Appalachian Swing

WHO

Fiddler, singer, songwriter, tunesmith, Appalachian-style dancer, SUSI GOTT hails from western North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Having grown up pioneer-style, in a log cabin without electricity or running water or any other conveniences, she is one of the few modern-day artists who has lived the texts of the songs she sings. With 50 years of performance already in her pocket, Susi has played with such legends as EDDIE ADCOCK, MAC WISEMAN, MIKE SEEGER, and HAZEL DICKENS, among others. Also at ease in the Irish style, she has toured with MICK MOLONEY, ROBBIE O’CONNELL, and LIZ CARROLL. In the 1980’s, as an ambassador of American music and dance, she participated in tours of West Africa and South and Central America for the U.S. State Department. In 1997/98 she served as Assistant Director of East Tennessee State University’s BLUEGRASS & COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM.

Throughout a 20-year stint of collaboration with European artists, Susi toured extensively for the JEUNESSES MUSICALES DE FRANCE, appeared in numerous theaters and festivals across Europe, and accompanied folk star HUGUES AUFRAY at the OLYMPIA in Paris. She also co-wrote the music for two televised films by ALINE ISSERMAN and won the 1996 bluegrass division of the CHRIS AUSTIN SONGWRITING CONTEST for her lyrics at MerleFest.

Today, Susi proposes several different options tailored to your particular budget and the ambiance you wish to create. Be it acoustic country, bluegrass, ballad singing or old-time swing, you’re sure to fall under the spell of this cosmopolitan lady with the Appalachian heart!

WHAT

Following the phenomenal success of Joel and Ethan Coen’s film “O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?” the music from deepest Appalachia has known an unprecedented resurgence, resulting in several Grammys for participating musicians. Since its release, other films have carried on the torch. “SONGCATCHER” recounts the discovery of the richness of English, Scottish and Irish ballads forgotten in their native land but preserved intact in the small corner of Western North Carolina in which Susi was born.

In reality, it was a British musicologist, CECIL SHARP, who collected the first of these ballads in a referential book that came out early in the twentieth century. Later, in the 1960’s, JOHN COHEN of the NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS contacted banjo-player and dance caller PETER GOTT (Susi’s father) for an introduction to his friends and neighbors of Madison County. This resulted in a second, if more modest, collection, with the difference that the songs were recorded this time, and could be heard by those who wished to emulate the style. The recordings can be found on Folkways and Rounder, and are references for those who seek authentic music of a time almost gone by, but ready for its reawakening.

A third widely-recognized film, “COLD MOUNTAIN”, also tells the story of the land of Susi’s upbringing, accompanied by the same music that Susi and her ensembles bring to the stage today.

WHY

SELECTED APPEARANCES

Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops~Vocal Week Instructor~2023
White Horse Black Mountain--2022
Hoppin' John--Shakori Hills, NC--2022, 2021 (with the Green Grass Cloggers)
Perelandra--Asheville--2018 (with Sheila Kay Adams)
Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival--2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Swannanoa Gathering~Fiddle Week Instructor~2005, 2006
Mirande Country Music Fesival, France--1995, 2004
The Olympia with Hugues Aufray, Paris--2000,1991
Interceltic Festival of Lorient, France--1990
Kennedy Center, Washington DC--1986
“Talk of the Town” TV show in Nashville, TN--1986
Radio-Telefis-Eirean, Dublin--1983
Nashville Network’s “Fire on the Mountain”--3 episodes
National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered”--1982
The World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN--1982
The Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC--1997

SELECTED REFERENCES

Her voice sounds like the mountains themselves had broken into song. It's the rich timeless voice of this place we both call home.

--Robin Tolleson, 2022

A talented American author-composer-interpreter, Susi Gott raises her creations to the highest of musical art, daring to mix and match different styles of country music with fantastic results.

--Jean-Marc Chevauché
La Voix du Nord
July 5, 2002

This youthful violinist from the Appalachias possesses a heart-rending voice with which she delivers the blues in magical fashion. To discover with urgency...

--Le Courrier du Loiret
November 22, 2001

The authenticity represented by Susi Gott, violinist and solo vocalist with a soul-stirring voice, touches the heart of a public that is ever impressed by this immensely talented Appalachian lady.

--Patrick Goupil

Since her early beginnings on stage, her musical career has flourished and she is on her way to becoming a major international artist.

--Kingsport Times-News
Kingsport, Tennessee
July, 1988

WHERE

SELECTED RECORDINGS

Buddy Davis--THESE DAYS--2018
Susi Gott & Christian Séguret--CAROLINA (CoProd)--1999
Gildas Arzel (Sony)
Hugues Aufray--LIVE A L’OLYMPIA (Musidisc)
Thierry Massoubre & Christian Séguret--GUITARES (Silex)
Robbie O’Connell--LOVE OF THE LAND (Green Linnet)
Eddie Adcock and Talk of the Town (CMH)
The Peter Gott Family--COWBELL HOLLOW (Skyline)
PICKIN’ IN THE BLUE RIDGE (Skyline)
ANTHOLOGY OF FIDDLER’S GROVE--1978
RED HERRING--1985
HAPPY ANTHEMS (Kosinus)
Mahogany Spirit--SOUL MATES
Bertrand Coquegniot--BANJO RENDEZVOUS--1987
Michel LeLong--NOIR & BLANC--1996
Jérôme Tiphane--CLIN D’OEIL
Eric Cousin--PATCHWORK
BLUEGRASS RENDEZVOUS
O SUSANNA!--1996
MANDOLINES
EUROGRASS

SELECTED FILMS

A VIDEO POSTCARD OF THE BLUE RIDGE (Ron Ruhel)
TALKING FEET (Mike Seeger)
Hugues Aufray--LIVE A L’OLYMPIA
LES ENFANTS D’ABORD (Aline Issermann--M6)
L’AUBAINE (Aline Issermann--France 3)
THE MOST POWERFUL INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS (Elizabeth Trinkaus--Life Enrichment Consulting Video Series)

BOOKING

Alleghany Productions 1100 Tater Gap Road Marshall NC 28753 

828-301-2792