The 15th Appalachian String Band Music Festival at Camp Washington-Carver in
Clifftop, W.Va., wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 8. During the event, some of the nation’s
finest string band musicians and old-time dancers won prizes in four old-time
"traditional" contests—fiddle, banjo, string band and flat-foot
dance—plus one "non-traditional" string band contest.
More than 3,000 people attended the festival, which began Wednesday, Aug. 4. The annual gathering features concerts, contests, crafts, dancing and workshops. Next year’s festival will be held Aug. 3-7, 2005.
The contest winners were:
Fiddle
1st place ($400) - Lester McCumbers of Nicut, W.Va.
2nd place ($200) - Mike Bryant of Harriman, Tenn.
3rd place ($150) - Lynn "Chirps" Smith of Grayslake, Ill.
4th place ($100) - Stephanie Coleman of Glenville, Ill.
5th place ($50) - Jarred Nutter of Meadow Bridge, W.Va.
Youth Fiddle Honors - 15 years of age and under
1st place ($100) - Jarred Nutter of Meadow Bridge, W.Va.
2nd place ($50) - Isaac Akers of Carrboro, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Jordan Rast of Lancaster, Pa.
Senior Fiddle Honors - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($200) - Lester McCumbers of Nicut, W.Va.
2nd place ($100) - Marvin Gaster of Sanford, N.C.
3rd place ($50) - Junior Spencer of Frankford, W.Va.
Banjo
1st place ($400) - Brian Fain of Stuart, Va.
2nd place ($200) - Gordy Hinners of Weaversville, N.C.
3rd place ($150) - Bob Smakula of Elkins, W.Va.
4th place ($100) - Chris Coole of Toronto, Canada
5th place ($50) - Cary Stickney of Santa Fe, N.M.
Youth Banjo Honors - 15 years of age and under
1st place ($100) - Jarred Nutter of Meadow Bridge, W.Va.
2nd place ($50) - Frank Evans of Toronto, Canada
3rd place ($25) - Micah Spence of Atlanta, Ga.
Senior Banjo Honors - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($200) - Mack Benford of Trumansburg, N.Y.
2nd place ($100) - Marvin Gaster of Sanford, N.C.
3rd place ($50) - Charlie Loudermilk of Frankford, W.Va.
Traditional Band
1st place ($700) - Big Missouri of St. Louis, Mo.
2nd place ($400) - Whoopin’ Holler String Band of Orma, W.Va.
3rd place ($300) - The Hix of Philadelphia, Pa.
4th place ($200) - Troublesome Creek of Shipman, Va.
5th place ($100) - Sidewinders of Bryson City, N.C.
Non-Traditional Band
1st place ($700) - Yeah Buddies of Spring Valley, Ohio
2nd place ($400) - Tuesday Spankins & the Lip-Smackin’ Mouthfuls of Cross Lanes, W.Va.
3rd place ($300) - Cody Pendant & the Enablers of Evanston, Ill.
4th place ($200) - Jane’s Gang of Miskayuna, N.Y.
5th place ($100) - Mud Puppies of Rockwell, N.C.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - ages 13 and under
1st place ($75) - Trinity Kronk of Sewickley, Pa.
2nd place ($50) - Alice Jamison of Asheville, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Lillian Enoch of Beltsville, Md.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - ages 14 through 59
1st place ($75) - Ira Bernstein of Asheville, N.C.
2nd place ($50) - Rodney Sutton of Marshall, N.C.
3rd place ($25) - Gordy Hinners of Weaverville, N.C.
Old-Time Flat-Foot Dance - 60 years of age and over
1st place ($75) - Charley Burton of Harmony, Pa.
2nd place ($50) - Carole Bendick of Winfield, Pa.
3rd place ($25) - Mary Butner of Winston-Salem, N.C.
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