Through the Woods CD/DVD Combo by The Okee Dokee Brothers (All Ages) *Grammy Winner*

An Appalachian Adventure Album!  Out May 20, 2014! 

I write about growing up in Appalachia a lot on my blog, I know.  I mean, I write about early childhood education and I spent the first twenty years of my life in SE Ohio, so I have a vast pool of memories to draw from when writing about connecting with my own kids.  It is really hard not to make correlations, you know?  I’m proud I grew up there and I do realize that many people outside the area have a terrible notion that we are all ‘hicks’ and ‘hillbillies’ which makes me laugh.  You know, it was where I got most of my formal education (I also received my Bachelors living in Appalachia.)  Don’t get me wrong, I am also proud of what I have accomplished since leaving the area.  I probably (?) could not have done half of what I have done in life had I stayed there, but that doesn’t mean I do not appreciate growing up there and that I am largely defined by Appalachia.

I do have mixed feelings about wanting to return to Appalachia to give my kids that outdoor rural upbringing yet wanting them to have opportunities they could not get that they can in Austin or other larger cities.  It is quite a puzzling thing to even decide what is a better environment- in some ways I want them to have both- but since we are still in Austin I know it honestly is lack of job opportunities surrounding my hometown that do not make things realistic.  That said – I love that my kids can still visit the area and since all of our (Bob’s and my) immediate family live there.  It is important to us that they do get an opportunity to see a small slice of our background.  Of course, that is what draws me to the Okee Dokee Brothers and their new album that focuses on Appalachian music and adventures.

I first wrote about the Okee Dokee Brothers in a review post back in December 2012 before they won a Grammy, so you can say we have been fans of this musical team for a little time now.  They are doing the cool CD/DVD combo thing again which Brooke loves.  Who doesn’t love musical videos, right?  But let’s get down to the heart of the album and if you don’t know much about the Appalachian Trail, this is a great introduction of the journey and the music!

What is Appalachia?  Appalchia spans portions of several eastern to southern states in the United States.  I like this map from Wikipedia that outlines the Appalachian region.  I grew up in the SE Ohio portion.

What is the Appalachian Trail?  The Appalachian Trail is a famous marked hiking trail that spans many (though not all) of the Appalachian states (and some that are not) and follows a ~2,200 mile stretch from Georgia to Maine.  Here is a cool interactive map of the trail here.  It was conceived by a forester, Benton MacKaye, in 1921.  It quickly became a multi-state parks project and still accepts donations for its upkeep.  Many people hike this trail every year and it is quite famous for producing literary gems!

The Okee Dokee Brothers actually HIKED this trail to learn and get inspired by the Appalachian area and learn about its music.  Now, this was impressive to me and I loved that they recorded their adventures for film, too.

Q&A with the Okee Dokee Brothers!  Yup, they talked to me (well, through e-mail, but still….)!

Q:  I have never had the good fortune to hike the Appalachian Trail and I am from Appalachia!  Can you tell me more about your overall experience for my readers who are learning about it for the first time?

A:  Sure! The Appalachian Trail (or the AT) is very long: It stretches through 14 different states, and is about 2,180 miles from start to finish. Also, the total elevation gain from Georgia to Maine is the same as climbing Mount Everest 16 times! Walking the full trail usually takes anywhere from five to seven months.

Of course, the AT is also very accessible for hikers who don’t want to hike the full trail. In fact, it’s so easy to just hike sections of the trail that between two to three million people hike a portion of it each year!

We hiked for thirty days along parts of the trail in Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. We carried everything we needed in our backpacks: tents, clothes, food, and cooking gear.

Q:  What was your favorite spot on the trail?  Why?

A:  It’s hard to pick just one favorite spot, but one highlight was Greyson Highlands State Park in Virginia. That’s where we encountered a herd of wild ponies grazing along the trail.  Not only was it fascinating to watch these miniature horses roam freely over mountain tops, but the views up there were magnificent!

Q:  So you have taken us down the Mississippi in your last album and this time you have covered Appalachian bluegrass.  Where are you traveling for your next album?

A:  We think we’ll be heading out west next!  Maybe to explore our home state of Colorado, see Wyoming and Montana, ride some horses, learn about the continental divide and the history of the west, and write some western tunes!

Thanks!!

Joe and Justin

Super cool, right?  I thought so, too!

I think that is what makes this group so great, there is a genuine connection to getting down to our young nation’s roots and music that continues to shine through in this follow-up album.  The music is not placating to the media’s notion of Appalachia as being backward, but instead as I have seen it many times as beautiful, friendly and sometimes difficult terrain.  I’d rather not think ‘Deliverance’ when I hear banjo music, ya know? Le sigh.  Thankfully, the Okee Dokee Brothers share those same sentiments and their genuine love of all things bluegrass makes this such a beautiful album for my family.  I could see another Grammy nod for this!

Educational Guide!  Check out this really cool educational guide that the Okee Dokee Brothers put together about the Appalachian Trail and its history.

Advanced Copies!  While the official release for this album combo is May 20, the band had a pre-release for loyal fans which is really fun.  Check out their website below if you are interested in purchasing the album early!  Available today!

 “A Great Trail from Maine to Georgia!”

Through the Woods CD/DVD Combo by The Okee Dokee Brothers (All Ages) *Grammy Winner*

www.okeedokee.org

List Price: $ 25.00