Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Guitar competition added to Old Time Fiddlers Convention
The Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers Convention has had competitions for fiddle, banjo, string band and traditional song for the last 10 years. This year, organizer Matt Downer has added a slot for guitar players.
The event, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at 901 Lindsay (formerly Lindsay Street Hall), is a celebration of old-time music of the type most often associated with fiddle and banjo, and played by gathering family and friends on a front porch or at a community social.
It’s played without benefit of electricity or amplification, Downer said, adding that it was popular for folks a century ago as both a way to entertain and pass along stories and folklore.
“The banjo and fiddle are older, though around 1900 mail order guitars came into it, and there are some good pre-1930sstyle songs. The Sam Magee stuff is some of my favorite recordings of that in the ’20s.”
Part of the reason he added the category this year is because of the number of good pickers who come to the convention each year.
“I know that there are some real good guitar players that come, but in support roles, so this gives them the opportunity to strut their stuff.”
As in years past, the convention is an opportunity for musicians and fans to hear and talk about old-time music. One of the groups Downer is excited to hear is Uncle Shuffelo & The Haint Hollow Hootenanny.
Led by multi-instrumentalist Austin Derryberry, whose credits include fiddle, harmonica, vocals and everything else, the group also includes younger brother
Connor Derryberry.
“He was playing the bones when he first started coming here and now he has added banjo.”
Downer added that getting to know the artists and fans over the last decade has been among the most gratifying part of producing the event.
“That is one of the neat things — to see young people get turned on and get excited about this kind of music,” he said.