BALLAD SWAP
At about 7 p.m. I went over to Zadie’s cafe on the river for the Ballad Swap which was echoing across the river. At the center of the Ballad Swap is Sheila Kay Adams, probably in her 70’s, who both sings ballads herself but is also the teacher of a number of the people, mostly women but a few men, who sang. Sheila Kay’s daughter is the master of ceremonies. She sang, her daughter sang and even her daughter, Sheila Kay’s pgranddaughter, a four year old, sang. There was a large appreciative audience. Donations were collected for the singers, although I am sure it was love of singing and not money that attracted the ten or so singers. The ballads are all old and hand me down, about love and betrayal and death, many from directly from European ancestors through the Scotch Irish tradition.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 