The live experience
What reaches the room
Carol Rifkin is a celebrated figure in Appalachian traditional music, a versatile performer, educator, and community organizer based in western North Carolina. As co-host of the radio show This Old Porch on WNCW, she helps spotlight mountain music and its living heritage. Her work has earned recognition, including the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award in 2013 for substantial contributions to Appalachian culture. Beyond performance, Carol directs the French Broad Valley Music Association and curates weekly old-time jam sessions in Hendersonville and Mills River, NC, creating welcoming spaces for musicians to share tunes, stories, and the history of the region.