emily’s dress) did what they do best: make music. No back up bands, no yards high stacks of speakers, just a guitar, a fiddle, mandolin, guitar and great voices. Nothing else was needed. «Read the rest of this article»

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Cantrells in concert at Customs House

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 15, 2007 |

The Cantrells, who were featured in the Robert Redford film, A River Runs Through It (pictured left), will bring their unique blend of music and song to the Customs House Museum Saturday, November 17 for a free workshop at 3 p.m. and a concert performance at 7 p.m. Concert tickets are $5.00.

The Cantrells will share explore Tennessee’s history of fiddling, share stories and play classic Tennessee tunes during the workshop, which does not require musical experience, just a love of the sound and the songs.

Al and Emily Cantrell cast a magical spell with their airy, joyful acoustic songs. Emily uses her voice as an instrument on soaring vocals like a country Joni Mitchell, while AL plays off her Martin guitar with spirited fiddling and a dazzling mandolin technique–his music weaves through her words as if the two were locked in an intuitive dance. «Read the rest of this article»

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