Highwoods String Band and Green Grass Cloggers to Live Again – on Film!

Thanks to the Bluegrass Ireland Blog for alerting us to this important story on two new film documentaries being produced.
Horse Archer Productions, has been producing full length feature documentaries since 2007, including Why Old Time? and The Henry Reed Legacy . . . both on the topic of Old Time music. These films have looked at subjects in Old Time that postdate and predate the Old Time revival movement of the 1970s,  Now  Horse Archer Productions would like to bring us two new films that explore a pair of critical elements in that movement.

 The Highwoods String Band is perhaps the most famous and influential group associated with the Old Time revival movement of the 1970s, but amazingly, their contribution has never been documented in film. After forming in upstate NY, they quickly became a fixture at nearly every traditional music festival in the United States and even found themselves traveling overseas to perform. 
All five original members of the band-Walt Koken and Bob Potts (fiddles), Mac Benford (banjo), Doug Dorshug (guitar) and Jenny Cleland (bass)--have agreed to take part in the film.

The companion film will address the history and cultural significance of the Green Grass Cloggers which formed at East Carolina University in 1971 and is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. The dance group became a popular attraction at mountain music festivals. They took traditional four partner square dancing and invented an array of unique new steps for Appalachian music to create something new and exciting for both the audience and the dancers. The Green Grass Cloggers quickly grew into a world class dance group and their significance and influence on the Old Time time scene is still apparent 40 years later.
There is an unreleased video of Highwoods at Brandywine Festival in 1978 of which a sample appears in the video here. It will be cleaned up for the final film.
Horse Archer Productions is appealing for funds through a special campaign on Indigogo.com  and has quite an extensive list of perks available for those who feel the projects have some importance.  And for those who’s generosity knows no bounds, film credits and executive producer credits are dangling out in front.

The Producers also appeal to your Sharing/Caring Generosity:

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