Warren Wilson College has announced that it will be hosting its annual Fiddles & Folklife Festival on April 18. The festival celebrates traditional Appalachian music and the region’s songwriting heritage and culture. The afternoon event also features an old-time music competition, with the chance to win cash prizes in categories such as fiddle, banjo and string band for both adults and youth musicians.
Top prizes for the competition include $300 for first prize in the “string-band” category; bands must include “at least a fiddle, a banjo and a guitar,” according to Warren Wilson’s contest rules. The winning string band will also have the honor of playing the final cakewalk at the conclusion of the contest.
Solo musician prizes range from $75 for first prize in the fiddle or banjo categories to $50 for the “folksong” contest. In addition to separate youth categories in the contest, which is designed for participants aged 13-17, there will be a non-judged performance for young musicians aged 7 and younger and beginner’level musicians.
Other scheduled events for the festival include food and craft vendors, informal jam sessions, and a raffle event. The festival is free to the public, and will be held between 11 am and 5 pm on Saturday in and around the college’s historic Bryson Gym.
There is also no entry fee for the contest. Those interested in entering the judged events are encouraged to contact WWC’s Phil Jamison at 828-771-3722 or pjamison@warren-wilson.edu for more information.
More information on the festival, the music contest, and other events can be found here or in WWC’s press release below:
WARREN WILSON COLLEGE NEWS RELEASEApril 8, 2015
Contact: WWC Appalachian Music Professor Phil Jamison (828-771-3722)Warren Wilson to host Fiddles & Folklife April 18
Warren Wilson College will host Fiddles & Folklife, an annual Appalachian folklife festival and old-time music competition, April 18 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The event, free and open to the public, will be held in and around Bryson Gym near the north entrance to campus.
Fiddles & Folklife features an old-time music contest, including categories for fiddle, banjo and string band, as well as a youth category for banjo and fiddle contests. Musicians will compete for cash prizes. There are no entry fees for the contests.
In addition to the contests, the Youth Fiddle Showcase, a non-judged performance, is open to fiddlers age 7 and younger, and to those who have been playing fewer than two years.
Musicians can contact Phil Jamison at 828-771-3722 or pjamison@warren-wilson.edu for more information.
Other activities at the festival include old-time music jam sessions, a hammered dulcimer raffle, food and craft vendors, cakewalks and folklife demonstrators.
More information is available at http://www.warren-wilson.edu/uncategorized/fiddles-folklife .
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