Swanannoa Gathering Continues with Guitar Week and Contemporary Folk Week

July 26 - August 1, 2015 Swanannoa Gathering - Guitar Week and Contemporary Folk Week  One of the finest programs of its kind anywhere, staffed by some of the world’s best players and instructors.  New instructors this year include Clive Carroll, Dakota Dave Hull, Bill Cooley, Allen Shadd, Jonathan Brown and Josh Goforth. Classes will be offered in a wide variety of styles ranging from Celtic and bossa nova to jazz and blues.  

Contemporary Folk Week celebrates this 24th Gathering with another group of great artist/instructors offering a wide variety of classes designed to put music back where it belongs – in your hands. Returning instructors include: Grammy-winners Kathy Mattea, Jim Lauderdale, Jon Vezner, and Don Henry, folk stalwarts Ellis Paul, Peter Mulvey, Sara Hickman, and Amy Speace, vocal coaches Siobhan Quinn and Danny Ellis, and music theory guru Ray Chesna.

The final week of the Swanannoa Gathering will be August 2 - 8, Mando and Banjo Week.

Founded in 1991 by Warren Wilson College President Emeritus Douglas M. Orr, Jr., The Swannanoa Gathering is an educational program of the college, consisting of a series of week-long workshops in various folk arts held in July and August on the campus of Warren Wilson College just east of Asheville. With a limited enrollment and an 'open' format which allows each student to select their own curriculum from a variety of courses, the experience is intimate and supportive for students of all abilities, featuring a staff of some of the finest performers and teachers in the world.

Warren Wilson College is located at  701 Warren Wilson Rd. in Swannanoa, NC (between Black Mountain and Asheville NC.