Celebrate 30! is in the books
Music Maker’s 30th anniversary is in the books! Words cannot express how grateful we are for everyone who joined us in Durham and Fountain from October 10-12. Amazing music, great food, and a big-hearted community of music lovers – there’s simply nothing better.
We kicked off on Thursday, October 10 with a star-studded concert at Duke University featuring Taj Mahal, Jackson Browne, and Dom Flemons. These American roots legends were joined onstage by Next Generation artists Faith & Harmony, Lakota John Locklear, Martha Spencer, and Gail Ceasar in a multi-generational celebration of our nation’s musical treasures. We also announced (and met!) a $10,000 challenge for our Carolina Music Makers Fund, raising more than $60,000 for hurricane relief for musicians.
After a song-filled book talk with Georgann Eubanks and Dom Flemons at Letters Community Bookshop, the fun continued Friday night with our Homecoming at Durham’s historic Old Murphey School. Music Maker supporters and artists danced the night away to the sounds of Kelley & The Cowboys, Jimbo Mathus & The Creatures of the Southern Wild, The Crimestoppers, Albert White, Aretta Woodruff, and Leonard “Lowdown” Brown. Shout out to our sponsor Cathead Distillery and mixologist Robert Trimmer for keeping the good times rolling with their delicious custom cocktails!
On Saturday, guitarists of all levels learned the secrets of the blues from Earle Pughe before we departed for our Studio Dedication in Fountain, NC. Our supporters had the opportunity to tour our new recording and photography studios, a creative retreat in rural North Carolina where Music Maker artists have already begun recording groundbreaking new albums. Moving speeches by Tim and Denise Duffy, a hearty barbeque dinner at R.A. Fountain General Store, and performances by Alice Vines, Jimbo Mathus & The Creatures of the Southern Wild, and the Dedicated Men of Zion made the evening complete.
Whether you joined us in North Carolina or cheered us on from afar, thank you for sharing your love and support with us (and our artists) this month. We wouldn’t have reached this milestone without you. Thank you for believing that American music matters.
Relive the fun with some of our favorite photos taken by David Prather at our Homecoming party and Studio Dedication!
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The Music Maker Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on thousands of supporters. Together, we work to meet the day-to-day needs of the artists who create traditional American music, ensure their voices are heard, and give all people access to our nation’s hidden musical treasures. Please contribute or shop our store today.
