Folklife Center to host a community event with traditional tunes and panoramic stories Oct. 5
On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center will host a special performance featuring roots musicians Annick Odom and Aristotle Jones, traditional "crankie" hand-cranked moving storytelling art, and a traditional music jam. The event will begin at 3 p.m. and is free and open to all community members.
Annick Odom, a Belgian-American multi-instrumentalist from Morgantown, WV, blends traditional West Virginian ballads with original compositions and newly commissioned pieces. She has performed both nationally and internationally as a solo artist and collaborator. In 2023, Odom completed a fiddle apprenticeship with Gerry Milnes through the West Virginia Folklife Program. In addition to her music, Odom will present "crankies," a form of hand cranked panoramic moving storytelling, during her performance.
Aristotle Jones, known as the "Appalachian Soul Man," is a musician, storyteller, and community organizer from Osage, West Virginia. Drawing inspiration from West Virginia musicians like Johnny Johnson and Bill Withers, as well as his family's deep roots in the region, Jones creates music that reflects the rural soundscape of Appalachia. His grandfather, Robert Jones, was a coal miner and gospel singer who performed in local Black coal camps. Jones is also active in the Osage community and co-runs the Osage Gospel 'n Soul Community Choir.
Both musicians will perform individual sets, followed by an open jam for acoustic instruments hosted by Odom.
"We're thrilled to feature two talented performers with deep West Virginia roots," said Folklife Center Director Lydia Warren, Ph.D. "Odom and Jones are recognized and beloved locally, regionally, and beyond. We're fortunate to have them here, and we invite the community to join the jam session after their performances."
The Folklife Center is located on Squibb Wilson Boulevard on the Fairmont State University campus, with ample parking, an accessible ramp and an elevator. For more information, please contact Lydia Warren at lydia.warren@fairmontstate.edu or 304-367-4286.
