The film A Christmas Tragedy has been nominated for a 2007 Capote Award for Best True Crime Documentary and Best Soundtrack. The film concerns the Lawson family murder—the subject of the song “Charlie Lawson,” recorded by the Carolina Buddies. To learn more and cast your vote, go to http://incoldblogger.blogspot.com/2008/01/capote-award-nominations.html.
Cathy Fink received a Grammy nomination for her new solo CD Banjo Talkin' (Rounder), in the Best Traditional Folk Album category. Also receiving Grammy nominations were Bob Carlin and Cheick Hamala Diabate in the Best Traditional World Music category for their CD From Mali to America (5-String); Bruce Nemerov for his album notes to John Work, III: Recording Black Culture (Spring Fed); Christopher King and Hank Sapoznik for People Take Warning (Tompkins Square) for Best Historical Album; and the Pine Leaf Boys for Blues de Musiciens (Arhoolie) for Best Zydeco or Cajun Album.
The following musicians took home ribbons from the Florida Folk Festival’s old-time fiddle and banjo contests, held Nov. 9-11 at Stephen Foster Cultural Center, White Springs, FL. The event is normally held the Sat. of Memorial Day weekend, but this year the area was beset by the Bugaboo wildfire, so the festival was postponed until Nov. Ribbons went to the following: Junior Division - Kayla Williams, Nathaniel Batey, and Seth Alderman; Youth Division - Lee Staley, Molly Purcell, and Dalla Albritton; Contemporary - Shelley Weiss, Jonathan Hodge, and Lynn Brainard; Rustic - Kay Van Treese, Phil Levy, and Greg Allen; Twin - Shelley Weiss and Anna Kalischmidt, Matheau Morse and Leah Morse, Vicki Silver and Gailanne Amundsen; Old-Time Banjo – Bill Mansfield, Sarah Carlton, and Wanda Lee. The next Festival and contests are set for Memorial Day Weekend. Info on this year’s contest: www.nettally.com/fiddler/index.html.
Best wishes for a harmonious marriage to musicians Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Michael Laffan, who were married on September 1 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The following musicians won ribbons at the Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention, held on Labor Day weekend at the Jones Farm near Lenoir, NC. Old-time band – Possum Hollar Stringband, Carolina Troubadors, New River Rock Skippers. Old-time fiddle – Emily Schaad, Steve Bachhuber, Lucas Pasley. Old-time banjo – Mary Dickerson, Michael Fox, Joey Neal. Flatfoot – Art Lang, Mary Dickerson, Rhody-Jane Meadows. Clogging – Kellie Batten, Jodie Isenhour, Sydney Younce. Autoharp – Michael Poole, Mary Umbarger, Rhody-Jane Meadows. Dulcimer – David Parks, Marshall Goers, Cathy Ciolac. Info: www.happyvalleyfiddlers.com.
The First Annual Hoppin’ John Fiddlers’ Convention took place at Shakori Hills, near Silk Hope, NC on Sept. 21-22. Contest winners were: Old-Time Band: Big Tones, Carolina Catbirds, and April Fools. Bluegrass Band: Grass Up and Go. Non-Traditional: Monkey Charmers, Maudlin Brothers, and Down Home D Boys. Old-Time Fiddle: Adam Hurt, Rich Hartness, and Ron Cole. Old-Time Banjo: Marvin Gaster, Adam Hurt, and Michael Fox. Guitar: Spencer Mobley, Wayne Seymour, and Chris Mankoff. Mandolin: Kendall Gales, Brooke Cagle, and Paul Hammond. Folk Song: Marvin Gaster, Ben Seymour, and Jeff Furman. Youth Musicianship: Autumn Boger, Charlie Gallagher, Emma Lo, and Ricky Keen. Dance: Joan Levitt, Grace Haaland, and Mary Dickerson. Hoppin’ John Cookoff: Pierre Lauffer, Edwin Powell. Info: www.shakorihills.org/hoppin-john-fiddlers-convention/.
Last October, banjo player and maker Kevin Fore of Round Peak Banjos, Low Gap, NC, presented Banjo #003, a Boucher copy, to Joe Wilson of the National Council for the Traditional Arts. Wilson presented this banjo at the Blue Ridge Music Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway to US Congressman Rick Boucher of Virginia. This was the very first instrument the Music Center bought to be later displayed in the museum. Info: www.blueridgemusiccenter.org.
The Eleventh Annual Schoolhouse Fiddling Bee took place on Oct. 14, in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, Avoca, NE. Open Division winners were Jim Harvey, Alana Hux, and Mariah Buettner. In the Fee Fi Faux Division (playing a tune on a non-fiddle) the winner was Cooper Moore who sang and played a tune on the baritone ukulele. In the Hocus Pocus Division (playing with sound effects, dancing, etc.) the winner was Mary Pat Kleven. Twin Fiddling Division winners were Mary Pat Kleven and Anne Studnicka. The 12th Annual Schoolhouse Fiddling Bee will be held on Oct. 12, 2008. Info: www.greenblattandseay.com.
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