Index - 2025 Monthly Website Additions
January
Eighth of January
Ninth of January
28th of January
February
28 fiddle tunes named for presidents
Plus one extra for leap year
March
Westphalia Waltz
2024 Album Releases
Jean Horner passing
April
Kingdom Coming/Year of Jubilo
May
Festival Season by Dolly & the Devil
Stephen Foster - Angelina Baker, Hard Times Come Again No More
June
Jim Childress/ Uncle Henry’s Favorites
July
Camp Meeting On The Fourth Of July
Third Of July
August
The Tennessee Ramblers
List of newly released albums
September
Quince Dillon’s High D
October
Texas/Newcastle
Why You Can’t Play Faster (And How To Fix It)
The neuroscience behind the speed barrier
Worth A Listen
November
Website 2 years old!
Big Sciota
Worth A Listen - videos
Preferred Perceptual Tempo
December
Breakin’ Up Christmas
Plus a list of 11 bonus Christmas fiddle tunes
Worth A Listen
Why Does Sad Music Feel Good?
December From The Editor
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Welcome to December! Have you recovered from Thanksgiving yet?
Some things to remember this month:
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is Dec. 2
Hanukkah begins Dec. 14
Winter Solstice begins Dec. 21
Merry Christmas!
And also Merry any of the other numerous celebrations throughout the world in December.
Not quite Holiday status yet, but did you know that December 13th is International World Violin Day? Not to fret (haha), but yes, there is also a World Fiddle Day on the 3rd Saturday in May. You are now free to let the violin vs. fiddle comparisons begin.
Tune History
Because it’s that time of year, Breakin' Up Christmas makes its annual appearance in Tune History. This tradition describes a series of house to house gatherings between Christmas on December 25th and “Old Christmas” on January 6th. And this year, because Santa knows what you really want, he added a gift just for you: a list of more Old Time Christmas fiddle tunes.
Why Does Sad Music Feel Good?
The Paradox Of Pleasurable Sadness, of course. Banjo playing neurologist Josh Turknett uses "Elk River Blues" from W. Virginia fiddler Ernie Carpenter to help illustrate what is actually happening when we listen to music that hurts. The Doc even throws in some banjo tab. Which brings up another question- Is it possible to play sad songs on the banjo? I direct you to Steve Martin who said, "The banjo is such a happy instrument--you can't play a sad song on the banjo - it always comes out so cheerful."
Women In Old Time
Don’t forget to visit The East Tennessee Historical Society’s traveling exhibition "I've Endured: Women In Old Time Music” that runs through April 19, 2026. This exhibition, organized by The Birthplace Of Country Music Museum, is "A look into the past, present, and future of the genre and the integral role women played in the development of country music as we know it today." ETHS is located at 601 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902. Stay tuned for a couple of Women In Old Time events at the Laurel Theater in March.
Worth A Listen
Old Time recordings, video or other media that you might find interesting:
Joe Bussard presents: The Year of Jubilo
78 RPM Recordings of Songs from the Civil War (2015)
With 36 page booklet about the tunes
Galax, Virginia Old Fiddler's Convention
by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings (1964)
Live recordings from the stage, 1960-63
Old-Time Jubilations by Galax Bogtrotters (2017)
Eddie Bond & Erynn Marshall, fiddlers
NEA podcast interview with Eddie Bond (2018)
(New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters)
The Horsenecks In The West (6/25)
November From The Editor
November marks the second anniversary of the Knoxville Old Time website
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter and visiting the website!
Tune History
This month’s Tune History is “Big Sciota.” It’s a very popular tune and has acquired a lot of variations over the years. We played this at a local jam recently, and when I sang the lyrics, people looked at me funny. It was not the singing (this time), it was because most everyone had never heard the lyrics for this tune. So it made sense to put it on the Tune History page with some info about where the name and the tune came from, and include the most common lyrics. That being said, there were no “original” lyrics that we know of, so feel free to continue the “folk process” and do your own thing.
