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Music Trail

Music of the Mountains

The North Carolina Mountains form the heart of a traditional music-making legacy that is unique in America. This is a region where traditional music and dance are performed and celebrated as a part of everyday life.

Music is a living tradition in the mountains of North Carolina. Many of its master musicians have been awarded the National Heritage Fellowship, our nation's highest honor for traditional artists. Doc Watson, who has become a national father figure for southern Appalachian roots music, is among this group. Traditional fiddle and banjo music of Western North Carolina plays a prominent role in Charles Frazier's novel Cold Mountain, while recent films like O Brother Where Art Thou? and Songcatcher have introduced regional music styles to new audiences.