Old Fiddler’s Convention is pushing 90 and keeping mountain music alive

Frank Langfitt | August 16, 2025

A band competes against more than 100 others in the Bluegrass band competition during the 89th Annual Old Fiddler's Convention on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, at Felts Park in Galax, Va.

GALAX, Va. — Ellie Massey, 13, stands inside a giant, yellow tent with dozens of other contestants and practices singing the gospel tune, “I’ll Fly Away.” Her grandfather, Jim Coleman, and uncle, Jacob, accompany her on guitar and mandolin.

Massey, who has the number 22 pinned to her shirt, is among 120 people waiting to go on stage for the Folk Song competition here at the Old Fiddler’s Convention. Her family has driven more than 300 miles from East Central Ohio to support her.

Jim Coleman and his granddaughter, Ellie Massey, 13, of Saint Clairsville, Ohio, drove more than 300 miles to compete in the Folk Song contest at the 89th Annual Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Va. — Jim Coleman and his granddaughter, Ellie Massey, 13, of Saint Clairsville, Ohio, drove more than 300 miles to compete in the Folk Song contest at the 89th Annual Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Va. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

“I love singing. I love dancing. I just love Bluegrass,” says Massey, who adds that most of her friends back home prefer pop and rock. Some make fun of her musical tastes.

“I don’t get mad or anything,” Massey says matter-of-factly.

Bobby Haynes (from left), James Wagoner and Chris Goad, who are members of the Kazim Shriners Club, work the ticket booth at the entrance of Felts Park during the 89th Annual Old Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Va. Tickets cost $10 to $15, depending on the day. — Bobby Haynes (from left), James Wagoner and Chris Goad, who are members of the Kazim Shriners Club, work the ticket booth at the entrance of Felts Park during the 89th Annual Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Va. Tickets cost $10 to $15, depending on the day. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Todd Gladson, of Sneedville, Tenn., competed in the Flatfoot dance competition. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Beyond the competition, the Old Fiddler's Convention is also a big, musical tailgate. Ed Dooley (from left), of Roanoke, Va., Noah Gilliam, of Buchanan, Va., Cooper Eades, of Charlotte, N.C., Madison Barnett, of Potts Creek, Va., Luke Laehy, of Charlotte, N.C., and Stefan Kraft, of Blacksburg, Va., jam amid the hundreds of RVs that camp out during the week. — Beyond the competition, the Old Fiddler’s Convention is also a big, musical tailgate. Ed Dooley (from left), of Roanoke, Va., Noah Gilliam, of Buchanan, Va., Cooper Eades, of Charlotte, N.C., Madison Barnett, of Potts Creek, Va., Luke Laehy, of Charlotte, N.C., and Stefan Kraft, of Blacksburg, Va., jam amid the hundreds of RVs that camp out during the week. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

The convention, which runs for six days every August, is celebrating its 89th year, making it the oldest continuous Bluegrass and “Old Time” music festival in the U.S. Mostly amateurs come to compete. The event draws about 30,000 musicians, singers and fans along with hundreds of RVs that cram the city park here in the mountains.

The convention is run by the local Moose Lodge. Daily tickets cost $10 to $15. People set up their folding chairs in front of the outdoor stage and watch musicians compete on banjo, dobro, dulcimer, guitar and auto-harp.

“This is like the World Series of fiddler’s conventions,” says Trevor McKenzie, who runs the Center for Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. “This is the place that’s seen as very much the heart of this music.”

Old Time is fast-paced dance music that stretches back hundreds of years and includes instruments from different cultures, says McKenzie. White settlers brought the fiddle from Europe. The banjo is associated with enslaved people and descends from West African string instruments. Another tradition, Flat-foot dancing, echoes some native American traditions, McKenzie says.

