Fiddler’s Grove Festival Highlights
always Memorial Day Weekend
In planning each year’s Fiddler’s Grove Festival, we put a great deal of effort into ensuring that there are activities for all ages, all skill levels, and many interests. You may enjoy sitting in front of the Grove Stage all day to watch the variety of entertainment and competition on that stage. Or wander around the festival grounds, and you will encounter instrument workshops, musical and non-musical demonstrations (we have a roping champion who shows his roping skills when he is not picking banjo), storytelling venues, performances, and of course contests.
Want to try your hand (or feet, actually) at clogging? You can learn the basics at Fiddler’s Grove. Want to learn about the uniquely American shape note singing tradition – join in Laura Boosinger’s workshop for a sound that is like no other.
On Friday night there will be a special Dance, with music provided by some of our favorites (did you ever want to waltz to Robin Warren’s waltzes?). The Midnight Jam on Saturday night will give you a chance to play along with some of our best musicians.
Children are our future, and the music will not survive if we do not keep them involved. So there’s a special focus on children’s music and children’s activities at our festival. Fiddler’s Grove is a very family-friendly event. As a matter of public safety, pets, alcoholic beverages, and illegal drugs are not allowed on the grounds.
Competition
All instrument and band contests take place on Saturday. We offer 3 cash prizes (Champion, First Runner-Up, and Second Runner-Up) in each of the following categories:
| Junior Old Time Fiddle Junior Bluegrass Fiddle Senior Old Time Fiddle Senior Bluegrass Fiddle Certified Old Time Fiddle (fiddlers over 55) Fiddler of the Festival Twin Fiddle Junior Old Time Band Jammer of the Festival |
Junior Old Time Banjo Junior Bluegrass Banjo Senior Old Time Banjo Senior Bluegrass Banjo Junior Guitar Junior Mandolin Bass Fiddle |
Instrument Workshops
In keeping with our tradition of preserving the music of our heritage, we offer a full schedule of workshops to assist beginner and intermediate musicians in expanding their skills and learning from recognized experts on each instrument. The following workshops will take place on Saturday:
| Dulcimer Workshop Autoharp Workshop Old Time Fiddle Workshop Bluegrass Fiddle Workshop |
Old Time Banjo Workshop Bluegrass Banjo Workshop Mandolin Workshop Guitar Workshop |
Other Workshops and Demonstrations
| Storytelling Workshop Blues Workshop Clogging Workshop Song Writers Workshop Shape Note Singing Workshop Musician Stretching to Prevent Injury |
Activities of Special Interest to Children
| Storytelling Children’s Music Show Junior Competitions in All Instruments “Junior Junior” Competition Roping Demonstration Native American Dance Demonstration Midnight Jam |
Stage Special Entertainment
Throughout the festival, but primarily Friday and Saturday evenings and all day Sunday, we feature a variety of performers demonstrating their individual styles and talents on the Main Grove Stage. Performers confirmed to date include:
| Green Grass Cloggers The Shiver Show Mel Jones & His Bag of Bones Robin Warren (Master Fiddler) & Spirit Fiddle The Cockman Family Josh Goforth (Master Fiddler) |
Cane Creek Cloggers Laura Boosinger Lissy Rosemont The Ireland Family Shape Note Singing (participatory) Friday Night Dance (participatory) |
The following also take place on Saturday night on the Main Grove Stage:
| Bluegrass Band Finals Old Time Band Finals Fiddler of the Festival Playoff |
Hi,
Just wondering if you are having vendors at this event. I was at the event on Easter weekend. Please give some information about this. I couldn’t find anything on your website about vendors.
Thanks,
Susan Stevenson
Bead Therapy
Handmade Beaded Jewelry
704-872-1939
susanstevenson62@yahoo.com
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yes, we do have vendors. Please email us at fiddlersgroveinc@charter.net for information on how to become one. Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.
Yes, we do have vendors. Please email us at fiddlersgroveinc@charter.net for information on how to become one.
My son plays violin and I’m trying to get him interested in different styles of music. Your festival looks like a lot of fun. It’s a shame we’re in Australia and so far way
I ran upon your festival while getting ready to update the 2013 schedule for Thomas Maupin and Daniel Rothwell.
Thomas Maupin is a six time National Buckdance Champion a recepient of the Tennessee Govenor’s Arts Award. He has been the subject of the award winning documentary “Let Your Feet Do The Talkin” http://www.thomascancance.com Thomas is accompanied by his Grandson Daniel Rothwell the youngest National Old Time Banjo Champion. I did not see a flatfoot workshop listed for your event I am wondering if you would like to consider Thomas Maupin for that event.
Thomas travels around the country to Universities and festivals doing workshops and providing true artistic talent. Please visit http://www.banjodanielmusic.com . The tour schedule is not up for 20 13 as we are working on it now. You may also like to catch the recent clip on Tennessee Crossroads of Thomas and Daniel Tennessee Crossroads: Thomas Maupin-Buckdancer (2607-1 …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyDFpeTMJ1c
Deana Rothwell
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-Maupin-and-Daniel-Rothwell/189204117821?ref=hl
http://www.banjodanielmusic.com
615-714-9426
Thank you for letting us know about the talented Thomas Maupin!
Our schedule is already booked for this year, but please stay in touch for future events. This year is a “reunion” regrouping year for the festival. No competitions this year.
Aw shucks. North Carolina, and especially Fiddler’s Grove, are worth the trip! Save up and come next year!
