Gospel singing in Fannin County, Ga.
Martha Scanlan, an old-time, traditional music singer-songwriter originally from Minnesota, was featured on the soundtrack of “Cold Mountain” with the Reeltime Travelers. She will be among featured performers at the Epworth Camp Meeting on Aug. 19.
Traditional camp meetings filled with gospel singing and preaching have been rooted in Epworth, Ga., since the 19th century. More than 100 years later, the tradition continues in Fannin County, Ga., when Higher Ground Camp Meeting Service is held on the grounds of the historic Epworth United Methodist Church on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Music will begin at 3 p.m. with Martha Scanlan, The Dappled Grays and The Turner Sisters.
Scanlan’s participation is particularly exciting for organizers as she was featured on the soundtrack of “Cold Mountain” singing with the Reeltime Travelers. She has shared the stage with Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Levon Helm, Ralph Stanley and Norman and Nancy Blake.
The Dappled Grays are a bluegrass band whose music was featured in the Clint Eastwood film, “Trouble with the Curve.” Their single, “The Night Life,” reached No. 1 in Sirius/XM’s bluegrass category and remained on the Roots Music Report’s charts for 40 weeks.
The Turner Sisters are natives of Epworth Valley who sing mountain gospel.
Those acts will perform until 4:30 p.m., when a community sing-along of folk songs will be held with a time for children’s stories told by Amanda Galloway.
A nondenominational camp meeting, led by Jason Byassee, will begin a 6 p.m. Scanlan, The Dappled Grays, Steven Darsey and Timothy Miller will sing during the service.
In case of rain, events will move nearby to Epworth School. Epworth is nine miles northwest of Blue Ridge, Ga.
For more information: www.historicepworthumc.org.