Old Time Music
What is Old-Time Music?
Old-Time music is a form of folk music from the Appalachia region of the United States with influences from early European immigrants and enslaved African Americans. It is one of the oldest musical traditions of the United States European settlers. The traditional instruments in Old-Time music are banjo, guitar, and fiddle, but it can also include the upright bass, mandolin, and harmonica (all of which Tallahassee Old-Time has).
Old-Time music is a communal event with jams and sessions hosted by members in the community for members in the community. As the Old-Time music tradition developed, so did a variety of dance styles like clogging, square dance, and contra dance. Throughout history, Old-Time music revivals have helped preserve the music we know today.
An example of old-time music is this tune called "Shady Grove," recorded by Jane and Gordon Scott, key members of the Tallahassee Old-Time and Irish music communities. This recording has been used with their permission and comes from their album Old Time Duets.
Many Old-Time musicians in Tallahassee have moved to the city and hold experience and mentorship from other regions of the United States and Laura Gayle Green is no exception. Listen and watch as Laura Gayle Green shares her personal music story with Old-Time music and where her love for music began. To learn more about Pedro Cooper, click here for an article Laura Gayle Green wrote about her mentor and early friend.
Old-Time Music in Tallahassee
Tallahassee's Old-Time scene includes performances, jams, and sessions across the town and at private residences. Old-Time bands play for Contra Dances at the Tallahassee Senior Center and for clogging groups like the Hot Pepper Steppers.
Members of the community gather frequently at venues like the Blue Tavern to play their favorite Old-Time Tunes. Some bands around Tallahassee are the Runaway Biscuits, In Cahoots, and Tommy Hoople's Delta Ringnecks.
Tallahassian's (and people from neighboring towns) can also take lessons with Jane and Gordon Scott at Gordon's String Music to learn traditional instruments like the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and more! Jane and Gordon released an album titled Old-Time Duets that include some of their favorite Old-Time tunes.
In Chapter 2 of her Tallahassee Music Story, Laura Gayle Green talks about where she performs in Tallahassee and what it's like to be a folk musician in the city.