Jonesborough: Yarn Exchange

Yarn Exchange Kicks-Off Eighth Season with Tales of Childhood

The Yarn Exchange Radio Show is set to return to the stage and the airwaves in January to kick off their eighth season of stories and music. The Jonesborough Story Initiative’s original storytelling radio show brings to life the true (mostly) tales of the region’s most interesting characters in an old-style radio show format that is a great occasion for audiences of all ages. To kick off the new season, the cast is bringing “Tales of Childhood” to the stage- filled with misadventures, teenage antics, and even grown-ups who remain children at heart. Stories hearken back to the days when news of antics at school reached home before you did, and where praise (or punishment) was ready to greet you at the door. Stories include the Overbay identical twins pulling the big switch in school (and on dates!), sibling rivalries, and practical jokes.

Audience musical favorites Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner, bringing their Piedmont Blues music from Buffalo, South Carolina, will once again kick-off the new year. Vanderford has been inducted into the South Carolina Folk Music Hall of Fame for his unique style of playing blues harp and harmonica. He studied under famous blues musician Sam “Peg Leg” Jackson, and from there, created a style all his own. Brandon Turner, with his rich resonate voice and artful guitar playing regularly astounds audiences with his renditions of Deep Ellum Blues and other classics.

The radio show is performed live at the International Storytelling Center on January 28^th at 7:00 p.m., and performs monthly throughout the year. Tickets are $5. Season Passes are available now, too, and ensures a seat all year long at the often sold-out productions. Season passes are $55. All tickets may be purchased online at Jonesborough.com/tickets or by calling the Visitor Center at 423-753-1010. The performances are aired on the last Wednesday of the month at 8PM on WETS 89.5 FM and streams online at the same time at wets.org/listen. The radio show is funded in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission.