Easton-based folk and traditional string band Ampersand will present a concert of pre-Civil War music at Furnace Town Living Heritage Village, 3816 Old Furnace Rd, Snow Hill, MD on Saturday, August 19th from 5 to 8pm. Admission is $10/person (kids $5), with food and beverages available for purchase; picnicking is also encouraged!
From 1828-1850 the Nassawango Iron Furnace was in its heyday. Furnace Town (also called Nescongo or Nasseongo) was a company town of approximately 300 people, where many workers – miners, sawyers, colliers, molders, draymen, and bargemen – labored to make iron. The Living Heritage Village includes 11 restored buildings and the Nassawango Iron Furnace; buildings will be open during the summer concert series evenings. For more details and directions, please see www.furnacetown.org.
Ampersand’s trio will bring guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, cello, penny whistles, percussion, and three-part harmony to this evening of songs and tunes from colonial America up to the Civil War period.
One of the band’s members, Beth Lawton, notes that many of the songs reflect a modern sensibility even when they use old-fashioned language. She explains, “for example, “Robin Adair” is a song of unrequited love that echoes feelings that might be experienced by modern ghosting!” Another member, Dick Hogle, describes an early song, “Rye Whiskey,” as a perfect lullaby for easing his young daughter to sleep – even as the song tells of diving into a river of whiskey and drinking “ten thousands of bottles.” With voice, various percussion instruments, newly-adopted cello, and penny whistles, multi-instrumentalist Topher Lawton focuses on even earlier tunes and songs, such as the lively “Sailor’s Hornpipe” (16th century) and energetic “Bear Dance” (15th century).
Although many of the songs deal with the hardships of early colonial life and the ever-present alcohol use, misbehavior, and even death, the concert is deemed “family-friendly” and the whole group takes delight in sharing this music with a modern audience.
This group serves up a love of history through their music, and are happy when audience members sing along, ask questions, or come up afterwards to try out one of the instruments.
For more information, please go to Ampersand’s website.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.