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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)
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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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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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