Worth A Listen
This is usually where I list a few Old Time recordings that you might find interesting, but this month we go to YouTube as a resource for tunes. There are many good sites - here are a few to get you started:
Ben Kiser
Almost 300 videos: fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, ballads, duets
https://www.youtube.com/@benkisermusic
Jesse Maw
130+ videos
https://www.youtube.com/c/JesseMaw
Bruce Molsky
150+ videos
https://www.youtube.com/@BruceMolskyMusic/featured
Old Time Tiki Parlour
David Bragger
Over 300 videos
https://www.youtube.com/@OldTimeTikiParlour/featured
Paul Kirk
Old Time Tune Of The Week
450+ videos
https://www.youtube.com/@PaulKirkFiddle
George Jackson
265+ videos
*Videos from Tune Hash, Tall Poppy String Band
https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgeJacksonMusic/featured
What is PPT?
Preferred Perceptual Tempo is the rate of a series of sounds that sounds "just right" to most people - not too fast, not too slow. Why do our brains prefer certain tempos for listening? Clue: our brains do not like to work too hard!
In a follow-up to last month's analysis of Spontaneous Motor Tempo, (the tempo at which we prefer to perform rhythmic motor activities), banjo playing neurologist Josh Turknett moves from the performance tempo aspect to the listening side of the equation. See how science confirms the surprisingly narrow "sweet spot" in tempo that makes nearly everyone's brain happy.
Women In Old Time
Don’t forget to visit The East Tennessee Historical Society’s traveling exhibition "I've Endured: Women In Old Time Music” that runs through April 19, 2026. This exhibition, organized by The Birthplace Of Country Music Museum, is "A look into the past, present, and future of the genre and the integral role women played in the development of country music as we know it today." ETHS is located at 601 S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
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FALL BACK! Don’t forget the time change on Sunday, November 2nd.
Mark
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October From The Editor
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The Autumnal Equinox was last week on September 22nd, so we have officially entered Autumn. Or is it Fall? Is it both? In the US, it’s more common to call the season Fall, while in England, it’s usually Autumn. Which reminds me of the truism that we are “Two countries separated by a common language.” October brings us Columbus Day, which, despite all of its conflicting publicity, is still a Federal holiday, and Halloween, which has become a $10 billion industry. And the burning question on everyone’s mind - Is a pumpkin a squash or a gourd? Hint: gourds make good banjos, but you may not want to eat one. Here’s how to tell the difference between a squash and a gourd. Since we are talking about the change of seasons, go ahead and mark your calendar for the “Fall Back” time change, which comes this year on Sunday, November 2nd. Or, be late for church. Again.
Reminder: The producers of Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival have announced a unique “spatial symphony” called “Knoxville Broadcast” that will take place at World’s Fair Park on October 17-18. Part of this presentation is “The Sterchi String Band” which will bring together Old Time musicians of all ages and skill levels under the direction of Sterchi String Band music director, Evie Andrus. Rehearsals have already begun, but you must be able to attend the final two rehearsals on October 5th and 12th. If you are interested, contact Evie at evie.andrus@gmail.com.
There are lots of local show offerings in October, including the Montvales and the Tillers. More details are on the Calendar Page.
Tune History is about “Texas/Newcastle.” This is another Henry Reed tune that was collected by Alan Jabbour in 1966. It’s crooked, has two names, and a possible relationship to an old minstrel tune, “Charleston Gals.”
Want to play faster? Dr. Josh Turknett, neurologist and banjo player, recently posted this article on his Substack feed "Brains, Banjos, and Beyond." Why You Can't Play Faster (And How to Fix It): The Neuroscience Behind the Speed Barrier
Learn about "spontaneous motor tempo" and how to overcome your body's own natural speed limit.
OPINION: There are, of course, many Old Time tunes that sound better when played fast, or at least at a quick dance pace. That being said, I also think we need to stay vigilant about the creeping “bluegrassification” of Old Time tunes; speed is never more important than the groove.
Here is some music that you might want to check out:
Carla Gover
Kentucky Queen (7/25)
https://carlagover.bandcamp.com/album/kentucky-queen
Vandalia
debut album forthcoming: https://www.vandaliaband.com/debut-album-kickstarter
2 tracks to listen to now: https://www.vandaliaband.com/listen
…and since they were just in town:
Golden Shoals
The Dream and the Hunger (9/25)
https://goldenshoals.bandcamp.com/album/the-dream-and-the-hunger
Golden Shoals (as Tune Hash)
Smothered and Covered Vol. 1&2 (3/22)
https://tunehash.bandcamp.com/album/tune-hash-vol-1-2-smothered-and-covered
Golden Shoals with The Old-time Snake Milkers
Milkers and Hollers (11/18)
https://goldenshoals.bandcamp.com/album/milkers-and-hollers
It's Always Time For Old Time,
Mark
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September From The Editor
Congratulations to Evie Andrus, who was recently selected for the position of Managing Director of the Laurel Theater. Evie will be taking over the role of newsletter editor, social media manager as well as assisting with concert management. She will also be heading up the development and implementation of a Junior Appalachian Musician (JAM) program to start in the spring. Evie is a local fiddler, president of the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association (ETNBA) and a recent UT graduate with a Master's in Musicology.
The producers of Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival have announced a unique “spatial symphony” called “Knoxville Broadcast” that will take place at World’s Fair Park on October 17-18. Part of this presentation is “The Sterchi String Band” which will bring together Old Time musicians of all ages and skill levels under the direction of Sterchi String Band music director, Evie Andrus (she’s a busy bee!). Rehearsals have already begun, but there is still time to join. But you must act quickly and be able to attend the final two rehearsals on October 5th and 12th. If you are interested in participating, please contact Evie at evie.andrus@gmail.com.
Reports from attendees of this year’s Clifftop and Galax festivals have been overwhelmingly positive. Knoxville was well represented at the Galax contest with Cody Bauer taking 5th place Old Time fiddle. The Gladson family was awarded 10th place in the Old Time Band competition, and Lindy Gladson received 3rd place Youth Folksong.
This month’s Tune History is Quince Dillon’s High D. This tune was collected from Glen Lyn, Virginia fiddler Henry Reed in 1967 by researcher Alan Jabbour. Reed did not remember the tune’s actual name, saying only that he learned it as a young man from an older fifer and fiddler named Quincy Dillion. Did you know that Henry Reed played this as a four part tune? There’s lots more to learn about "Uncle" Quincy Dillion and the tune that now bears his name.
Here are a couple of Old Time albums worth checking out. The Onlies have a new album coming out on September 19th called "You Climb The Mountain." Playing together as "Swamper's Revenge," AJ Srubas, Chirps Smith and Jim Nelson's newest album is called "Kettle Bog."
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It's Always Time For Old Time!
Mark
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August From The Editor
When this newsletter is published, many of you will be at Clifftop, which runs through August 2nd. I hope you are having a great time, and may everyone have a safe trip back home. Speaking of traveling, some will not be going directly home from Clifftop, but will be making the 2 1⁄2 hour drive to the 89th annual Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention, which officially starts on August 4th!
I have not heard any feedback from The Swannanoa Gathering Old Time week - if you went, please let me know your thoughts.
Our fiddler friend Larry from Knoxville went to the Port Townsend (Washington) Fiddle Tunes festival (6/29-7/6), a week-long music camp hosted by The Onlies. He said that he met lots of nice people and had great instructors. He attended numerous workshops, and reports learning a lot while having a good time.
There have been several new album releases lately, including:
Blue Ridge Gathering Blue Ridge Gathering Knoxville’s own!
Dolly and the Devil Can You Dance?
