Catfish Alley Traditional Music School is a creative platform by Brett Ratliff offering opportunities to study and engage in music common to the Appalachian tradition through a series of classes, workshops, and experiences. Appalachian music is a remarkably diverse and influential blending of styles informed by aspects of Indigenous, eastern & western European, and west African cultural traditions. Old-Time Music is a foundational style linked to lively fiddle tunes that developed alongside a variety of traditional North American folk dances, like square dancing, contra dancing, clogging, buck dancing, and others, and traditional songs that celebrate the region's history and culture. Appalachia also has a strong ballad singing tradition, which are storytelling songs passed down through generations largely rooted in the British Isles. Common instruments include the banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass, and mountain dulcimer, each adding to the unique sound of Appalachian music. Appalachian gospel music also reflects the regions historic diversity through traditional styles including shape-note singing, lined-out hymnody, and gospel blues and soul, offering heartfelt interpretations of spiritual and religious themes. Over the years, Appalachian music has significantly impacted numerous genres, including bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, rock, and pop music, demonstrating its far-reaching influence.
Classes
OLD-TIME BANJO I - BEGINNING
Learn to play old-time banjo from the ground up – no experience required. In this class, students will learn the ins and outs of the banjo style most commonly referred to today as “clawhammer.” Rooted in a down picking pattern using the thumb & forefinger, this efficient and versatile banjo method is a great way to get acquainted with the old-time Appalachian and Ozark Mountains traditional repertoire, and a solid introduction to stringed instruments, in general. We’ll break down this down-picking style into its most basic components, and learn new tunes in the process. Students must provide their own banjo. Personal recording devices strongly encouraged.
OLD-TIME BANJO II - INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
Continue beyond the basics with advanced old-time techniques such as drop-thumbing, while playing more challenging songs and fiddle tunes. You’ll work more with alternate tunings and gain advanced techniques as you add tunes to your repertoire.
FIDDLE I - BEGINNING
Begin with the basics of fiddling and learn to play simple tunes in no time. We’ll learn the A and D major scales, and start with simple melodies. Then we’ll learn several standard fiddle tunes that teach you how to play by ear and bow with confidence. In short time, you will have a small repertoire of standard fiddle tunes and be well on your way to learning many more.
FIDDLE II - INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
Continue developing fundamental techniques: learning by ear, improving intonation, and gaining control of your bow. Learn some tunes in different keys. At this level, you'll start feeling the rhythm that defines the fiddle.
GUITAR I - BEGINNING
Your musical journey starts here. Learn chords, simple strums, and tuning in a fun, relaxed group setting. You’ll be introduced to the basic elements of rhythm and harmony that will have you making music in no time! Guitar 1 is for the absolute beginner.
GUITAR II - INTERMEDIATE
Learn new chords and ways of playing and connecting them with bass runs, arpeggios, and using a capo. Discover different rhythms and pick out some melodies. Before taking Guitar 2, you should play basic open chords in the keys of A, D, E, and G, smoothly without losing the beat.
ENSEMBLE I - OLD TIME STRING BAND
For students who have finished with the introductory courses for their instruments, this class gives fiddles, banjos, guitars, and more a chance to work together to get songs "performance ready” by building the confidence and consistency it takes to make music with others. All students are invited to play and lead songs for the class and even share their own recordings with their teachers and fellow students. String Band Ensemble is a fun and challenging way to dive into creating music with others in a supportive, encouraging atmosphere.
Instruments: Guitar, Fiddle, Banjo, Bass-Upright, Mandolin, Dulcimer, Ukulele
WORKSHOPS
Kentucky Mountain Banjo:
Traditional Styles & Repertoire
Brett learned traditional banjo from his mentors growing up in Eastern Kentucky, in a style they called overhand, stroke style, or knock down (otherwise known as clawhammer). In this workshop, Brett offers perspectives, techniques, and tunes from that tradition. He has spent a lot of time sharing stories from his home, honing his craft and incorporates the hard-driving sounds of this hard-scrabbled mountain life into his performances.
In this workshop, Brett explores various traditional banjo techniques that allow the "overhand" motion to flow freely while powerfully accompanying your favorite ballads or playing for a sqaure dance.
Songs of Struggle and Resistance from the Central Appalachian Coalfields
The songs presented in this set deal with the social and economic problems that have affected people’s lives for generations in the extractive region of the Central Appalachian Coalfields. These songs come from a wide variety of sources, both living and dead. Some are by people with roots in the mountains who now live elsewhere and some by visitors to the region. Some are by well-known singers and song writers and some are by community people who were moved by a specific situation to voice their feelings in a song. They have one thing in common - they saw a problem in their own community or workplace and tried to solve it through direct group action. The Harlan County War of the 1930s, the roving pickets of the early sixties, the anti-strip-mine movement, the development of grass-roots community organizations in the War on Poverty, the rise of welfare-rights groups, the reform battles of the UMWA, and anti-mountaintop removal movements have all left their mark upon the collective face of Appalachia. Old ballads and religious songs given new words and meanings. Songs long sung in mountain churches that have become anthems at community gathering around social issues. The stories told in these songs are true stories from the lives of exceptional people. I believe these to be extraordinarily valuable insights and feelings.
Catfish Alley believes the shared, collective ideas or notions that originate from a community’s culture play a significant role in shaping our worldviews, thoughts, and behaviors. Cultural activities bind people together through shared practices, values, and norms, fostering a sense of belonging and unity.
Workshops
We offer a variety of specialty workshops in many areas of traditional music, folk arts, and crafts taught by local artists at venues all over Kentucky. Exclusive discounts and early signup opportunities are available for Catfish Alley Folk Club (CAFC) members.
Performances
We host concerts by local, national, and international performing folk and traditional artists at various locations. Tickets are regularly offered to CAFC members at discounted rates with exclusive benefits including artists meet and greets, early signups and more.
Trad Jam Sessions
We host two old-time music jams a month; the first Thursday at Mortimer Bibb’s in Frankfort from 7-9pm; and the third Thursday at West Sixth Farm in Franklin County from 7-9pm.