Mac Traynham Harmonic Heritage CD Release Party

Admission is suggested $10 donation to the Handmade Music School — includes a CD!

Join us for a special celebrating the music of Mac Traynham. Mac Traynham has been an important part of the old time music scene in Floyd County, Virginia for decades.

Mac Traynham is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, banjo maker, and teacher from Floyd County, Virginia. Deeply rooted in the traditions of Southwest Virginia, he specializes in clawhammer banjo, old-time fiddle, guitar, and harmonica. Since the 1970s, Mac has been a passionate advocate for the regional “mountain sound,” performing locally and internationally, and mentoring the next generation at Handmade Music School and beyond.

He’s also a master craftsman, having built over 200 handmade banjos (and guitars) known for their rich tone and beautiful woodwork. Mac is an important tradition bearer and culture keeper for Southwest Virginia music and dance and therefore a significant representative of our harmonic heritage.

The Handmade Music School was awarded a Community Impact grant from Virginia Commission for the Arts to produce a project called Harmonic Heritage: Recording Southwest Virginia’s Living Musical Traditions.

A recording project preserving the voices of elders singing traditional Appalachian music in Floyd County, Virginia. A group of Handmade Music School music teachers and collaborators are inspired and motivated to capture the voices of the elder musicians from Southwest Virginia to ensure their voices have lasting life. With an emphasis on old time, bluegrass and early country music from Floyd County and beyond, this project aims to put the elders of a nearly-past generation in front of a microphone (and cameras) to enshrine their voices, the songs and stories for musicians, their families, our community and folklorists to hear and study for years to come.