Celebrate SOOTS' 2011 Carolina Piedmont Blues Benefit in Chapel Hill

Friday, September 30th from 5-7pm at the Love House - 410 E. Franklin Street
Featuring the Live Music of Boo Hanks and Lightnin' Wells
Free Admission - Refreshments Provided - Donations Welcome

Support the work of Raleigh Charter students past and present as SOOTS works with UNC's Center for the Study of the American South to raise awareness of treasured musicians in need.

Questions? Email Mr. Montague  - cmontague@raleighcharterhs.org

The Sustaining Roots Music Community Project (SOOTS) congratulates the Raleigh Charter and greater Triangle community for supporting Boo Hanks, George Higgs & John Dee Holeman at the LongView Center last month. SOOTS raised over $2900.00 to help these talented musicians and their cultural treasures through the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

SOOTS would also like to note that this event would not have been possible without our many sponsors who are listed on Sustainers.

Many hearts were warmed, but we still need your help. Come to the May Day Cake Bake ART FARM on May 21st @RCHS to support our student artists because you “can have your cake and eat it too” when you support SOOTS.

Thanks to the generosity of the Harvard Club of RTP, Sustaining Roots Music Members H. Stroud, M. Gaines, E. Karsten and SOOTS founder Charles Montague were able to attend a luncheon and lecture on UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Bill Ferris' new book Give My Poor Heart Ease which includes anecdotes, music and photos of Mississippi (like this beautiful picture of Amanda Gordon) in the 1960s.

Not only was SOOTS thrilled to meet Mr. Ferris and learn of his experiences regarding work songs, church sermons and juke joint blues in the Deep South, but we were excited at the prospect of Mr. Ferris speaking at Raleigh Charter High School in the 2010-11 academic year. Mr. Ferris welcomed us with open arms and we can't wait to return the favor.

6^th Annual May Day Cake Bake and 3^rd Annual ArtFarm

Join SOOTS as we beat the superstition on Friday, May 18th with creativity and cake in our 6^th Annual May Day Cake Bake and 3^rd Annual ArtFarm.

For just $5 you get two slices of delicious homemade cake and almost all the milk you can drink. Hosted on the RCHS patio, our May Day Cake Bake is the perfect way to celebrate the spring.

Additionally, SOOTS will host our 3rd Annual ArtFarm in the parking lot. ArtFarm is an event that celebrates the creativity of the RCHS community by showcasing the visual and performing arts. To become one of our artists, please contact Abby Bullard or Charles Montague.

SOOTS will be selling student-designed and student-screened t-shirts, as well as concert memorabilia and SOOTS Series CD's. As always, all proceeds after cost will go to benefit elderly musicians via the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

SOOTS’ First Medical Mini Grant: Matching Funds for George Higgs Raises $650.00

Click for full image

Get a taste of Ironing Board Sam’s music from SOOTS’ 2010 UNC gig.

7th Annual Fat Tuesday Film Feastival:

On Tuesday, February 21st, at the new home for Raleigh Charter High School (1307 Glenwood Avenue), SOOTS will host its 7th annual Fat Tuesday Film Feastival.

The event will feature Blues Musician Ironin’ Board Sam in his second appearance at a SOOTS event. Along with the musical festivities, SOOTS will be serving student-made New Orleans style Gumbos and Desserts, teaching participants about the history of southern music and culture, and selling Student-made merchandise all with the goal of raising money to benefit the Music Maker Relief Foundation (MMRF).

Last year, SOOTS’ Fat Tuesday Film Feastival raised over $1300 to give to musicians like Ironin’ Board Sam, and our hope is to raise as many—if not more—funds to help out struggling Blues Musicians through MMRF.

Doors will be opened and food will be served at 6:00 pm and the music will begin at 7:00 pm. The event will feature two separate sets played by Ironin’ Board Sam, one at 7:00 pm and one at 8:00 pm. Similarly, there will be two student-teaching session at both 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The event will come to a close at 8:30.

We hope to see you all there; thank you for taking time to support Sustaining Roots Music.

Have questions? Contact Charles Montague at cmontague@raleighcharterhs.org.

Sustaining Roots Music's 6th Annual Blues Revue:

On April 13th, SOOTS will host our 6th Annual Blues Revue — featuring Justin Robinson and the Mary Annettes, Big Ron Hunter, and Tad Walters. The event will be at Downtown Raleigh’s historic Longview Center Located on Moore Square. Doors will open at 6:30 and the Concert will begin at 7:00 pm. Water will be provided for all guests.

SOOTS students will be selling student made merchandise, the proceeds of which go directly to the Music Maker Relief Foundation as well as artists who are featured in our student-made “SOOTS Series” CDs.

This concert was also made possible through the support of the Music Maker Relief Foundation (MMRF) and the Pepsi Refresh Project. MMRF has long been a supporter of SOOTS, and allows us to feature such a wide range of legendary artists. This concert was also made possible by the Pepsi Refresh Project Grant that SOOTS won in May 2010.

Have questions? Contact Charles Montague at cmontague@raleighcharterhs.org

Thank you to all that came out to hear Dr. Bill Ferris on Thursday, April 28th. This event was made possible by the RCHS History Department and was sponsored by SOOTS. It was a certainly a night to remember, with Dr. Ferris speaking eloquently on his personal relationship to the Mississippi Delta and it's rich musical tradition as well as providing a perspective on the academic aspects of folklore studies. Professor Ferris teaches history at UNC-Chapel Hill and is associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South, as well as the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is widely recognized as a leader in Southern studies, African-American music and folklore. The lecture focused primarily on Dr. Ferris's most recent book, Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues. We look forward to continuing a relationship with Dr. Ferris and the Center for the Study of the American South in the years to come.