The Ashe County Arts Council will sponsor a community celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King at 7 PM on Monday, January 20th at the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson. The celebration will highlight the message of Dr. King and his teachings of peace, unity and equality in our society. The program will include excerpts from letters and writings of Dr. King as well as guest artist Crys Matthews.
A troubadour of truth, Crys Matthews is among the brightest stars of the new generation of social justice music-makers. An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends Americana, folk, blues, and bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. She is made for these times. Of Matthews, ASCAP VP & Creative Director Eric Philbrook says, “By wrapping honest emotions around her socially conscious messages and dynamically delivering them with a warm heart and a strong voice, she lifts our spirits just when we need it most in these troubled times.” Justin Hiltner of Bluegrass Situation adds, her gift is a “reminder of what beauty can occur when we bridge those divides.” Her hope-fueled, love-filled, social-justice album called Changemakers was released March 26, 2021, and the title track was named the International Folk Music Association’s “Song of the Year” in May of 2022.
The evening program is free and open to the public. Funding for the Celebration is made possible by a Grassroots Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, call 336.846-2787.
