Alleghany County Fiddler's Convention, July 20-22, 2007
This was our third visit to the Alleghany County Fiddler's Convention at Sparta, once again enjoying Becky and Robin's generous hospitality at their mountain house. Everyone was there except Bob, and Wade was a late arrival Saturday. Hannah stayed home to read the new Harry Potter.
This was a historic first for us -- we made the cut playing Cumberland Gap in the first round of competition Saturday afternoon. Saturday night we were the next-to-last of 30 bands to play (15 each in the old time and bluegrass categories) and didn't get on stage until almost midnight. Since Wade hadn't played with us in the afternoon, he stayed out of the lineup Saturday night so we wouldn't be disqualified, and was our critc and coach. We didn't win anything, but the competition was pretty stiff with bands like Benton Flippen and the Smoky Valley Boys, the Pilot Mountain Bobcats, the Slate Mountain Ramblers, and Backstep, all of which have been perennial winners at the festival.
Check out the four YouTube videos from the event on the Video Page, or click on the link with the photos below.
Click on a thumbnail to see the full size image.
 Warming up Saturday afternoon |
 Playing Cumberland Gap in the Saturday afternoon competition. See the video |
 Proof that we made the cut |
 Back at the house, Coach Wade got everybody pumped up |
 Warming up on a chilly night under the tent behind the stage just before midnight. See the video |
 Kurt was kool, kalm, and kollected |
 As was Miss Vicky |
 We were preceded by Benton Flippen and the Smoky Valley Boys, a tough act to follow. |
 Getting set up on stage. See the Camp Meeting video |
 Cuttin' loose. See the Kitchen Girl video |
 Back at the house, a pause from playing to note Mike turning Six-Oh. It was also Bob's birthday, but he was celebrating with family at home. |
 Sunday morning, by Wade |
 Robin finally appears in a Sparta photo. Is everyone talking at once? |
 Mike had picked up Erin's copy of the final Harry Potter in Raleigh at midnight Friday when the book was just released, and brought it to her Saturday morning. She finished the book by 11 PM. |
 From the garden, by Wade |
 Instrumental still life by Kurt |
 Continuing the tradition |
 Sunday morning on the porch |
