Fiddlers and dancers kick up their heels at the Ringgold’s 1890s Day
Jamboree Old Time Fiddlers Convention

 

Organizers at the 1890s Day Jamboree Old Time Fiddlers
Convention welcome over a hundred contestants including fiddlers, guitarists,
mandolinists, bands and cloggers from states across the south to Ringgold, Ga. on May 25, 2013.

Fiddlers and dancers struck a chord with audiences as they
cheered dozens of musicians on to victory to win nearly $7,000 in prize money
sponsored by Walter Jackson Chevrolet on the Northwest Georgia Bank stage at
the historic Catoosa County Courthouse.

“We grow more and more every year with even a greater number
of youth contestants wanting to advance on their instruments,” said contest
organizer Lewis Taylor.  “Our volunteers
work tirelessly to make this event something everyone can enjoy. Without them,
our high caliber judges, and our sponsors, we would not do this successful an
event.”

Taylor is a champion harmonica player winning titles in
several states and numerous contests.

Maddie Denton of Murfreesboro, Tenn. won the Randall Franks
Trophy at the 1890s Day Jamboree. Denton also won the 16-21 age category for
the chance to compete for the trophy.

In the fiddle off, she faced Aerin DeJarnette of Birmingham,
Ala. from 22-50 age category, who placed second, and her mother Marcia Denton
of Murfreesboro, Tenn. winner of the 51 and up category, who placed third.

The top prize is named in honor of Appalachian Ambassador of
the Fiddle Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the
Night.” He cheered the top three competitors on in their bid to win the Randall
Franks Trophy and the $500 prize. He presented the winners on the main stage
with Taylor and emcee Kevin Mudd.

Once holding the title of Georgia State Bluegrass Champion,
the International Bluegrass Music Museum Bluegrass Legend and Independent
Country Music Hall of Fame inductee is a former member of Bill Monroe’s Blue
Grass Boys, Jim and Jesse’s Virginia Boys and numerous other groups who as a
guest star often shared his talents for the Grand Ole Opry. Franks co-hosts the
Grand Master Fiddler Championship in Nashville each year. For more information,
visit randallfranks.com.

“I am amazed each year at the tremendous talents of all ages
that I see on the stage sharing Appalachian fiddle and dance traditions,” he
said. “We are blessed the 1890s Day Jamboree committee feels that its event is
an appropriate place to keep the tradition of the fiddle contests thriving and
growing each year right on the Catoosa County courthouse lawn.”

Main Stage Fusion won the team dance competition, Main Stage
Explosion took second place Main Stage Revolution won third and Main Stage
Attraction received fourth. All the groups were from Springfield, Tenn.

In the bluegrass band competition A Step Ahead of Greenbrier,
Tenn. won first place with Uncle Dub and the Rank Strangers of Calhoun and
Dalton, Ga. taking second, Blue Harvest of Ringgold, Ga. took third, McGill
& Company earned fourth and Tennessee Ridge of Tunnel Hill, Ga. received
fifth.

Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, Tenn. won both the guitar and mandolin
contests. Glenn Craver of Winston Salem, NC earned second in guitar and
Frannie DiGiovanni or Greenbrier, Tenn. took third. Jacob Johnson of Lincoln, Ala. And Jonathan Goins of Tunnel Hill, Ga.,
placed second and third in mandolin, respectively.

The next 1890s Day Jamboree Old Time Fiddlers Convention will
be Memorial Day weekend Saturday 2014 in Ringgold, Ga. For more information,
visit www.cityofringgold.com,
or  www.1890sDay.com
or Like the event on Facebook.