Dolly and the Devil Parquet Seating (available for streaming Aug.1)
The Horsenecks In The West
Hog Eyed Man Across The Sea
Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson What Did The Blackbird Say to the Crow
Joseph Decosimo Fiery Gizzard (full album 8/15)
The Onlies You Climb The Mountain (album out 9/19)
preview video of title track
Sarah Kate Morgan & Leo Shannon Featherbed (album out soon) Preview video
Jessica Watson’s new Sunday afternoon jam at the Tri-Hop Brewery in Maryville is off to a good start. It’s a nice venue with a stage, and the parking is free. The next jam there will be August 10th, starting at 3PM. After that, the jams will be scheduled on the first Sunday of each month.
Speaking of jams, we had 20 people at the Laurel Theater jam on July 10th. Two circles were made so everyone could hear, and it worked out great! There is a photo on the Contact/More page.
Jig and Reel is still going strong every Tuesday evening. Parking in the two nearby City lots under the James White Expressway bridge is still free after 6PM on non-stadium event nights.
More info on monthly jams is on the Calendar Page.
The summer months are traditionally slow for shows/concerts as lots of Old Time artists are doing Festivals or taking some much needed time off. Updates will be posted on the Calendar Page as they are received.
The Laurel Theater has posted their Fall concert season lineup, which starts September 4th.
Mark
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July Letter From The Editor
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There was a festival every weekend in June, I hope you were able to attend one. I went to Mt. Airy and had a great time, connecting and reconnecting with lots of people - and playing lots of tunes. Against all odds, it did not rain this year, except for one very brief passing shower Saturday night. Thanks again to all who let me know that they were enjoying the website. And I brought home some tunes to learn! Examples from the strange title category: Walk Old Shoe Heel Come A Draggin’, Duck’s Eyeball, and 49 Cats In A Rain Barrel.
The Festival pace does not slow down much in July, with the 54th annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree on July 4-5 in Smithville, TN, and Old Time Week at The Swannanoa Gathering, July 2-26 in Swannanoa, NC. Clifftop and Galax are close behind, with Clifftop pre-camping available June 25th, and Galax running from August 4 through 9.
There is a new opportunity to play in our area, with Jessica Watson leading an Old Time jam at the Tri-Hop Brewery in Maryville on July 6th from 3-6 PM. The next jam there will be August 10th. In case you don’t know Jessica, she is an outstanding multi instrumentalist, and part of the band Blue Ridge Gathering. They won the Neo-Traditionalist band category at Clifftop last year, as well as the best new tune award.
In the Tune History section this month, I added two tunes with a July connection: from the 19th century, “Camp Meeting On The Fourth Of July,” and “The Third Of July,” from the playing of the Red Brush Rowdies in 1928. If you have suggestions for future tunes, please let me know - I am keeping a list.
As you may recall, local fiddle maker Jean Horner from Westel, TN passed away in January of this year. There is a website dedicated to him that has lots of great photos and information. A 15 minute podcast was recently published (6/5/25) by reporter Lisa Coffman, who interviewed Jean at his workshop in 2023. She attended his memorial service in Westel, and brings us the story of how he came to be known as “The Stradivari of the Cumberlands.”
Mark
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June Letter from the Editor
Festival Season is now in full swing with a Festival every weekend in June!
For lots more info, go to the Calendar Page.
As this is published, the 52nd annual Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Mt. Airy, NC is only a week away on June 6-7. I have been told that an easy way to remember the date of this Festival is that “...it’s always the first rainy weekend in June.” I’m looking forward to it and ready to go - rain or shine! Hope to see you there, too
This month in the Music section, we feature a profile on fiddler Jim Childress from Free Union, VA. Jim is probably best known for his prolific songwriting and his festival and jam favorite tunes “The Road To Malvern” and “Turkey Sag.” I reached out to Jim to get more insight on these tunes and his three albums, and he graciously responded. I also spoke to Jim’s bandmate Pete Vigour, and got the story of the origin of the band name “Uncle Henry’s Favorites.”
The Laurel Theater ended their annual concert season at the end on May 31st with a performance by musician, singer-songwriter, percussive dancer, choreographer, and square dance caller Evie Ladin.
