Fiddling Friends Prepare for a Show at the Historic Carter Fold

Fiddling Friends Prepare for a Show at the Historic Carter Fold

In the heart of Hiltons, Virginia, a unique duo is getting ready to take the stage at the iconic Carter Family Fold. The internationally acclaimed bluegrass act, J.P. Mathes and Fiddling Leona, return to the historic venue after an expansive global tour and a notable feature on a popular Netflix show.

Passionate About Bluegrass

Renowned for their passion towards the traditional American genre, the bluegrass duo is a favorite among staunch Carter Fold audiences. Having toured internationally and played at numerous global venues, Mathes and Leona continue to hold Carter Fold dear to their hearts. Mathes once commented, “It’s the last place that feels like that — that actually feels like a Saturday night barn dance.”

Mathes and Leona’s concert, scheduled to start by 7:15 p.m., Saturday, April 6, at the Carter Family Fold, promises to be an exciting event with a special tribute to Bill Clifton, a legendary bluegrass singer, and a long-time friend of the founding Carter family.

Meet the Duo

Leona, a fiddle virtuoso, initially learned classical violin at 4 years of age in her native land of Japan, influenced by her father’s love for American country music. After moving to the US, she became the first international student at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and graduated with a degree in bluegrass and country music. She also boasts a certificate in digital audio recording from the Hazard Community and Technical College’s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music.

Mathes, on the other hand, hails from Elizabethton and is a banjo enthusiast. He learned to play the banjo on his father’s homemade instrument, a gift from his great-grandmother. His passion for strings saw him earn special permission to join the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band while still in high school, and he continued with the band through his graduate studies. It was during their tenure at ETSU that Mathes and Leona first crossed paths and discovered their mutual love for bluegrass.

Global Impact

Not just confined to making music, the duo was also featured in a Netflix show, “Swap Shop” which revolves around their search for antique finds in the Appalachia region. Through their food truck, John Paul USA, they share Japanese culture and authentic street fare in the Appalachian region, bringing a slice of international culture to the locals.

Accompanying Mathes and Leona at their Carter Fold performance will be John Suits on the guitar, Jason Crawford on the mandolin, and David Babb on the bass. Adding to this, some of Fiddling Leona’s own students will also take the stage to perform a few songs, adding a unique flair to the show at the Carter Fold.

About Carter Family Fold

The Carter Family Fold serves as a memorial to the legendary Carter Family (A.P. Carter, Sara Carter, and Maybelle Carter), who are widely acknowledged as the pioneers of the commercial country music industry with their recordings dating back to 1927. Operated as a nonprofit organization, the venue hosts weekly old-time country and folk music concerts. This year, the Carter Fold is celebrating its 50th anniversary, featuring special shows each month in honor of the milestone.

Event Details

• What: J.P. Mathes, Fiddling Leona and Friends Concert with a tribute to Bill Clifton at the Carter Family Fold.
• When: 7:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 6.
• Where: Carter Family Fold, 3449 A.P. Carter Highway, Hiltons, Virginia.
• More info and tickets: Visit the official website.