Greetings from Tennessee!

As they continue preparing for their journey to Croatia in July, the Cripple Creek Cloggers were honored to represent Tennessee state's traditional culture this weekend at Tennessee Statehood Day at the Tennessee State Library & Archives in Nashville. They performed with their musical partners, the Slim Chance Band, as part of a celebration marking the anniversary of Tennessee's admission to the United States in 1796.

The event featured living history demonstrations, traditional crafts, educational exhibits, and the public unveiling of Tennessee's original State Constitution. They were pleased to share the day with other outstanding traditional artists, including the East Tennessee State University String Band, master dulcimer musician Stephen Seifert, and the Nashville Sacred Harp shape-note singers.

For them, this performance was especially meaningful because it was their final public appearance before the start of the Murfreesboro International Folkfest on June 7, where they will host visiting groups from Germany, France, and Croatia for a week of cultural exchange, music, dance, and friendship.

They are excited to continue sharing the traditions of Tennessee and the Appalachian region when we join the festival Croatia this summer. We look forward to meeting fellow performers, learning about other traditions, and celebrating the friendships that folk culture creates across borders.

Warm greetings from Tennessee,

The Cripple Creek Cloggers Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA