Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention takes a bow (or a few) on Saturday
This is the fifth year since Matt Downer of the Old Time Travelers revived The Great Southern Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention—and the event is more popular than ever. It all started 90 years ago, when local promoter J.H. Gaston, incensed that the title “Champion Fiddler of the U.S.” had been given to a Northerner by none other than Henry Ford, founded a contest to determine the best fiddle player in the South.
The notion was that this Southern champion would square off against Ford’s man in a bid to determine “the TRUE champion fiddler.” Gaston was quoted in the Chattanooga Times as saying, “How can a Yankee claim to know as much about fiddling as a ‘born fiddler’ from here in the Tennessee Valley where the art of old time fiddling originated?”
Whether the rivalry was good-natured fun or a serious matter of regional pride scarcely matters; the result was an annual competition that became one of Chattanooga’s biggest draws at the time, eventually being moved to that new-fangled construction, Memorial Auditorium. As popular as the event was, World War II brought an end to festivities—until 2010 when Downer, with support from the Crisp family and Lindsay Street Hall, successfully resurrected the event. Five years later, participation by contestants and onlookers continues to grow, adding another layer to Chattanooga’s blossoming artistic and cultural renaissance.
The event will be held Saturday, Mar. 14, beginning at noon at Chattanooga’s historic Lindsay Street Hall (901 Lindsay Street). No electric instruments are permitted. Drawing for order of contestants will be held at the registration table 15 minutes prior to start of each competition and no further registrations are allowed once numbers are drawn. Contestants must be present when their number is called to take the stage for competition. Here’s what you’ll hear if you go:
Fiddle
Prizes offered: $250, $125, $75
Old time fiddling and tunes only, may play solo or with maximum 1 additional accompanist.
Preliminary round: 2 tunes of choice.
Finals: 2 tunes of choice.
Banjo
Prizes offered:. $100, $50, $25
Old time styles and tunes only. May play solo or with maximum 1 additional accompanist.
Preliminary round: 2 tunes of choice.
Finals: 1 tune of choice.
Stringband
Prizes offered: $200, $100,$60
Old time styles and tunes only. Band must consist of at least 2 stringed instruments. 2 tunes/songs of choice, 1 required to include vocals.
Finals: 1 tune/song of choice.
Dance
Prizes offered: $60, $40, $20
Old time style dance. Dancers who wish to wear metal on shoe soles must bring a board to dance on.
Traditional Song
Prizes offered: $100, $50, $25 Pre-1930 traditional song. 3 minute time limit. Must be performed solo. Can be solo voice or singer may accompany themselves on an instrument.
Admission is $10, children under six are free and contest registration is free with paid admission.
For more information, visit oldchattanooga.com