REMINDER: Georgia String Band Festival this weekend
Anyone looking for their fill of traditional music and a strong dose of local history and heritage should head to downtown Calhoun Friday and Saturday.
Set for Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, this year’s festivities will take place again at downtown at the Harris Arts Center, 212 S. Wall St.
Kicking off the festival on Friday night at 7 p.m., multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins will perform old-time American music. Concert general admission tickets are $25.
Jenkins has been a members of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and also the Rhiannon Giddens Band, having performed at festivals and venues across the globe sharing his knowledge of old-time music through performances and workshops. He has earned both Grammy and Americana music award
nominations.
On Saturday, doors open at noon for the Gordon County Fiddler’s
Convention, with contests beginning at 1 p.m.
Admission is $10 at the door, with children 12-and-under free. With an armband, patrons will be able to come and go throughout the afternoon.
This year’s competition will feature old-time artists with $2,000 in prize money and ribbons awarded in the categories of singing, buck dancing, banjo, string bands, and fiddle.
Complimentary coffee will be served to guests, and food and other beverages will be available on site to purchase, with Duke’s Wings and Seafood on site with BBQ offerings for patrons who chose to purchase food onsite.
Originally established in 1924, the convention has been a platform for many important artists, historically. This year’s event marks the 16th installment of the festival’s modern revival.
Musicians must be age 15 or
older to compete. Participants may register throughout the day, but no entrant will be accepted after numbers for order
of appearance are drawn. Musicians from all over the tri-state area will compete in the categories of Traditional Singing, Buck Dance, Banjo, String Band, and Fiddle, with $2,000 in prize money up for grabs.
Visit harrisartscenter.com or call 706629-2599 for more information about this and other upcoming events.