2009.01.05
Fiddle and Banjo Club holds show attracts nearly 300
The Patrick Henry Travelers clog along to Kenny Rorrer and The New N.C. Ramblers band on Saturday, Jan. 3. Emily Flora SWoCo
Love some of that old-time music? On the first Saturday of every month, the Roanoke Valley Fiddle & Banjo Club gathers together with the community for a night full of Bluegrass, Bluegrass Gospel and Old-Time string music, played by locals around the valley at Clearbrook Elementary School.
On Saturday, Jan. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. nearly 300 people from as close as Southwest Roanoke County and as far away as Franklin County, Botetourt and Covington came to enjoy the music and put their flat footing shows on.
"The show is an ongoing thing. We have second generations here now," said President Bob Maiden. "We have a total of about 45 bands that rotate throughout the year. Our goal is to keep this type of music going and pass it on to younger generations."
The bands that participated in Saturday night's show included Deep South, Kenny Rorrer and the New N.C. Ramblers, The Patrick Henry Travelers, Shallow Creek, Baker and Honeycutt, and the Adkins Family. Seven dollars was taken as a donation at the door to support these musicians.
Tyler Adkins, 10, Brook Adkins, 5, and Jordin Adkins, 13, all of Moneta play at the Roanoke Valley Fiddle & Banjo Show at Clearbrook Elementary School. Emily Flora SWoCo
Maiden says there are way too many members of the Roanoke Valley Fiddle & Banjo Club to count, which explains the nearly 300 that came out on Saturday. The name of the not for profit club came from "Fiddle and Banjo," a tune recorded by Flatt and Scruggs.
"We are all volunteers," Galen Howell, vice-president of the club, said. "We have been slow the last couple of months. We usually shoot for about 500 people. But this is the best turnout we've had in the last few months. In February, March and April we pack the place."
The Roanoke Valley Fiddle & Banjo Club has been around for 40 years. The idea for the club was born in 1968 at a Bluegrass Festival in Berryville, Virginia by Marvin Nelson, Bill Nelson, Harvey Holland, Ferrell Aldridge, Paul Webb, and Paul Jefferson. The show originally was done at the Transportation Museum in Wasena Park in 1969. The Fiddle & Banjo Club also met at the Salem Civic Center for the Fiddler's Convention, Elmwood Park, the Buena Vista Recreation Building in Jackson Park, the Recreation Building in Vinton, William Byrd High School, and the Roanoke Civic Center before moving to Clearbrook Elementary School.
"It's had its good and bad times, its high and low points," said Richard Greer of Franklin County, who is in the club and has been since its start. "The only thing that has remained the same is the problem with money."
The club meets at Clearbrook Elementary School during the winter months from October to May and then move to the Vinton Farmer's Market from June through September from 6 to 10 p.m. the first Saturday of every month.
The Clubs next business meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Vinton Library. All are invited to attend.
The club is also a member of the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.
For more photos from Saturday night's show, check out our galler by clicking here.
