See a list of upcoming performances and workshops on Saro’s home page.
Saro has taught and toured as a musician and historian, performing at venues ranging from 3,000-person college symposiums to grade-school classrooms and traditional music camps. Saro offers in-person and online workshops on topics including Southern Appalachian ballads, work songs, Southern movement songs, Shaker songs, labor struggles, hollering traditions, badass women in folksong and more. She performs original and traditional material as a solo artist, and as part of her Celtic band Émigré. Email Saro at blairpathways@gmail.com for inquire about performances, workshops and one-on-one lessons.
Program Offerings Include:
- The Ancient Folklore of Ballads and Folksongs
- Songs and Stories of the West Virginia Mine Wars
- Original Songs
- Hollering
- Songs of Resilience and Protest from the Carolina Textile Mills
- Resistance Songs through Time
- Wassailing and Midwinter Songs
Workshop Offerings Include:
- Appalachian Ballads
- Mountain Songs from the Church to the Picket Line
- Movement and Protest Songs
- Work Songs from Field to Sea
- Shaker Songs
- Songs of Coal and Coal Wars
- Group Songs for the Soul
Saro offers one-on-one lessons (virtual and in-person) on any of the above topics. Inquire at blairpathways@gmail.com to learn more.
Past Venues Include:
- Traditional Song Week at the Swannanoa Gathering, NC
- Summer Acoustic Music Week (SAMW), NH
- The Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie, Aberdeen, Scotland
- TradMad Folk Music Camp, MA
- Youth Traditional Song Weekend, MA
- The Gotta Get Gon Festival, NY
- The Firefly Gathering, NC
- Carolina Mountains Literary Festival, NC
- Folklore Society of Greater Washington Midwinter Festival, D.C.
- Parkway Playhouse, NC
- Whippoorwill Festival, KY
- Colgate University, NY
- Berea College, KY
Testimonials for Saro’s Workshops:
“Our attendees loved Saro’s powerful vocal style, the deep research and inviting teaching method she brings to workshops, and her passion for the people behind her songs. As an organizer, working with Saro was a joy. She was always professional, quick to get back to us with programming ideas answers to questions, and flexible in dealing with last-minute hiccups.” — Ian McGullam, Youth Traditional Song Weekend Organizing Committee
“Saro Lynch-Thomason is not only a marvelous musician, but also an exceptionally skilled teacher…Her “knee-to-knee” approach, her careful and thoughtful method of breaking down lengthy story-songs for quick absorption, and her relaxed but confident demeanor and expert grasp of the old songs contributed to a workshop environment in which all were able to make positive progress.” — Dr. Marc Faris, Teaching Assistant Professor of Music Theory/Composition, East Carolina University
“Saro’s ballads workshop was wonderful. I loved her selection of ballads. The way she taught us the ballads worked well for me, especially her using her hand to show the rising and falling of the pitches as we repeated back phrase by phrase what she sang. The discussion of each ballad after we learned it was very interesting. It was super fun and all levels of singers could do well there.” — Kare Strong, student
“I loved Saro’s workshop on Appalachian Ballads. Saro is passionate about old ballads and keeping the tradition alive by adding verses or music to found lyrics. She made the whole process so fun & accessible. We were all singing right away and feeling a part of a long & beautiful tradition of story-songs. I was so inspired that I started writing a ballad the next day! I am so grateful that Saro brings so much love & caring & consciousness to these special songs. She is a local and national treasure for all of us.” — Alinahh Ever, student