Two of last year's NC performers honored

Two veteran N.C. artists that performed at last year's festival are being honored at the state and national levels currently. George Shuffler, the guitarist who pioneered the "cross-picking" style with the Stanley brothers in the 50's and 60's will receive the annual Folk Heritage Award from the North Carolina Arts Council on October 25 in Raleigh, NC. This clip on Youtube shows the style with James Alan Shelton, current Ralph Stanley guitarist on their DVD Clinch Mountain Guitar.

Another N.C. Folk Heritage Award recipient who played at Art of Sound last year, African American string band musician Joe Thompson of Mebane, NC is being honored with the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts this week in Washington, D.C. Joe joins Shelby native Earl Scruggs and many others in receiving this national honor. Here's a clip of Joe Thompson with the group he inspires and is a mentor to, the Carolina Chocolate Drops.