Join us on Friday, February 2nd for Singing for Catharsis! In this time of deep winter, we'll sing songs and chants on the themes of the Irish holiday of Imbolc, which celebrates the return of spring, the creative force of fire, the germination of seeds, and the holy woman Bride/Brigid. This will be a devotional setting, with opportunities to offer gratitude to Bride/Brigid. We will have a drummer accompanying us. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to share and enjoy during our breaks. You are asked to register and pay ahead of time in order to attend! More details below.
When: Friday, February 2nd, 7-10pm
Where: The Well, 3 Louisiana Avenue, in West Asheville.
Parking: The Well is located behind Mountain Magic on Louisiana. A few parking spots are available in the lot, otherwise street parking is available.
Payment: Sliding scale $8-$25. Attendees are asked to pay ahead of time to secure their spots. Venmo at @Saro-Lynch-Thomason or Paypal blairpathways@gmail.com
Sick Policy: If you have had a possibility of covid exposure or are sick in any way (even if it's just a cold) please stay home! Let's keep our community healthy.
*Short portions of this event will be recorded for social media purposes. You will be asked whether you consent to being filmed ahead of time*
About Singing for Catharsis:
We sing easy-to-learn songs and experiment with singing them for extended periods of time to help us move into the state of catharsis/relaxation/oxytocin release/altered state that ritual chant has provided for countless people for thousands of years. After each song we take time to decompress, drink water, and talk about our experiences. We will only explore a few songs, some for as long as an hour. Folks are welcome to take breaks during the songs if they need to. Saro Lynch-Thomason gently guides the space and offers songs as we go.
Register here!
Saro Lynch-Thomason is an award-winning singer, song leader, folklorist, documentarian, and illustrator from Asheville, North Carolina. She has studied and taught traditional song and balladry from Appalachia, the American South, the British Isles and Ireland for over a decade. Saro believes that old songs can help us understand the beliefs and struggles that shape human history, and that in turn, these songs enable us to build a more compassionate and just future. She uses teaching, documentary, illustration and more to explore the amazing people and history behind songs ranging from Appalachian lullabies to American labor anthems, Southern work songs and Scottish ballads. Her projects include the Songs that Speak YouTube series, the CD and multimedia project Blair Mountain: A Musical Exploration of America’s Largest Labor Uprising, and several albums. Saro’s song “There Are More Waters Rising” has gained international attention, becoming an anthem in the movement to end global warming and garnering praise in the Huffington Post. Saro holds an M.A. in Appalachian Studies from East Tennessee State University and a Certificate in Documentary Studies from Duke University.