Breaking Up Christmas

Enjoy a Saturday evening full of dancing, music and fun in downtown Mount Airy at the Historic Earle Theatre with Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer, and The Blue Ridge Girls in concert. The "breaking up Christmas" tradition goes back many years, when area residents celebrated the 12 days of Christmas and concluded the multiday celebration in early January with one final night of music and dancing.

Larry Sigmon and Martha Spencer are a duo from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, featuring mountain dance music. They have played such storied venues as the Carter Family Fold, Grand Ole Opry, Merlefest and Blue Ridge Folklife Festival. Their music features Larry's distinct singing, Martha's harmony, and instruments including the clawhammer banjo, double-slap bass, guitar and harmonica.

The Blue Ridge Girls, as the band name suggests, invoke a picturesque simplicity with their take on traditional mountain music. The trio includes Martha Spencer, Jamie Collins and Brett Morris. Their repertoire features a variety of old-time, bluegrass and country songs, as well as flatfooting, fiddle and banjo tunes. They perform original songs and unique takes on familiar crowd-pleasers. All three women grew up in musical families and are working to preserve and promote the Blue Ridge's rich musical heritage.

Tickets are $10-$12. Click here to purchase.