The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FESTIVAL-MUSIC

THE UPPER CUMBERLAND FIDDLERS' CONVENTION AND FOLK COUNTY
FIDDLERS' JAMBOREE AND CONTESTS WERE HELD AT THE DEKALB COUNTY
COURTHOUSE. THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT HELD IN DIFFERENT PLACES EACH
YEAR. THE COMPETITION BROUGHT MUSICIANS FROM AS FAR AS KANSAS,
GEORGIA, AND OHIO. THERE WERE 14 CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION
INCLUDING THE FIDDLERS' SOLO WHICH HAD 40 ENTRIES. THE COMPETITION
STARTED THAT MORNING AND ENDED AT 2 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING. IT WAS A
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND EVEN MORE INTERESTING FOR A MUSICIAN
WHO COULD REALLY APPRECIATE THE SKILL OF THE PLAYERS, NONE OF
WHOM WERE PROFESSIONAL. PEOPLE IN THE CROWD KEPT COMMENTING THAT
"THIS IS ALMOST AS GOOD AS THE GRAND OLD OPRY!" THAT THEY HOLD IN
VERY HIGH REGARD. SINCE I'VE ATTENTED THE OPRY SEVERAL TIMES, I CA
SAY THAT I'D MUCH RATHER GO TO A FIDDLERS' CONVENTION ANY DAY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; SMITHVILLE

Date learned: 07-01-1972