Thank you for celebrating North Carolina Piedmont Blues music.

SOOTS 2nd Annual Piedmont Bluesfest on September 30th was a smashing success. SOOTS would like to thank everyone who took time to appreciate the music that our musician partners (Lightnin' Wells and Boo Hanks) were able to put on for a crowd of over 50 people. We would like to encourage everyone who attended to come to our 7th Annual Fat Tuesday Film Festival on February 21st. If you are unable to enjoy the delicious student-made gumbos and the traditional Piedmont music of Ironin' Board Sam, fear not! Our 6th annual Blues Revue will be on April 13th at the Longview Center in Downtown Raleigh, shortly after Fat Tuesday.

The Sustaining Roots Music Community Project (SOOTS) congratulates the Raleigh Charter and greater Triangle community for supporting Boo Hanks, George Higgs & John Dee Holeman at the LongView Center last month. SOOTS raised over $2900.00 to help these talented musicians and their cultural treasures through the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

SOOTS would also like to note that this event would not have been possible without our many sponsors who are listed on Sustainers.

Many hearts were warmed, but we still need your help. Come to the May Day Cake Bake and Art Farm on May 18th @RCHS to support our student artists because you “can have your cake and eat it too” when you support SOOTS.

Thanks to the generosity of the Harvard Club of RTP, Sustaining Roots Music Members H. Stroud, M. Gaines, E. Karsten and SOOTS founder Charles Montague were able to attend a luncheon and lecture on UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Bill Ferris' new book Give My Poor Heart Ease which includes anecdotes, music and photos of Mississippi (like this beautiful picture of Amanda Gordon) in the 1960s.

Not only was SOOTS thrilled to meet Mr. Ferris and learn of his experiences regarding work songs, church sermons and juke joint blues in the Deep South, but we were excited at the prospect of Mr. Ferris speaking at Raleigh Charter High School in the 2010-11 academic year. Mr. Ferris welcomed us with open arms and we can't wait to return the favor.

7^th Annual May Day Cake Bake and 3^rd Annual Art Farm

As another school year for students at Raleigh Charter and the greater Raleigh community begins to round out, it is important to remember and appreciate life’s tasteful and tasty qualities. Reward yourself for another year of hard work as you join SOOTS on Friday, May 18th with creativity and cake in our 7^th Annual May Day Cake Bake and 3^rd Annual Art Farm.

For just $6 you get two slices of delicious homemade cake and almost all the milk you can drink. Hosted on the RCHS patio, our May Day Cake Bake is the perfect way to celebrate the spring.

Additionally, SOOTS will host our 3rd Annual Art Farm in the parking lot. Art Farm is an event that celebrates the creativity of the RCHS community by showcasing the visual and performing arts. To become one of our artists, please contact Emma Blondin or Charles Montague.

SOOTS will be selling student-designed and student-screened t-shirts, as well as concert memorabilia and SOOTS Series CD's. As always, all proceeds after cost will go to benefit elderly musicians via the Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Advance Tickets for Cake Bake will be sold in the Atrium beginning on May 9th. Traditionally Cake Bake sells out well in advance, so be sure to buy your tickets early! If you are not a Raleigh Charter student and are interested in purchasing tickets to Cake Bake, contact David Cookmeyer, Taylor Hayes or Emma Blondin for reserve tickets.

SOOTS’ First Medical Mini Grant: Matching Funds for George Higgs Raises $650.00

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Get a taste of Ironing Board Sam’s music from SOOTS’ 2010 UNC gig.

The 7th annual Fat Tuesday Film and Music Festival: Thank you!

SOOTS' 7th Annual Fat Tuesday Film and Music Festival was a smashing success. With the help of our guests and our sponsors, over $2000 were raised to benefit aging Blues Musicians like Ironing Board Sam. SOOTS would like to thank everyone who made the success possible, including all of our sponsors, parents, volunteers, and guests.

That being said, the excitement isn't over yet! On Friday, May 18th SOOTS' 7th annual Mayday Cake Bake and 3rd Annual Art Farm will be held at Raleigh Charter High School from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The event will feature student-made cakes, student-made artwork, music performed by current Raleigh Charter students and Raleigh Charter Alumni, and almost as much milk as you can drink. Tickets for cake will cost $6, and attendance at Art Farm will be free of charge.

Again, we at SOOTS cannot thank those involved with Fat Tuesday enough. Without you all, the preservation of the Blues and the support of musicians like Ironing Board Sam would not be possible.

We hope to see you all in May!

Have questions? Contact Charles Montague.

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Sustaining Roots Music's 6th Annual Blues Revue: Thank you!

On April 13th, 2012 the Sustaining Roots Music Group at Raleigh Charter High School hosted Justin Robinson and the Mary Annettes, John Dee Holeman, and Tad Walters for a crowd of over 275 people, successfully raising over $2700 in the course of the night. SOOTS would like to thank all the people who participated in the event, whether through attendance, sponsorship, or management.

If you were unable to make this celebratory night, remember that SOOTS’ 7th annual Mayday Cake Bake and 3rd Annual Art Farm will be taking place on May 18th. The event will feature student-made cakes, student-made artwork, music performed by current Raleigh Charter students and Raleigh Charter Alumni, and almost as much milk as you can drink. As usual, the event will be hosted at Raleigh Charter High School from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Tickets for cake will cost $6, and attendance at Art Farm will be free of charge.

We hope to see you all there!

Have questions? Contact Charles Montague at cmontague@raleighcharterhs.org

Thank you to all that came out to hear Dr. Bill Ferris on Thursday, April 28th. This event was made possible by the RCHS History Department and was sponsored by SOOTS. It was a certainly a night to remember, with Dr. Ferris speaking eloquently on his personal relationship to the Mississippi Delta and it's rich musical tradition as well as providing a perspective on the academic aspects of folklore studies. Professor Ferris teaches history at UNC-Chapel Hill and is associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South, as well as the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He is widely recognized as a leader in Southern studies, African-American music and folklore. The lecture focused primarily on Dr. Ferris's most recent book, Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues. We look forward to continuing a relationship with Dr. Ferris and the Center for the Study of the American South in the years to come.