Our Story

Our company, Horse Archer Productions, has been producing full length feature documentaries since 2007, including Why Old Time? and The Henry Reed Legacy . . . both on the topic of Old Time music. These films have looked at subjects in Old Time that postdate and predate the Old Time revival movement of the 1970s, and now we would like to bring you two films that explore a pair of critical elements in that movement.

The Highwoods String Band is perhaps the most famous and influential group associated with the Old Time revival movement of the 1970s, but amazingly, their contribution has never been documented in film. After forming in upstate NY, they quickly became a fixture at nearly every traditional music festival in the United States and even found themselves traveling overseas to perform. 

All five original members of the band-Walt Koken and Bob Potts (fiddles), Mac Benford (banjo), Doug Dorshug (guitar) and Jenny Cleland (bass)--have agreed to take part in the film.

The companion film will address the history and cultural significance of the Green Grass Cloggers which formed at East Carolina University in 1971 and is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary. The dance group became a popular attraction at mountain music festivals. They took traditional four partner square dancing and invented an array of unique new steps for Appalachian music to create something new and exciting for both the audience and the dancers. The Green Grass Cloggers quickly grew into a world class dance group and their significance and influence on the Old Time time scene is still apparent 40 years later.

The Impact 

Horse Archer Productions produces Old Time music documentaries because we want to properly document and acknowledge the value and history of this art form. In the case of both Highwoods Stringband and the Green Grass Cloggers, neither has received proper historical documentary attention, and we intend to fill in those gaps for future generations. 

For you, the supporter of these projects, the benefit is therefore two fold. First, you will get a pair of intelligent films you'd want to see, and second, this is a way to help record and preserve an often overlooked part of American musical culture and history.

What We Need & What You Get

Why fund two projects at once? Simply put, this will enable us to save money and produce both films more quickly. Costs for documentaries like these would be about $25,000 each (minimum!), but we can actually do both for that total with your help because we are a purposefully small and independent company. This will pay for travel, supply and equipment costs, proper crew and talent compensation, and the various fees that go into production. It will also fund the first round of DVDs. 

Plus, we give out great perks! You can get all sorts of cool stuff for your contributions.

Other Ways You Can Help