Please support the Laurel by your attendance and by becoming a member of, and/or donating to, Jubilee Community Arts in their mission to preserve and showcase the arts of southern Appalachia.
As was mentioned in last month’s page on Dolly & the Devil’s “Festival Season” album, their newest release called "Parquet Seating" is available now on Bandcamp. There will also be a three tune preview on all streaming services on June 1st, with the full CD following in early August. Another new album, "Can You Dance," similar to "Festival Season," will also be out very soon.
I was asked to remind everyone about two very good weekly Old Time radio shows that are available to stream at any time. Dale Brubaker hosts “The Old Time Zone" from Ellensburg, Washington and streams on Mixcloud.com. Bill Smedley hosts “The Old Time Music Hour” from Pennsylvania, streaming on Padlet.com, multiple radio stations, and on Spotify. The links to stream the shows, including archived shows, are on the Resources Page.
And also right here:
Mark
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May from the Editor
The 7th annual Upper East Tennessee Fiddlers Convention in Flag Pond, TN was another great success ! It was great to see Knoxville so well represented.
Next up will be Mount Airy on June 6-7. I hope to see many of you there, as festival season has begun in earnest.
“Festival Season” is also a great album by a loose knit group of musicians collectively known as Dolly and the Devil. Joanne and Rick Davidson put this double album project together in 2020. This was an incredible feat, considering this time period was the beginning of the Covid years. An impressive 39 tracks of Old Time goodness was the result. Our own Dale Stanberry played on the album, and he provided some commentary on his recording session. (Dale is doing well at his new home in New Mexico.) I also spoke to Rick Davidson, who let us know that Dolly and the Devil will release two new albums in 2025. Read lots more in the Music section of the website.
Also added to the Music section this month is some history about famed American songwriter Stephen C. Foster. He wrote hundreds of tunes which have become part of what the Songwriters Hall Of Fame calls the “... foundation stones of the American songbook.” Several of his songs have found homes in Old Time and Bluegrass jam circles. We take a look at “Angelina Baker” and “Hard Times Come Again No More.”
The Laurel Theater will finish out their concert season in May with Old Time offerings from UT Appalachian Strings, The Faux Paws, Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Smalls, and banjoist Evie Ladin. The Laurel Folk School has also announced a fiddle waltz class in May. Please support the Laurel's mission of preserving and presenting the traditional arts of the Southern Appalachians.
The Laurel Theater recently publicized that, in addition to their own parking lot, there are now two more free parking options for Friday and Saturday evening shows at nearby churches. This is certainly welcome news, as street parking in Fort Sanders when UT is in session can be as scarce as hen’s teeth! Please check out the Calendar page for more information.
Mark
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April from the Editor
Did March go out like lamb? April has its own weather lore sayings - the most famous being “April showers bring May flowers.” Which also spawned the also traditional accompanying dad joke: “If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?” The painfully groaning answer is, of course, “Pilgrims.” An alternative from The Farmer’s Almanac to the well worn April showers saying is respectfully submitted: “If it thunders on All Fool’s Day, it brings good crops of corn and hay.”
I came across this very concerning article in the Bluegrass Intelligencer titled “Old-Time Music Permanently Revokes All Song Titles.” Apparently, The National Council of Elders has unanimously voted to end the practice of using words to name old-time fiddle tunes. Beginning April 1st, musicians will identify fiddle tunes only by playing the first four bars, since tune titles have become meaningless. This far reaching decision could really impact your next jam experience!
That brings us full circle to All Fool’s Day/April Fool’s Day. This tradition has been around for thousands of years, but no one really knows how it got started. It is probably not a coincidence that a lot of the history behind the day is also a hoax. Watch your back on April 1st - just to be safe.
The latest addition to the Song History page is “Kingdom Coming,” more commonly known in Old Time music as “Year of Jubilo.” Songwriter and abolitionist Henry Work wrote this song in 1862 for performance by blackface troupes. The lyrics describe the impending freedom of a group of slaves after their master flees the plantation to avoid capture by advancing Union troops. This incredibly popular song reversed the standard minstrel formula, which typically depicted stereotyped caricatures of docile slaves and an oppressive master. The lyrics need to be considered in historical context, but the catchy melody is an Old Time jam favorite.
