Storytelling is the heart of soul of who we are as a people.

Whether from the hills of Appalachia or the fertile fields of the nation’s Breadbasket or the shores of the mighty Pacific, storytelling connects us all.

And, nowhere will there be a stronger connecting thread than at the 2015 Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival in Brundidge and Troy the last weekend in January.

The 2015 Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival will bring back audience favorites, Donald Davis, the Dean of Storytelling, and Barbara McBride-Smith, a talking tornado with a Texas twang. The 9th annual storytelling festival will also feature two voices new to the Pike Piddlers, Tim Lowry and Josh Goforth.

The New York Times said of Donald Davis: “His stories often leave listeners limp with laughter at the same time they are struggling with a lump in the throat. No teller ever wants to follow Davis on stage. He’s just that good.

Barbara McBride-Smith’s colorful voice reminds listeners of a fire and brimstone preacher, a carnival barker or a used car salesman or, perhaps, Butterfly McQueen with a Texas twang.

Tim Lowry has been called Americana with a microphone. His stories come from his Kentucky roots and along the “Sweet Tea Trail.” His tales are of growing up Baptist, exciting road trips, baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.

Josh Goforth is from the mountains of Western North Carolina, the nesting place for fine storytellers. Goforth, a Grammy nominee and one of the finest fiddlers in the country, is a master at combing stories and music.

The Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival will open with supper and stories at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge Friday night, Jan. 30 ($25) and continue with three storytelling concerts at the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University in Troy on Saturday, Jan. 31. Concert times are 10 a.m. ($10) and 2 p.m. ($10) and 6:30 p.m. ($15). All-day Saturday tickets are $30. Pre-show music begins 30 minutes prior to the storytelling concerts.

For tickets or information, call 334-685-5524, 334-670-6302 or 334-372-1001.