Georgia String Band Festival this weekend; Grammy winner Dom Flemons Friday, The Gordon County Fiddlers’ Convention Saturday
Nowhere have Gordon Countians historically excelled more than in the field of music, and The Georgia String Band Festival seeks to honor those, past and present, who exemplify this great tradition, and their rather considerable contributions to American music.
We have produced pioneers of recording and broadcasting in this area who are literally known globally, but are sadly under-appreciated in their own hometown. This festival, comprising two events (at present), endeavors to remedy this situation through authentic musical performances, engaging informational and educational offerings, exciting traditional competitions and joyous celebration of this lively home-grown entertainment that came out of our agrarian beginnings. Coming from the farms, fields and hollows that sustained our ancestors, this is “real” American music, derived from this land, before radio and phonographs.
Our indigenous music, referred to as Old Time, Mountain or Appalachian, is actually what the later (post WWII) Bluegrass and Country sprang from and was directly inspired by. Calhoun was ground zero in this development, and our Georgia Yellow Hammers, as well as Andrew and Jim Baxter, are known far and wide as pioneers to those knowledgeable about American music history. We even have a famous Blues man, Will Bennett, known as the first “Trickster” Blues singer, as he took on the attributes of the famous train robber, Railroad Bill, on his record that recalls those Alabama “Robin Hood” exploits so many years ago. Make no mistake, this is not merely dry historical music, but a vibrant life-affirming expression from our ancestors that needed it to survive a hard subsistence farming existence. Young people have always been drawn to what is now, as then, called “Old Time” music, from the 60’s folk music scene to today’s fans of the film “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou.” This is not Bluegrass, but the substantial bedrock it hatched from, and has its own particular allure, perhaps at a genetic level. It is the original “good time” music, and our Fiddlers’ Convention is the original “American Idol.”
Kicking off these festivities will be a performance by Grammy Award winner Dom Flemons, formerly of The Carolina Chocolate Drops, at the Harris Arts Center Theater, downtown Calhoun on Friday evening at 7 p.m., April 28. Dom has been touring with Old Crow Medicine Show and joined the tribute to Leadbelly at Carnegie Hall last year. With two albums in current release, he stays busy touring nationally and internationally, also producing a podcast called “American Songster.” This multi-instrumentalist/vocalist is also a scholar of American music, and manifests this Americana into a great show which will appeal to all. Tickets are $20, and may be purchased online or at Harris Arts Center.
The next day, Saturday, April 29, brings the triumphant return of The Gordon County Fiddler’s Convention, which was established here in 1924. All the great stars of popular music at the time came here to celebrate, compete and visit with the many other entertainers who were so active in creating and sustaining this great cultural effort. As many as 5,000 attended these conventions, indicating that Calhoun was indeed an important center, rivaling both Chattanooga and Atlanta in this regard. Based on our traditional competitions, musicians from Georgia and surrounding states will be here to vie for generous cash prizes at Harris Arts Center. Competitions include fiddle, banjo, singing, string band and buck-dancing, which is always a crowd favorite. Commemorative Medal/Ribbons will be awarded as well as generous cash prizes. Doors open at noon, with registration for the competitions that will begin at 1 p.m. Wristbands will permit re-entry all day, and are $10 for adults, children 12 and under admitted free. Refreshments are available. This event runs concurrent with historic downtown Calhoun’s annual BBQ Boogie & Blues, featuring a world-class BBQ competition, Classic Car Show and many other family activities.
The Georgia String Band Festival is a presentation of the Harris Arts Center, and would not be possible without generous local sponsors, volunteers and supporters such as Gordon County CVB and Historic Downtown Calhoun. For more information or tickets call 706-629-2599, visit www. harrisartscenter.com or see our Facebook Page.