The Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention

Been a while since I've written and a lot of things have passed.   More to come on that.  

Just back in town from one of the most enjoyable weekends Claire and I have  spent in a while - at the "Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention" in Lenoir NC.   This festival is the most enjoyable and well run I've attended ever.   The format is unique - especially to us Northerners.   Most of the festival is competitions for individual instruments and bands Friday and Saturday -followed by a lineup of great performances on Sunday.  These folks have the right idea - bring a lot of musicians together and let them play!!!



Onstage at Happy Valley

We (The Flophouse String Band and our roadie Claire ) went down there to compete in the band competition, but really to see a lot of friends too and enjoy the music.   The FSB gets together once a year, which is not enough, and Happy Valley was this years gig.  There are a lot of good friends in and around Lenoir - Conrad, Alex and Anne Bernhardt, Pat and Kay Crouch, Ron and Laura Shuffler - who we always look forward to visiting.   And when at Happy Valley you are sure to make a few new friends, which we all did. 

We arrived Friday and got together at Conrads place to practice our set.   In the contest you are only allowed two numbers, so we went with our favorites (or at least mine).   It took no time at all to get re-acquainted musically.   After some practice and jamming we went down to the festival.

Conrad -this may get you into heaven

This is really one festival that you want to attend - only about 450 people, a great location, good music, and a mix of people young and old.   One of the first things that stood out Saturday was the children's performance.  Conrad and a few other musicians put together a group of kids who never played an instrument, and in 30 days had them on the stage performing a few numbers.   

I caught a lot of the contests Saturday as well - the level of musicianship down in this part of the country is unbelievable!   Every act sounded like a first prize winner.   Over 100 musicians competed in the individual and band competitions, and it was worth listening to all.  

We were part of the Bluegrass Band competition and went on next to last.   Gave us plenty of time to mill around behind the stage and meet other musicians (one of my favorite pastimes).   I met quite a few who share my passion for Gibson Guitars and Mandolins and saw some pretty neat vintage instruments.  A lot of hardware!   Listening to the other bands in front of us also gave me a lot of confidence - they were good but so were we!



Showtime - the FSB in full gear - Becky, Me, Wayne, and Susan

 We went on and did our two numbers - the performance was as good as we have ever given - Susan, Wayne, and Becky were all right there. 

Me and Wayne

I felt like I was too, and most of all it was FUN!!!    The crowd gave us a big hand so I knew we had nailed it.   Two songs goes fast and it was over quickly.   We got a lot of compliments backstage from some pretty talented people and now had to wait to see if we would make the finals.   Well we did not - but either way we were pretty happy  - the competition was good but so were we and someone had to be cut.

In a way it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.   Michael Cleveland (9 time IBMA Fiddle player of the year) showed up at Alex's campsite, along with Uwe and Jens Krueger, Patrick Crouch, and Ron Shuffler for a jam session.   5 world class musicians!!!   We would have missed it had we made the next round.   The jam lasted almost three hours, and these folks know how to play with each other.  


The saturday night jam with the Kruger Brothers, Patrick Crouch, Michael Cleveland, Ron Shuffler and many more!

Standards like Sally Goodin lasted 15 minutes as they traded licks - each time a little better, and you did not want it to end.  I had a seat right next to Michael, and it was a joy to have his fiddle in my ear.   And there may have been 20 people there to listen to a session that could have commanded a top dollar! 

After that we went down to the performance tent to listen to the same folks again.   Great music - the jam was just the warmup!!!   We went to bed that night with a lot of music in our ears.



Strictly Clean and Decent with Mike Cleveland

Reggie Harris and Mike

Sunday - the last day - was all about performance's - we say our good friends "Strictly Clean and Decent" - Patrick and Kay Crouch, and Ron Shuffler put on an excellent set, followed by The Harris Brothers, Wayne Henderson and the Herb Key  Band, Laura Boosinger, and finally Michael Clevelands group.  Michael sat in with most of the groups. 
Even though a super talent he played as member of the band each time till it was his turn to headline.  And he did.   If there is a better fiddler in Bluegrass I have not heard them.   He attacks the fiddle with a passion unchained by any conventions.   You can tell he listens to a lot of music as his breaks are not standard bluegrass licks - he brings in stuff from all genres.  

Ron and Mike

One of the best numbers of his set was a piece he played on an 8 string fiddle - it sounded like three fiddles playing at once - and it was as clear as a bell  ringing!   I cant wait to see (and hear) him again!!!

The vibe was great and many of the folks sang along or got up and danced.

Alex and Anne enjoying a waltz

   When a massive thunderstorm broke out and power went off Laura Boosinger lead the audience in an acapella rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" - one of the weekends highlights!!

Josh samling the pierogis

Me, Becky, Claire, and Wayne

After the concerts we headed back to camp for some food and goodbyes.   Patrick and Kay put on a nice spread and we hung around and watched the festival move on.   I never thought Pierogis and Indian Curry would be a food pairing but it was excellent.     We had a few photo ops and then it was time to say goodbye. Hard to do after such an amazing weekend.

The really amazing part of this is that the festival only charges an admission of $10 per person on saturday - friday and sunday are free ( and up in the great white north sundays show could have easily fetched $40)  They raise money from sponsors and from free will offerings, and a lot of volunteer elbow grease.   One of the nicest things to see at the end of the day on sunday is how most of the folks in attendance pitch in and help pick up the chair and debris!  

This will be an annual event on our calender - a long way from Rome but well worth the trip!!!