PICKENS — Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens will host a Southern Appalachian Arts and Crafts Fair on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Regional artisans and craftsmen will demonstrate their skills with a variety of time-honored traditions unique to the Southern Appalachian Region.

The free event will feature musical performances by Pretty Little Goat String Band, delivering a fresh, energetic take on old-time string-band music.

This five-piece group from Brevard, N.C., includes the driving and innovative bass fiddle work of JT Linville, the train-whistle, foghorn buck dancing of Tim Fisher’s fiddle, the cigar-box chunking mandolin rhythm and leads of Josh Carter, the charming percussion of Mallory Carter’s home-made washboard contraption, and Owen Groom’s fretless banjo sounds like water rolling off rocks.

Everyone in the group trades off strong old-time vocal leads and harmonies. Just as musicians of the Southern Appalachians have done for centuries, the band creates its own music from old mountain ballads and fiddle music, while paying respect to the grand tradition.

Pretty Little Goat String Band will be performing between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Warming up the stage around noon will be singer/songwriter, Alexa Rose. This North Carolina songstress has been writing songs for nearly a decade. Born in Virginia, Alexa Rose was handed her first guitar at age 13. She has since written buckets full of songs, releasing her debut album, “North,” at age 19.

She has shared the stage with artists such as Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Ragbirds, and The Whetherman. Influenced by artists such as Lucinda Williams and Joni Mitchell, Rose has been called “a rising voice of the region,” marrying her traditional, rootsy sound with a distinct newness you can’t quite put your finger on.

Now, at 23, she’s released her sophomore album, “Low and Lonesome.” This new album has been well received, earning Alexa lots of airtime on everyone’s favorite regional and publicly supported radio station, WNCW.

There will be lots of other things to see on May 20 as our historic site hosts a variety of folklife and traditional-arts demonstrations. There will be blacksmithing, bowl-digging, flint-knapping, chair-caning, moonshining, broom-making, basketmaking, pottery, quilting, spinning, knitting, weaving, wood-carving, metalsmithing, beekeeping, and leatherworking demonstrations.

Talk with the artists and purchase their traditional arts to take home. As always, we encourage visitors to bring their favorite old-time instruments and join in the “open jam,” which takes place throughout the day under the ancient cedar tree beside our beloved 1791 log cabin.

There is a $5 parking fee for the day but admission is free to the Hagood Mill Site as well as to the Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site. All proceeds from parking help offset the costs incurred at Hagood Mill Historic Site.

Anyone interested in vending or demonstrating Appalachian arts and crafts for this event is encouraged to call (864) 898-2936 or email BillyC@co.pickens.sc.us for additional information.

Hagood Mill is located at 138 Hagood Mill Road.

Staff Report