Old Time Square Dance with Whitetop Mountain Band

Name: Old Time Square Dance with Whitetop Mountain Band
Start: 2026-06-25T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-06-25T21:00:00-04:00
Location: Ashe Arts Center

Join us for the Old Time Square Dance
Thursday, June 25
Ashe Arts Center
7 – 9 pm

Free admission, donations gratefully accepted
Band – The Whitetop Mountain Band
Caller – Clarke Williams

The Whitetop Mountain Band has entertained audiences for more than 40 years and originated with Albert Hash in the 1940s, a well-known and beloved fiddler and luthier. He was later joined by his brother-in-law, late master fiddler, Thornton Spencer, and Thornton’s wife, a singer, banjoist, and music instructor– Emily Spencer. Thornton and Emily’s children, Kilby and Martha Spencer, complete the band along with long time members Ersel Fletcher and Debbie Bramer. Steeped in the mountain music traditions and a mainstay of the Appalachian dance scene, the band frequently plays venerable old time dance venues like the Carter Family Fold, the Floyd Country Store, the Fries Theater Square Dance, and others throughout Southwest Virginia. Over the years, the band has toured to festivals and performance venues across the United States, and has performed in premier festivals in Australia, Europe, and Canada. Their shows highlight a wide variety of mountain music traditions mixed with traditional country, originals, and high-energy flatfoot dancing.

This project is funded by an IBMA Foundation Project Grant.

The IBMA Foundation supports programs and initiatives that foster the growth of bluegrass music. The Foundation helps donors create a bluegrass legacy through charitable donations and planned giving by supporting programs focused on bluegrass-related arts and culture, education, literary work, and historic preservation. Information about all grants and scholarships awarded by the IBMA Foundation may be found at https://bluegrassfoundation.org.

The Ashe County Arts Council Heritage Dance Series is a community dance program designed to preserve and promote bluegrass and old-time traditions through participatory square dances, live music, and accessible instruction. Featuring local musicians, experienced callers, and beginner-friendly teaching, the series offers free, intergenerational cultural experiences that strengthen community connection, elevate the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program, and sustain traditional dance and music in northwestern North Carolina.