Poetic and real, the New Agrarians gave us an evening of brave songs, lovely guitar work, and sublime vocal harmonies.  Kate, Tom, and Pierce’s songs inflicted “mortal wounds,” somebody was overheard to say.  A few highlights were Kate’s “Crazy in Alabama,” Tom’s “Lifted Up by Angels,” and Pierce’s “State of Grace.” Spoken word laced an evening of song craft by three world-class artists.  Don Porterfield provided beautiful bass lines and vocal harmonies.  And it was great fun, too!  Enjoy these photos by Rodney Bursiel, Nathan Brown, and Brian Oakley.

The New Agrarians feature three consummate songwriter artists: Tom Kimmel, Kate Campbell and Pierce Pettis. Each has an exquisite body of work and enjoys international critical acclaim. The New Agrarians are launching a tour showcasing stories and music steeped in the cultural foundations of the South.

The trio’s name is inspired by a collection of literary figures of the early 20th Century who protested what they viewed as a threat of modernism to the Southern Culture. Known as the Fugitive Poets and also The Southern Agrarians, these literary voices included the likes of Robert Penn Warren and John Crowe Ransom.

Kate Campbell has appeared at the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival, Merlefest, Philadelphia Folk Festival, and Port Fairy Folk Festival (Australia), been featured on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Live From Mountain Stage. Tapping into the Southern literary bloodline of Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner, her six albums are laced with storytelling, race, religion, history and the day-to-day happenings of people’s lives.

PiercePettis is one of this generation’s most masterful songwriters. His music is distinguished by his uncanny ability to capture universals in human experience by drawing on the humor and trials in daily life. Pierce has performed in all 48 continental states as well as in Canada and Europe, appeared nine times on American Public Radio’s Mountain Stage, been featured on National Public Radio’s E-town, Morning Edition and World Cafe … appeared on VH-1, CBS News, and the Nashville Network.

Tom Kimmel has had dozens of his songs covered by a host of major artists including Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Shawn Colvin, Waylon Jennings, the Stray Cats, Randy Travis and the Spinners. Featured in motion pictures such as Runaway Bride, Serendipity, and Twins, and in television shows as varied as Captain Kangaroo, Miami Vice and Touched By An Angel, recordings of Tom’s compositions have sold millions of copies around the world.

Elizabeth Fry says:

Wonderful evening!  Among the best you have hosted.  I left work tired and cranky...and through the music was renewed.  Chills, tears, and dancing in my seat.  Great evening.

Judi Sawyer says:

Oh my gosh!!  This was one of those magical Blue Rock nights when I could not wipe the grin off of my face—except of course in the moments where I was moved to tears by the depth of the music.  What incredible and inspiring artists.  Thank you for yet another great evening!

Bob Carlton says:

What a night - a holy night !

Both my wife Lisa & I blogged about it:  http://thecorner.typepad.com/

Thanks for all the work that went into this !

Vicki Belinoski says:

What a joy it was to see The New Agrarians at Blue Rock! I was moved to the depth of my Southern roots.  Thank you for your gracious hospitality and for sharing your love of music with us all.

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