New Frankfort music school highlights KY music and folk art

A Kentucky musician has organized a project to share information, help educate folks, and present resources that deepen an understanding of Kentucky musical and folk art traditions.

Award-winning musician Brett Ratliff talks about Catfish Alley Folk School.

It’s a rainy Thursday evening at an Irish Pub in Frankfort. A group of men and women gather in a circle near the front pub for an open jam session. Andy Duckworth, his wife Stephanie, and Kentucky traditional musician Brett Ratliff sing a tune while they play during the jam.

Ratliff is also the Arts Organization Director for the Kentucky Arts Council. And now he's created a new platform called Catfish Alley Folk School.

“It’s a creative platform through which the community can engage with folk and traditional arts. And that’s a broad thing. We break that down by offering various instrument classes. I teach both classes and private lessons through Catfish Alley focusing on traditional music and largely traditional music and repertoire of Kentucky. We do workshops, we do concerts, we do square dances,” explained Ratliff.

The musician said Catfish Alley Folk School is a partnership with the non-profit Kentucky Old Time Music, Inc., which was founded in Morehead, KY. He said the platform’s overall mission is carried out through various programs, resource sharing, and advocacy.

“Our efforts support a network among artists and opportunities that broaden the community’s reach and honor the complex histories that shape our living traditions, making sure that we are acknowledging that these are living traditions and we’re not trying to preserve something in the past,” said Ratliff.

During a break in the jam session, Ratliff explained the relationship of Catfish Alley to this evening’s event.

“This is just a casual group of jammers who are getting together to play Kentucky fiddle tunes. The jam is hosted by our resident master fiddler, John Harrod. And the relationship with Catfish Alley is kind of a promotional one. We help amplify that it’s happening. But also, just being here and being a part of the community and being part of this music,” explained Ratliff.

He credits John Harrod with doing the work to start this monthly jam session. Ratliff said Ratliff created the Catfish Alley platform in conversation and partnership with artists like Harrod. Harrod has been playing the fiddle for more than 60 years. He spent decades documenting old-style traditional music in Kentucky. Ratliff is inspired by Harrod’s work.

“John is somebody who holds a lot of that knowledge for those of us who are of a younger generation coming into this and wanting to learn so much of what John has documented over the years. And so, he’s a mentor, he’s a teacher, he’s an actual retired high school teacher from here in Frankfort. He has always had his hand in preserving the fiddle music of Kentucky and really is a statewide treasure for us,” reported Ratliff.

Catfish Alley Folk School’s website lists events and music classes. Ratliff teaches banjo and recently recorded one of his students from Winchester playing after a lesson. Ratliff said he appreciates teaching an instrument like the banjo and its history and traditions.

“Yeah, the influences in this music come from all over and so it’s important to acknowledge that it does mean so much to our cultural identity to play banjo music, to pass down fiddle music, to dance together in community settings, to tell stories and to cook, to pass down recipes. To do all of these things feels incredibly important,” said Ratliff.

A workshop is scheduled with Catfish Alley Folk School on October 10th featuring the music and work of banjo Bill Cornett. Ratliff is excited about the workshop which he said is meant to entertain and educate.

“It’s just important. He was born in the late 1800s, playing banjo when he was younger but then was elected to the Kentucky State legislature in 1956 to represent Knott and Magoffin Counties and would write songs about the issues that he stood for and sing them on the floor of the legislature. It’s just remarkable. I love that.”

Brett Ratliff said even though Catfish Alley Folk School is a new project he hopes it will help shine a light on Kentucky stories, tradition, culture, and community.

** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.