Two western North Carolina cultural groups are headed to Charleston Feb. 1 to share their music in an old-fashioned ballad swap as a way to raise money and awareness to preserve cultural traditions in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
The Nest of Singing Birds from Marshall, N.C., has partnered with Rare Bird Cultural Arts to take stories and songs across the Southeast after they lost their home venue — a decommissioned detention center–turned–arts hub and hotel called the Old Marshall Jail — during Hurricane Helene. The singers will be at Hed Hi Studio in Charleston for two shows Feb. 1, with additional Southeastern tour dates to be announced in coming weeks. The Old Marshall Jail Ballad Swap is the only recurring monthly ballad swap in the United States.
“Hed Hi Studio, known for its focus on modern and street art, is also a cultural hub in Charleston, making it the perfect venue for the Nest of Singing Birds,” according to Mitchell Davis, owner and operator of Rare Bird Cultural Arts.
“We’re excited to share the spirit of Marshall and the resilience of western North Carolina with new audiences, and [are] deeply grateful for the Madison County Tourism Development Association’s vision in supporting this tour.”
Tickets for the performances — which include a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee and an evening show with VIP reception — are limited to 75 people per event. According to organizers, intimacy and interpersonal connection are part of the audience experience.
Birds of a feather
The Nest of Singing Birds and the Old Marshall Jail, co-hosts of the ballad swap, share a commitment to preserving living Appalachian traditions, such as music, as well as fostering community engagement through collaborative efforts and experiences, according to press material circulated by the organizers. So when they decided to launch a campaign to raise funds for the ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Rare Bird was a natural partner.
A working farm, cultural arts center and gathering space, Rare Bird is not only a vibrant hub central to Marshall’s creative and agricultural community, but it’s also a point of access and connection to other similar organizations throughout the South.
In fact, Davis and his wife, Farrah Hoffmeyer, have deep roots in Charleston: Davis is a media entrepreneur who founded Charleston–based digital publishing platform Bibliolabs in 2011. The duo also brought performance opportunities to adults with special needs in the Lowcountry through their HEART Artist Guild and Theatre Company before incorporating those efforts into the programming at Rare Bird.
For more than two years, the Old Marshall Jail Hotel has been home to the only known recurring traditional ballad swap in the U.S. Esteemed 7th and 8th-generation ballad singers — including NEA National Heritage Fellow Sheila Kay Adams, Donna Ray Norton and Melanie Rice — have gathered to share the songs and stories of their ancestors, preserving a living tradition.
Through these events, hosted by Josh Copus, who transformed the historic Old Marshall Jail into a community-oriented space, the location has become a cornerstone of the region’s cultural identity. Now, it also serves as a reminder of the storm’s psychological and physical impact, having suffered near total devastation.
In October, just one month after Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters ravaged Marshall, the community rallied to hold a ballad swap outside the gutted Old Marshall Jail. Under the glow of string lights and powered by generators, more than a dozen singers and at least 100 attendees came together, demonstrating the unbreakable power of community, music and tradition.
“These songs and traditions have never been more important,” said Copus, who serves as the tour’s emcee. “In the wake of a natural disaster, we’re reminded of how fragile yet vital these connections are.
“[Much like Charleston], Marshall isn’t just a town — it’s a family tied together by music and stories. I’m proud to be part of a community that knows how to hold on to what matters while moving forward.”
Donna Ray Norton, a founding member of the Nest of Singing Birds, echoed this sentiment:
“The Ballad Swap is more than a gathering — it’s the heartbeat of our community. As we rebuild, carrying forward these traditions is essential. This music and these stories keep us connected to one another and to our history. They remind us of who we are.”
In addition to Charleston, the Nest of Singing Birds will also perform at Folk Alliance International in Montreal later in February, with additional tour dates scheduled for March and April.
During each show, Copus will share updates on the rebuilding process, as well as ways people can contribute to recovery efforts.
“This journey is about something bigger than just one place or group of people,” he said. “By traveling to meet people where they live, we can show that treasured traditions continue to thrive even as communities work to revive and rebuild.”
Feb. 1 matinee, 2 p.m. Tickets, $30. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1 evening show, 7 p.m.
Learn more at rarebirdfarm.org.
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