Performance options

 
Concerts

Mini-concerts

Festivals

Lecture/demonstration

Receptions

Educational programs
 

“Amazingly talented duo!”

Sample performances (repertoire):

 

Music of Old Virginia (a mini-concert):

Kemp’s Jig: an English dance tune to honor the Jamestown settlement in 1607. Performed on mandolin and wooden whistle.

Washington’s Victory: Jimbo plays tin whistle, accompanied by Kim on frame drum, on this ballad about Lord Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown. The tune, The British Grenadiers, is an old march that may have been played during the surrender ceremony, in which the British troops laid down their arms on October 19, 1781.

Hop High Ladies: a Scotch/Irish song performed on jaw harp and bones — in honor of the Scotch and Irish immigration to Virginia.

The Batteau Song: describes transporting tobacco and other cargo down the James River to Richmond. The batteau were large wooden, flat bottom boats of the 19th century. Performed on the gourd banjer — a replica of a 19th century banjo developed by African Americans.

Abe’s Retreat and Fall of Richmond:  performed on 5-string banjo and fiddle, commemorating an early Confederate victory and the Union capture of Richmond in 1865.

Wreck of the Old 97:  a song about a 1903 train wreck in Danville, Virginia — performed on banjo and guitar.

 

Railroads and Rivers: Songs and Stories about Virginia’s Rivers and Railroads 

Songs about railroad travel include The Wreck of the Old 97 which describes an actual railway wreck between Lynchburg and Danville. 
The C&O Line is a song about traveling west into West Virginia. It describes the cities where the train stops along the way.
 
Jimbo’s song, Floating Down the James, describes batteau travel in the 19th century. 
Lynchburg Town – an old Virginia song that predates the Civil War — is about transporting tobacco from Lynchburg by batteaus and canals. (Kim & Jimbo performed at Virginia’s Batteau Festival last June.)
 
Instruments include guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, harmonica and bones. 
The concert concludes with Old-time Gospel Sing-alongs.

 
Virginia Music

· Indian Maiden, a fiddle tune with gourd accompaniment commemorating Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.

· Moving from Jamestown to Monticello, the Carys play Money Musk, a Scottish reel popular in Jefferson’s time.

· The Carys play English, Scottish, and Irish dance tunes, favorites of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson such as The Girl I Left Behind Me. Instruments include mandolin, guitar, whistle, and jaw harp.

· Jimbo plays the gourd banjer a replica of a 19th century banjo developed by African Americans. Kim will demonstrate how to play the bones, another popular instrument of the time. The Carys bring over 20 sets of bones for the audience to use as Kim leads a mini lesson on how to play the bones. The Batteau Song/ Boatsman banjo medley describes hauling tobacco and other cargo via rivers and canals in the early 1800’s.

· On fiddle and banjo, the Carys perform Abe’s Retreat – a Civil War era tune that celebrates early Confederate victories and commemorates the Battle of Bull Run. The Fall of Richmond describes the withdrawal from the capital of the Confederacy.

· Jimbo has composed Beneath the Shade of the Trees in honor of Civil War hero, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.
Kim & Jimbo perform the music of the famous Carter family of southwest Virginia. Songs such as You Are My Flower and Keep on the Sunny Side remind us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Gather at the Fold  by Jimbo Cary, commemorates a visit to the Carter Family Fold in Maces Spring, Virginia.
 

“If you have a little time,
Take a trip to the Tennessee line,
Not too far from Maces Spring,
there you’ll hear the guitars ring.
Shall we gather at the fold,
sing the songs and hymns of old,
Sarah, Maybelle, & AP are gone,
I hope their music will live on.”

 
· In Walter’s Song (another original by Jimbo Cary), you will hear the story of Walter Sprouse, an old-time banjo picker from the Charlottesville area who inspired many people to play and enjoy music. (photo of walter)
 
· The Great Grandma’s Song, by Jimbo commemorates Ruth Graves, a Nelson County quilter and great grandmother who made quilts for her family and community. Her colorful quilts –(such as the tobacco leaf, basket, and star quilts) are on display as a bright and lively backdrop to Kim & Jimbo’s performances.


For the children:

 

The Carys will bring a variety of animal puppets and sing about Virginia’s wild animal friends. Singalongs include Possum’s Tale is Bare and Please Keep Wild Animals Wild . Gourds, bones, tambourines and other instruments are available for the audience to play along. (photo of children with animals)

 

“An excellent performance by seasoned musicians.You have the audience in the palm of your hand.”

Another performance of Virginia Music may include:

 
· Wildwood Flower/ Freight Train : played on Virginia Piedmont fingerstyle guitar and flatpick guitar

· Great Grandma’s Song: the  story of Ruth Graves – an old-time quilt maker from Nelson County, VA.(photo). Kim & Jimbo will bring a display of her quilts (see below)

· Cumberland Gap – an Appalachian fiddle tune performed on fiddle and 5-string banjo

· Wreck of the Ol’ 97  – a song of the trainwreck that took place near Danville, VA

· Old Dan Tucker : performed on jawharp and bones  — with a short demonstration of how to play the bones. The audience is invited to play along.

· Clinch Mountain Home –  “Carry me back to old Virginia” from the Carter family of southwest Virginia

· Walter’s Song — tells the story of Walter Sprouse , an old-time banjo picker from Albemarle County (photo of walter)

· Ashokan Farewell — a favorite from Ken Burns Civil War documentary

· John Henry and Snowdrop  played on 5 string banjo — Jimbo won a blue ribbon at the Virginia State bano contest playing these tunes  (photo of jimbo at state contest) (include audio file of this).

· You are my Sunshine: an old favorite with new words by Jimbo
 

“We always want you to be happy 
even though you’re far away.
It will be a joyous reunion
when our sunshine comes back to stay.”

 
· Glory Glory and Do Lord  – old-time gospel favorites

· Jonah’s Song – you’ve heard the story of Jonah and the whale — this is a new take by Jimbo Cary.

·  Washington’s Victory – Kim provides accompaniment on frame drum while Jimbo plays tinwhistle and sings this old ballad about the American victory at Yorktown in 1781.

     

“On the nineteenth of October in seventeen eighty-one,

Cornwallis he surrendered to General Washington.

They marched from their post, brave boys, and quickly grounded arms.

 Rejoice you brave Americans with music’s sweetest charms…”

 

 

 

“Thank you so much for sharing your love of music with us.”

Past performances

 
· Monticello
· Pharsalia Plantation
· Michie Tavern
· Oakland Museum
· Point of Honor Museum
· Historic Waterford Fair
· Oak Ridge Estate Summer Festival
· James River Batteau Festival
· Boyd Tavern 200th Anniversary
· Waverly Museum Peanut Festival
· Patrick Henry Memorial at Red Hill


“Your warm and lively music created a joyful and festive atmosphere.”

S.J. S., Oakland Museum