ALLEN THOMPSON

Song of the Mountain’s 7th season will begin airing on July 20. I will be featured in the 13th episode along with Ralph Stanley Jr!  Assuming the episodes happen weekly (which I believe they do), the episode will air around Oct. 19! 

I was nervous as hell taping the episode. Among the other guests that evening were the New North Carolina Ramblers and Jesse McReynolds.  The original North Carolina Ramblers and Jim and Jesse both were huge influences on me.

Incidentally, I discovered both acts through the Grateful Dead. Jesse McReynolds bridged the gaps of a century of folk music that night by performing a set of Grateful Dead tunes. I was so proud to have been a part of that evening of music. To know that an audience got to hear my songs next to  ”Sweet Sunny South” and “Standing on the Moon” filled me up with a pride that has yet to fade away. 

This will be my first television appearance, public or otherwise. Please tune in to my episode as well as the others, and don’t hesitate to call your local PBS affiliate and ask them to air Song of the Mountains, if they aren’t already. 

Peace,

AT