The Liars Bench continues at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center in Cullowhee on Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7pm with a “Cherokee in a Changing World: Traditional and contemporary legends, lore, and history” show theme. August’s presentation will be the second of the Liars Bench shows at the prestigious Mountain Heritage Center auditorium and a first with a Native-American theme told through stories, presentations, and songs motif.
Lloyd Arneach and Gary Carden will tell a story about the Legend of the Nunnihi/When the Tourist Came and Paul Iarussi performs his great old-time claw hammer guitar music.
Special guests include Barbara McRae of the Franklin Press presenting the mysteries of the Nikwasi mound on the Little Tennessee river; Jane Eastman, Director of Cherokee studies at WCU with a presentation on the Cherokee village at WCU; Davy Arch demonstrates the Booger Dance and other Cherokee ceremonial dances; Robert Conley, holder of the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor in Cherokee Studies chair at WCU, presents “Cherokee in a Changing World”; and Garfield Long brings Cherokee language singers from the Qualla Boundary.
Carden said “the Liars Bench is a special cultural event and an opportunity for the audience to learn about the Cherokee in the Southern Appalachians.
Regular cast members include Gary Carden, Lloyd Arneach, Paul Iarussi, Barbara Duncan, Dave Waldrop, Steve Brady, and the show’s mascot Bodine. The Liars Bench recognizes established regional artists and performers and encourages new talent also. The Liars Bench has been a crowd pleaser from the very first show in June of 2010 promoting any and all aspects of Appalachian culture.
“The Liars Bench is a unique blend of culturally accurate mountain Americana with traditional Southern Appalachian entertainment for everyone. We attempt to treat Appalachian culture with integrity and authenticity and to be an accurate reflection of the Southern Highlanders and their ways. This presentation of The Liars Bench may prove to be the most informative and entertaining show that we have had since our beginning in June of 2010. This show is one you will not want to miss” said Carden.
The Liars Bench was created in the early summer of 2010 by Dr. Gary Carden to promote Southern Appalachian storytelling, music, poetry, drama, and folk arts.
Info: https://theliarsbenchgazette.blogspot.com/, https://www.facebook.com/liarsbenchbunch/, The Mountain Heritage Center at WCU: 828.227.7129, theliarsbenchpr@gmail.com, garycarden14@yahoo.com
