Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, and The Sounds of The South

This weekend, The Takeaway presents two remarkable and extended looks at the idea of America’s authentic identity.

As a debate rages in the United States over the value of the Confederate Flag and its cultural appropriation, one folklorist has spent decades of his life patching together a auditory quilt of stories, voices, and sounds that tell a narrative of the south.

Bill Ferris is a professor of History at the University of North Carolina, the senior associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South, and the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

He shares his story and the vast array of sounds that he’s collected over the years.

The quest to find the authentic American sound is about as old as the American music industry itself, steeped in the history of our country, the people, and the instruments of its parts.

It’s a journey Warren Haynes has been on for many years. The Grammy-winning guitar player and singer helped reboot the Allman Brothers 25 years ago. He also moonlighted with The Grateful Dead for many years as well, and he’s been at the helm of seminal rock band Government Mule for the better part of 20 years.

His third solo album, “Ashes and Dust,” recorded with veteran Americana band Railroad Earth, is out this weekend. He joins us to discuss his musical process and to perform in studio.

Check out a video of Warren’s in-studio performance at The Takeaway below.