Last updated: December 14th, 2011 @ 21:12:46

Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival 2012 Announces Plans

Storytellers and musicians from Birmingham, Ala., and Decatur, Ga.,  will be featured at the 2012 Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival Oct. 12 and 13.

The popular Dill Pickers vocal stringband/theatrical group from Birmingham is returning once again to kick off the main event at the 7 p.m. shows, and Dolores Hydcock and Carmen Deedy will complete the lineup.

The Dill Pickers play and sing a variety of music in an upbeat fashion that keeps the audience wanting more. They add a few comedy routines in the mix, and it’s entertainment that is fun for all. Check out their music at www.thedillpickers.com.

Birmingham actress and storyteller Hydcock not only tells a story, she also sings and dances it and becomes some of her characters. She transitions from medieval personas  to North Alabama mountaineers  to the spirited Cajun people of Southwest Louisiana. She has performed one-woman plays and been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tenn.  She is also a founding member of Birmingham’s Association of Cajun Music Enthusiasts. Visit her website at www.storypower.org.

Deedy, who was born in Havana, Cuba, came to the U.S. in 1964. A children’s author, she began by  writing a collection of stories, Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia, which was featured as NPR commentaries on All Things Considered.

Over the past 20 years, Deedy has told stories to hundreds of thousands of school children and was the 2008 National Spokesperson for School Library Media Month. She has also spoken before Pulitzer prize winners,  Noble Laureates, major corporations and heads of state. More information is available at  www.carmenagradeedy.com.

Once again, the festival will be held at the Carneal ArtsRevive building at 3 Church St. Swappin’ Ground will be open from 5:30 til 6:30 each evening for anyone to tell stories, and the food court opens at 5:30.