AllMovie

Some of the true masters of Appalachian folk music are captured on film in this collection of rare performances. Shady Grove: Old Time Music From North Carolina, Kentucky & Virginia includes the only known performance footage of the great Dock Boggs, who lends his banjo and passionate vocals to "Pretty Polly," "Country Blues" and "I Hope I Live"; the equally legendary Roscoe Holcomb is also represented with three songs, including "Black-Eyed Susie" and "Old Smokey." Tommy Jarrell and Kilby Snow round out the presentation.