Apollo’s Fire conjures early 19th century rural Americana with ‘Come to the River’, an evocative and kaleidoscope journey through traditional folk songs and fiddle tunes, ballades and barn dances, and the indispensable Old Time revivalist meetings. This is music as old as the hills themselves, a melting pot of Irish, English and Scottish tunes which permeated Appalachian culture, and rural America based on field recordings of Old-Time and Appalachian singers.

'Come to the River' was conceived by Apollo’s Fire founder Jeannette Sorrell, who first began to identify with this music when, as a teenager, her family moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and she landed her first job playing piano for the Greenway Southern Baptist Church. She draws on the expertise of the great folklorists Francis James Child and Alan Lomax, and British immigrant Cecil Sharp. It features leading vocalists and instrumentalists practicing in the early American folk tradition. Fiddle, banjo, hammered dulcimer and Irish flute, with cello and harpsichord, back the vocalists’ beautiful, stark, open harmonies and shape-note hymns – tunes that are instantly recognizable and an indelible ingredient in American musical history.

“Think of cellist Yo-Yo Ma collaborating with bluegrass musicians, set the clock back two or three centuries, and you almost get the picture … joy onstage that generates joy in the audience.” – The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Dazzling fiddle playing and delicious swing … all done with great spirit and brio” – Fanfare

Track Listing:
Part I: Appalachian Wagon Train
1. Appalachian Barn Dance
2. Nobody but the Baby
3. Hold On
4. The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night
5. Willie, Prithee goe to Bed
6. Ways of the World / Dusty Miller

Part II: Love & Death
7. The Three Ravens
8. Lark in the Morning Medley
9. Old Virginny
10. The Girl who Broke my Heart
11. Wild Bill Jones

Part III: Revival Meeting
12. Wayfaring Stranger
13. Glory in the Meeting House
14. Return Again/Saviour, Visit they Plantation
15. What Wondrous Love is This
16. Dances from New England & Ireland
17. Morning Trumpet/Oh When Shall I See Jesus
18. Down in the River to Pray
19. Old Joe Clark (Bonus Track)