Re: [Harp-L] Re: Bluegrass harmonica

[tacopescado@xxxxxxxxxxx]

The Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro, TN, is a bluegrass/old- 
timey get together that has a harmonica contest and every year a not- 
so-good amateur wins playing some lame blues. None of the judges play  
harmonica and they ignore and discount fiddle tunes, etc. For some odd  
reason Congress deemed The Uncle Dave Macon Days to be the place where  
the National Championship for old time banjo should be held. Seems  
Congress has more important things to do.

http://www.uncledavemacondays.com/

OTOH, The Old Time Fiddler's Convention in Galax, VA which is  
considered instrumental in the birth of country music and has a big  
display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville only allows  
string instruments on stage. Other instruments are tolerated in the  
campground. I once asked a buddy of mine who has attended Galax since  
the early '80's what if I signed up for the guitar contest and at the  
last minute started playing Old Joe Clark on a harp. He said, "They  
would turn off the PA, have cops escort you to the gate and ban you  
from Galax for life."

http://www.oldfiddlersconvention.com/

I've attended both many times and Galax is by far superior in  
musicianship an fan appreciation.


On Dec 21, 2012, at 9:37 AM, Robert Loomis wrote:

> I just received the latest issue of the Old-Time Herald. One feature  
> in it
> lists the winners of various categories at old-time music festivals  
> and
> gatherings. I was interested to note that  some include harmonica
> competitions along with fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo amd sometimes
> autoharp and dulcimer. There appear to be a good number of harpers
> involved. I will try to post some examples when I can get my hands  
> on the
> mag again. It's in our bedroom and wife Bev's still sleeping as I  
> write
> this, so I don't want to disturb her. Meanwhile, here's what I find  
> from
> earlier an edition online:
>
> *Fiddler’s Grove Ole Time Fiddler’s and Bluegrass Festival* in May in
> Sherrills Ford NC:
> Harmonica: *Rebecca White; Daisy Millett; Steve Daugherty*.
>
> *Henry Reed Memorial Fiddlers’ Convention* on June 8 and 9 in Glen  
> Lyn,
> Virginia:
> Harmonica: *Eddie Ogle.
>
> *The first *Highland County Old Time Fiddlers Convention*, held June  
> 14 –
> 17 in Monterey, Virginia, lists Eddie Ogle among the "open instrument"
> winners, so I'll assume he played harmonica based on his listing as a
> harper at the Henry Reed event.
>
> More later.
>
> Happy Holidays to all!
> Bob Loomis
> Concord CA USA