The last weekend of April is the 7th annual Upper East Tennessee Fiddlers Convention in Flag Pond. I am hoping to see some of you there, and to bring home some new tunes. If you have never been to this event, please consider giving it a try, as it is very well run and attracts some outstanding musicians from East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and beyond. And it’s only a two hour drive from downtown Knoxville!
Mark
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March From The Editor
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March has arrived - Did it come in like a lion?
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This month's addition to the Tune History page comes from a discussion at a Laurel Theater jam regarding the Westphalia Waltz, and is dedicated to the memory of our friend and fellow musician Ron Stoner, as this was his favorite waltz.
After we played this beautiful waltz, banjo Nick asked if anyone knew where the tune came from. Well, the short version is that no one knew for sure. I guessed that Westphalia was in Germany, and that's maybe where it came from. Close - but no cigar. Westphalia is indeed a region within Germany, but we will learn this month that Texas fiddler Cotton Collins (Lone Star Playboys) memorized the melody while stationed in Germany during WWII, but never knew the name. We will also discover that the Westphalia that ultimately gave this waltz its name is located not in Germany, but in Texas, near Waco. It was, however, settled by German immigrants, so now we have come almost full circle. I say almost, because the melody of this waltz has been linked by many researchers to an old and humorously risque Polish drinking song. How can you not love Old Time tune history?
Festival season gears up in March with The Tommy Jarrell Celebration in Mount Airy, NC on March 1-2, and Breakin' Up Winter in Lebanon, TN on March 7-9. Next up - the 7th annual Upper East Tennessee Fiddlers Convention in Flag Pond, TN on April 25-26. More details on Festivals are on the Calendar Page.
The Laurel Theater’s 56th Jubilee Festival is happening March 7,8, and 9 with a deep lineup of Old Time music. And just a heads up, local fiddle legend Mike Bryant will make a rare appearance at the Laurel with Joseph Decosimo and Reed Stutz on April 5th. This is a must see event for any serious fan of Old Time music! There’s lots more info on other shows on the Calendar Page.
I added a list of 2024 Old Time album releases, with the help of The Old Time Zone Radio Show with Dale Brubaker. If you have not already done so, you should make his show part of your weekly listening!
The music community was saddened to learn of the passing of Charles Jean Horner, who had been making fiddles and mandolins in the shop next to his home in the Westel community of Rockwood, TN for more than 75 years. I had the privilege of meeting him and visiting his shop on a few occasions, and am the proud owner of two of his fiddles. Learn lots more about this Tennessee legend, who made more than 500 fiddles in his lifetime. A website dedicated to him has been created, with more information coming soon.
Mark
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February From The Editor
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February is home to the Washington’s Birthday/ Presidents' Day holiday and, not coincidentally, the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In 1879, a federal holiday was created to honor the first president of the United States, George Washington, on February 22nd, his birthday. However, in 1968, the US Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and changed the holiday from Washington's actual birthday to the third Monday in February. This created a 3 day weekend for federal employees, and allowed merchants to seize this time to have Presidents’ Day Sales Events, which have come to be associated with appliances, furniture, and tech items. The official federal holiday name is still Washington’s Birthday, but that reference seems to be fading in popular usage.
Let’s put all this in perspective: George Washington was a soldier who became a farmer. He then gave up that life to become General of the Continental Army, and was instrumental in defeating the British in the Revolutionary War. He was so highly thought of that he was unanimously elected as our country’s first president. He was re-elected for a second term, but refused to run for a third term, and ensured the peaceful transfer of the presidency to John Adams in 1797. He then returned to his farming life. As one source aptly puts it, “Without Washington, America would never have won its war of independence; he was the catalyst of the American founding. Even more significant, he proved that republican government was not only possible but indeed noble.” “No one did more to put the United States on the path to success than Washington. No one did more to assure a government with sufficient power to function but sufficient limits to allow freedom to flourish. No one walked away from power with more dignity or did more to assure the prosperous society we enjoy today. This is why Washington and Washington alone - not Jefferson, not Madison, not Hamilton - is the father of this country.”
