New Audiences for Old Songs: Traditional Ballads and Folk Songs

On May 6th, 2023 at Crandall Library in Glens Falls, there will be a free workshop for folk song musicians and enthusiasts alike from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM! This event will feature Collin Cleveland – a fifth generation ballad singer – and David Ruch, a musician and teaching artist. Colleen Cleveland is the granddaughter of Sara Cleveland (1905-1992) one of America’s most important ballad singers.

Sara was born in our region, where she learned the folk ballads and old songs of her Scottish and Irish family, friends, and neighbors… She and her mother began a notebook of these pieces that grew into a collection of over 600 regional and British Isles songs, which remains a cherished family heirloom to this day. Sara passed this repertoire to her son, Jim, and granddaughter, Colleen, to carry on the tradition of ballad singing.

Come hear the ballads, learn about the collection, and present your own versions! This event is hosted by the Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library, located at 251 Glen Street in Glens Falls. This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with support from the Governor’s Office and the NYS legislature.

For more information, please visit www.crandalllibrary.org