Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 15:14:31 -0600
From: My Amani
Subject: Hoppin’ John Fiddlers’ Convention
Shakori Hills announces the 2nd Annual Hoppin’ John Old-Time and Bluegrass Fiddler’s Convention happening in Silk Hope September 19-20. Everyone is invited to this all-ages event. While fiddler’s conventions are a long-standing North Carolina tradition, this is the only event of its kind in the Piedmont region. It will be an old-fashioned weekend in the country with traditional American string music.
Hoppin’ John features old-time, bluegrass and neo-traditional stringband contests, individual instrument competitions, musician workshops, nightly dances including square and contra dancing, jamming in the woods, music & food vendors and a hoppin’ john cook-off. The festivities begin with contests on Friday afternoon and wrap up with a late-night Saturday dance with the Red Hots! Competitions run Friday evening and all day Saturday; the winners will receive a total of $3550 in cash prizes and rosette ribbons. Gates will open early for camping on Wednesday, September 17th.
This year, the convention received a grant from the Chatham County Arts Council supporting the workshops and a special music-in-schools program. The workshops take place all day Saturday, and are comprised of panels of respected and skilled musicians who demonstrate their unique playing styles, and share information and history about their particular instrument(s) and technique(s). Workshop participants/audience members can learn these techniques, or simply enjoy the music and history. One workshop will feature local fiddling legend, Joe Thompson. The grant also provides for these musicians to give an adapted version of the clinic to local schools on Friday of the event.
Local musicians and music-lovers alike are excited this event is being held so close to home. The Piedmont area is a hotbed for old-time music, and the Hoppin’ John gives everyone a chance to show off their talents, regardless of age or skill level. Non-musicians can enter the dance contest, demonstrate their culinary skills at the hoppin’ john cook-off, or just sit back and enjoy the music and beautiful setting of Shakori Hills.
Tickets to the event are only $8.00 on Friday and $10 for Saturday. Proceeds benefit efforts to preserve the Shakori Hills farmstead as a gathering site for arts an education in Chatham County. Hoppin’ John is seeking sponsors, volunteers and vendors to help make the weekend a success. The festival site is located at Shakori Hills, 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road in Pittsboro/Silk Hope. For more information, including camping & contestant prices and contest details, visit the website at www.hoppinjohn.org.
Also remember!
Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance
April 17-20 & October 9-12, 2008
www.shakorihills.org
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