Holt demonstrated a way of playing the washboard that he said he learned from 122-year-old Susie Brunson of Bamberg, S.C. He said she taught him to play with thimbles on his fingers, striking the washboard in rhythmic patterns, strumming only occasionally. The washboard was played to accompany everything from gospel to dance music in the Carolinas, Holt said.
Holt asked the audience to play “hambone” for a number of songs. This involved clapping hands and slapping arms and legs in sometimes complicated patterns. He said he was impressed by how quickly the audience caught on.
“You might be my best audience ever,” he said.
Some of the many other songs performed at the concert included “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” “Travelin’ Man” and “Railroad Bill.”
The next concert in the New Harmonies series will be Thursday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. and will feature Brushfire Stankgrass Trio.  The trio’s music, which includes the influences of hip hop, jazz and reggae, has been called “quintessential modern mountain music.”
The concert will be held outdoors at the Landrum Library.Check for updates or schedule changes prior to any event: infodepot.org or 864-457-2218.  All events are free. Bring your lawn chair or blanket. No alcohol is allowed on library property.
Local sponsors for the Landrum New Harmonies project include Jackson Grove United Methodist, Landrum Friends of the Library, Landrum United Methodist Church, the Polk County Community Foundation/Mary F. Kessler Fund, Spartanburg School District One, Spartanburg County Public Libraries, the City of Landrum, The John L. Petty Family/Petty Funeral Home, the Landrum Area Business Association, The Susan Patricia Hodge Foundation and Whitney Blake.
The New Harmonies events are associated with a traveling interactive Smithsonian Institution exhibit that will be on display at the library Aug. 4 – Sept. 16.
The exhibit explores the distinct cultural identities of American roots music through a selection of photographs, recordings, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles. The exhibit will be open during regular library hours.