July 2024 From The Editor

July brings a bounty of opportunities to experience Old Time music. First are our jams at Boyd's Jig and Reel and the Laurel Theater. (Crafty South will be back in September) In the Festival world, we have the Smithfield (TN) Fiddlers’ Jamboree July 5-6, The Swannanoa (NC) Gathering Old Time Week July 21-27, and pre-camping for Clifftop (WV) July 26-30 (the Festival officially starts on July 31).

 

In other events, the Knoxville Contra Dance is every Monday, and The Museum of Appalachia presents their Independence Day Anvil Shoot Celebration with lots of music and anvil shoots throughout the day on July 4. Towards the end of the month, the Knox County Jug Stompers will play a no-cover 21+ show at Boyd’s Jig and Reel. The Laurel Theater Square Dance will resume on July 25. 

 

There are also multiple opportunities to see Old Time Masters Bob Carlin and Dan Levenson when they come to town in late July and again in early August. Start with a free show at Barley’s Knoxville on July 28, and an appearance on the WDVX Blue Plate Special radio show on July 31. They will be back in town on August 5 to play for the Knoxville Contra Dance, and Dan Levenson will play a free show at the RiverView Family Farm in Farragut on August 9. Dan will also be our special guest at the August 8 Laurel Theater Old Time Jam.

 

 Please visit the Calendar page to get more details and web links for all events.

Some history of recording pioneer and fiddler Ambrose “Uncle Am” Stuart has been added to the website. Uncle Am was from Morristown, and a bona fide East Tennessee music celebrity. Read more about his contributions to early “Country”/”Hillbilly” music on his Music page.

 

Tune histories have been added for Booth Shot Lincoln and Shove The Pig's Foot A Little Further In The Fire. Booth Shot Lincoln is from the collection of Bascom Lamar Lunsford from Mars Hill, NC. Did you know that there are lyrics? Shove The Pig’s Foot is associated with another Western North Carolina fiddler, Marcus Martin. Several versions of this tune’s history are explored - there may be some surprises from what you have been told over the years.

 

We were sorry to hear that Fiddler Magazine is discontinuing their print edition and going a digital only format. They were founded in 1994. Increasing costs, lack of advertisers, and declining interest were cited as reasons for this decision.

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Jubilee Community Arts, parent organization of the Laurel Theater, announced the election of five new Board members on June 20th at their annual meeting. New Board members are Allen Miller, Amanda Humphreys, Mark Murray, Mindy Cooper, and Herb Williams. The Board also honored retiring concert manager Toby Koosman (since 2002) and retiring Executive Director Brent Cantrell (since 1997).

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Have A Great Summer!

Mark