“If Americans wish to honor George Washington, they should recall his deeds, recollect his advice, and once again call the holiday celebrating him what it is, in fact: Washington's Birthday.”
I agree.
While we are on the topic of presidents, you have probably noticed that there are quite a few Old Time tunes named after presidents. So, in memory of George Washington’s lost birthday holiday, let’s appreciate him by enjoying 28 “presidential fiddle tunes” - one for each day in February. Bonus leap year tune included for 2028!
Mark
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2024 New Album Releases
All available for streaming except where noted
With help from The Old Time Zone radio show with Dale Brubaker!
ARTIST ALBUM
Evie Ladin (with guest fiddlers) Riding The Rooster 2
George Jackson & Tristan Scroggins Old Time 100 Vol. 1
George Jackson & Brad Kolodner Shady Lane
Darrol Anger & Bruce Molsky Lockdown Breakdown
The Hazel Nuts Uncut Gems From Missouri
Joseph Decosimo, Luke Richardson,& Cleek Schrey Beehive Cathedral
Andy Cahan and Joseph Decosimo Rare Old Fiddle and Banjo Duets (Bandcamp)
Late 2023 Releases
Snowglobe String Band Snowglobe String Band (Bandcamp)
Bosco Takaki Bosco
Dram County Dram County (Bandcamp)
Brendan Taafe Can’t Hold The Wheel (Bandcamp)
January 2025 From The Editor
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Welcome to 2025! I bet you didn't know:
*Only 15% of Americans spend New Year’s Eve at a party or public event.
*45% of people ring in the New Year with friends and family, while 24% prefer to stay at home, and 3% don’t celebrate at all.
*Lots of people make New Year’s resolutions. But only 31% of people stick with the promises. A whopping 81% fail by February. 43% of us do not make any resolutions at all.
*Probably as a sign of our economic times, the most popular resolution for 2025 is to save money. Of course, eating healthier, exercising, and losing weight are still annual favorites.
In January, a little closer to home:
*Dolly Parton was born on January 19th, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee.
*On January 17th, 1864 Confederate General Longstreet fought General Sturgis in and around Dandridge in Jefferson County, forcing the Union troops to leave the area. Less than 2 months earlier, on November 29th, 1863, Longstreet was defeated at the battle of Fort Sanders in Knoxville by Union General Burnside.
Music History
The Music History page has a January theme, with three tunes that have dates in January as their titles.
The first is “8th of January” which was originally known as “Jackson’s Victory.” This was penned to celebrate General Andrew Jackson’s defeat of a vastly superior British force at New Orleans during the War of 1812. Due to the popularity of a song written to this tune, the melody is now better known as “The Battle of New Orleans.”
Then comes “9th of January” which is attributed to the playing of Missouri fiddler Bob Holt. But, we find that this is a popular variation of “8th of January” that has been around for quite a while.
Then we have “28th of January,” which is attributed to the playing of Frank George from West Virginia. This tune is not related to “8th of January” at all, but is thought to be a minor key version of “Miller’s Reel.” But as it happens, an alternate title for this tune is “22nd of February,” which is Washington’s birthday. Folklorists think this was confused over the years with “Jackson’s Victory” on the 8th of January - giving us “28th of January.”
Stay tuned for Presidential tunes in February!
Events
The pace of events picks up to start the year, with Laurel Theater appearances by Blind House, Nora Brown, Ed Snodderly, Stillhouse Junkies, Roux du Bayou, The Local Honeys, and in February, Cody Bauer and Jonathan Maness as “Fiddles and Flatpicks.” More info on the Calendar page. As a reminder, while shows are updated on the site as info becomes available, due to touring schedules and weather, please verify all events with the provided website links and/or directly with the venue.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Mark
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