Peggy Seeger says farewell to Asheville with benefit concert

About 350 "close friends" descended on Pack Place's Diana Wortham Theater on Apr. 22, to join folk musician Peggy Seeger in a farewell concert benefiting a local environmental organization. Seeger is leaving after twelve years of living in the area. All proceeds from the show, including the performers' fees, were to be donated to the Dogwood Alliance, an environmental group dedicated to the preservation of southern forests. Since 1994, the legendary folk singer and social activist has been using Asheville, NC, as her home base. Born in 1935, into the acclaimed Seeger family of folk musicians, Peggy has been on the folk music scene for over half a century. An influential figure in the feminist movement, Seeger has lent her talents to numerous political and environmental causes throughout the years. The folk singer has also been active in local politics during her 12 years in Asheville; including campaigning for former Buncombe County commissioner Patsy Keever and ex-mayor Leni Sitnick. Peggy used the stage as a platform to speak-out on social issues close to her heart, her activist commitment very much in evidence: the folk singer denounced the war in Iraq and on numerous occasions addressed women's rights and environmentalism. She makes no apologies for her political orientations, counting down the hours and days until the end of the Bush administration–twice. The show was an intimate occasion. Peggy addressed the crowd as if it were a group of old friends, which undoubtedly many were. In fact, the folk legend often spoke to the audience while sipping tea and relaxing in an armchair. The easygoing setting and friendly atmosphere, coupled with witticisms and sketches between the songs, made the performance resemble what a taping of National Public Radio's "Prairie Home Companion" must be like. The folk spirit ever alive in her, Seeger compelled the audience to join in with the chorus on some songs, even distributing chorus sheets as an aid. Still, the crowd sounded more like a reluctant early morning church congregation than chanting activists. Audience participation aside, the evening was filled with great music. The concert was a true community event. Joined on stage by her "favorite local musicians," Seeger showcased some of the area's finest talent. Asheville's folk music scene was well represented this evening with local performers Ira Bernstein, Mad Tea Party, Bruce Green and Loy McWhirter, among others. And, multi-talented folk newbie, Aaron Price did everything from sing and play guitar and piano, to tune Peggy's strings and fetch her water. The crowd was treated to splendid performances of traditional Anglo-American songs, original old-time compositions and even a little tap dancing. Peggy is a legendary instrumentalist. She plays guitar, five-string banjo, autoharp, English concertina and piano. Together, Peggy and friends captivated the audience with superb performances of traditional folk and old time music. Yet some of the most memorable moments of the evening were to be had when the folk legend took the stage alone, sharing gentle musical anecdotes or poems dedicated to memorable individuals she has met. One such moment came when Seeger sang the "Ballad of Jimmy Massey." Massey is a resident of Waynesville, NC, and twelve year Marine Corp. veteran who refused to fight in Iraq after witnessing "the brutality of the US military." Unaccompanied with her guitar on a dimly lit stage, in the "high-lonesome" voice that is akin to Appalachian mountain music, Seeger eulogized the lost ideals of a man who "can't do it anymore." The emotion in the concert hall, after the song, was palatable. Peggy Seeger said farewell to Asheville, but she was the one giving the gift; raising thousands of dollars for the Dogwood Alliance. "We hope it's not 'goodbye,'" one concert goer said, summing up the crowd's feeling, "we hope it's 'see you later.'"