Grammy Award-winning musician Kathy Mattea, known for her songs with introspective lyrics and social activist themes, will speak at Berea College on Thursday, April 7, at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. The event is the 2010 Appalachian Lecture, co-sponsored by the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center.

Kathy Mattea

Mattea’s presentation at Berea College is titled “My Coal Journey,” a program incorporating stories from her West Virginia family history and her advocacy for the environment, combined with a slide show and a performance of several songs from her 2008 album “Coal.”

"When I decided to do this, I wanted to be very careful about the songs I chose. I wanted some labor songs, some songs that articulated the lifestyle, the bigger struggles, and I wanted a wide variety musically," says Mattea. "Most of all, I wanted it to speak to the sense of place and the sense of attachment people have to each other and to the land." The album features songs written by Jean Ritchie, Billy Edd Wheeler, Hazel Dickens, Si Kahn, Utah Phillips, Merle Travis and Darrell Scott.

While in Berea, Mattea will also be a featured guest on “Head of the Holler,” an Appalachian talk show produced by Berea College and broadcast on KET. The episode will air later this year.

Other upcoming Berea College events include:
* April 7, 8 and 9: Modern Dance: Kinetic Expressions '11 at 8 p.m. in Seabury Arena
* April 8, 9 and 13-16: Berea College Theatre presents the play “The Children's Hour” at 8 p.m. in McGaw Theatre
* April 12: Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds & Jazz Ensemble concert at 7 p.m. in Gray Auditorium

For a complete listing of all Berea College convocations in 2011 visit www.berea.edu/convocations. View the online calendar at http://community.berea.edu/calendar/main.php for more information about Berea College events.