This year’s Greening Up the Mountains festival, held Saturday, April 29 in downtown Sylva, will feature a wide variety of musical talents from across the region. The Founders Stage line up — produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia and sponsored by the Downtown Sylva Association — highlights local heritage through mountain music and dance. The stage will be located on Main Street, near Livingston’s Photo.

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Talent Contest for Local Children

Coordinator and Emcee of children’s talent contest, Amanda Dills Stewart of the Fiddling Dills Sisters, is music teacher for Fairview Elementary School. Youth Talent Contest prizes are sponsored by Bear Lake Reserve.

1-1:30 p.m.

The Muses — women’s

a cappella ensemble

The Muses are an Asheville-based three-member women’s a cappella ensemble. Soaring harmonies and a distinctive world-beat characterize their arrangements. The group enjoys the challenge of performing music in many different languages, American gospel and folk numbers. Members of The Muses are Gail Forsyth , Natalie Grinnell, and 7th generation local Judy Rhodes. The Muses have performed at Asheville’s Bele Chere festival, the Biltmore House, and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. This is their 5th year with Greening Up the Mountains. CDs will be available.

1:35-1:50 p.m.

The Bravehearts —Traditional Scottish/Irish Country Dancing

The Bravehearts are Scottish Country Dancers from Franklin, North Carolina. They are a 4-H group that has been in existence for more than 5 years. The Scotch-Irish settlers have made a deep and long-lasting impact on the history and culture of North Carolina. As an entertaining group, The Bravehearts share with their audience a taste of the Scottish music found in the mountains of North Carolina. This year the group has an Irish dancer with them.

Led by Joe and Claire Suminski.

1:55—2:10 p.m.

The Tsali Manor Square Dancers — Old Time Square Dancing

The Cherokee senior citizens of Tsali Manor Senior Citizen’s Center have gathered together to recreate square dancing as it used to be.

Under the direction of Loretta Welch and dressed in red and white, sixteen dancers (8 couples) will perform to such songs as “Under the Double Eagle” and “Down Yonder.” Playing for the Tsali Manor Square Dancers will be the Fiddling Dills Sisters and the Cullowhee Valley Boys.

1:55-2:40 p.m.

The Fiddling Dills Sisters & The Cullowhee Valley Boys — Local Mountain Folk Music

With family heritage that goes back generations, The Dills Sisters, Amanda (now Stewart) and Sharon, have been fiddling most of their young lives. The girls have a large community following, not only because they are winners of many awards at the Georgia Official State Fiddlers Convention and other fiddling contests, but because of their attention to playing for and with their neighbors. Backed up by the Cullowhee Valley Boys, the girls perform in the old time gospel tradition, blue grass music, and mountain folk music. Tapes and CD’s will be available.

2:45-3:15 p.m.

The Bluegrass Five —Bluegrass & Mountain Music

This group of local pickers are from Webster, Frankin, and Cullowhee Mountain in Jackson County. Playing together off and on for more than ten years, these friends are billed today as the “Bluegrass Five.” G.C. Collins plays fiddle; J.B. Passmore plays bass guitar/vocal; Earl Cowart brings in the rhythm guitar; Boyd Dills harmonizes with the mandolin; and J.C. Norris blends it all together with the banjo.

3:20-3:45 p.m.

The Golden Steppers —

Line Dancing

From Sylva’s Golden Age Center comes a line-dancing group called the Golden Steppers. The six-member group, started more than 10 years ago, is led by Susan Rush. In their performance they will do “Dance Above the Rainbow,” an Irish jig; “Their Hearts are Dancing,” a waltz; “Old Bones,” and “Carolina in the Morning.” Announcer: Irene Hooper, President, Senior Center.

3:50-4:25 p.m.

The Queen Family —

Local Mountain Ballads

& Folk Music

Winners of the Mountain Heritage Award given to those who honor and cherish their heritage, the Queen Family has been playing together since they were children. The Queen Family represents the ideal of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia’s strong support of preserving local heritage. The Queen Family will have CD’s for sale.

4:30-5 p.m.

Teresa Eberly —

Folk Singing

Teresa Eberly, accompanying herself on guitar, has been singing since childhood. Trained in voice since the age of twelve, this gifted singer has filled her life with music in church, weddings, and theater. Currently she works for the Oconaluftee Job Corp Center in Cherokee.