Asheville Crankie Fest is a celebration of artists, musicians, and makers who gather to awaken the ancient art of the crankie — a moving scroll where image and melody weave together to form a tapestry. This is an art form with historical roots in cultures from around the world, but is near and dear to our Appalachian musicians sharing heartfelt ballads as they travel through the valleys. Painted, printed, cut, and sewn scrolls show these stories as the cranker tells and sings them, inviting the audience along on the journey. The handmade meets the heartfelt, and the simple act of cranking becomes a spell — winding time, memory, and imagination together.