People sit in folding chairs and on bleachers to watch the Bluegrass band competition during the 89th Annual Old Fiddler's Convention. Organizers say attendance is still below pre-pandemic levels. — People sit in folding chairs and on bleachers to watch the Bluegrass band competition during the 89th Annual Old Fiddler’s Convention. Organizers say attendance is still below pre-pandemic levels. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Fiddles are laid out on a vendor's table during the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers' Convention. — Fiddles are laid out on a vendor’s table during the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers’ Convention. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Leo Lindblom, of Bloomingdale, Ga., practices before competing in the Folk Song contest. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

“You talk about America as a melting pot, there’s a fire up under that melting pot and so it’s not always been the most comfortable history,” says McKenzie. “But this is a positive, this is the stew that comes out of it.”

The Old Fiddler’s Convention, however, faces challenges. Audience and participation numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels. Some older musicians have passed away and there is competition from other festivals.

“We’re trying to keep Old Time and Bluegrass music . . . going, keeping it alive,” says Tom Jones, 81, the convention’s publicity chairman.

One way to do that is developing young performers like Massey. The convention features a youth competition which drew more than 100 kids aged 7 to 15. But the real action lies beyond the stage, beneath the tents pitched between RVs where old friends and bands jam for hours.

Shay Garriock, of Pittsboro, N.C., laughs while jamming with Raistlin Brabson, of Callaway, Va. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Jim Coleman, of Saint Clairsville, Ohio, practices before accompanying his granddaughter who is competing in the Folk Song contest at the convention. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Felts Park is full of campers for the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers' Convention. — Felts Park is full of campers for the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers’ Convention. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Raistlin Brabson works in electronic maintenance about an hour-and-a-half away and plays the fiddle for fun. Today, he’s picking up a new tune – an Old Time song called Shootin’ Creek – from guitarist Shay Garriock, a violin maker who has a store in Raleigh, N.C.

“I really like Shay’s playing,” says Brabson. “I’ll . . . usually just think of a song and then bother him at one of these conventions to learn.”

Fiddling runs in Brabson’s blood. The fiddle resting on his shoulder belonged to his great, great grandfather and dates to around 1900.

Flatfoot dancing judges watch as Brittany Ferguson, of Roanoke, Va., dances in the competition. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Shay Garriock, of Pittsboro, N.C., tells Raistlin Brabson, of Callaway, Va., that the bridge on Brabson's great-great-grandfather's fiddle is warped during one of many jam sessions at the convention. — Shay Garriock, of Pittsboro, N.C., tells Raistlin Brabson, of Callaway, Va., that the bridge on Brabson’s great-great-grandfather’s fiddle is warped during one of many jam sessions at the convention. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers, of Wilmington, N.C., perform in front of the crowd for the Bluegrass band competition. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

“I knew about your great granddad before I ever met you,” says Garriock, who says he first heard Brabson’s ancestor play on a record called Blue Ridge Barn Dance. “When I figured out you were his great-grandson, I thought that was really cool.”

As the men continue to play, Margo MacSweeney, 15, steps onto a piece of plywood and begins to Flatfoot dance. She kicks up her heels and occasionally slides from side to side.

“It’s a little bit different from clogging,” explains MacSweeney. “It’s like smaller steps, lower to the ground.”

Finnoula MacSweeney (from left), 8, of Floyd, Va., and her siblings, Misha, 11, and Margo, 15, flatfoot dance at a tent during the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers' Convention. — Finnoula MacSweeney (from left), 8, of Floyd, Va., and her siblings, Misha, 11, and Margo, 15, flatfoot dance at a tent during the 89th Annual Old Fiddlers’ Convention. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Margo MacSweeney (left), 15, of Floyd, Va., flatfoot dances with her brother, Misha, 11, under a tent. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

Finnoula MacSweeney, 8, hugs her mother, Robyn Reitz, of Floyd, Va., as they share a chair during a dance and jam session away from the convention stage. (Allison Isley | for NPR)

MacSweeney learned to dance an hour’s drive away at the Floyd Country Store, which hosts a Friday night jamboree. Robyn Reitz, MacSweeney’s mom, credits her daughter’s first banjo teacher with giving her an appreciation for mountain music.

“He cares so much for the children . . . and passing on the tradition, so it doesn’t die, and we’re not all just staring at our cell phones,” says Reitz as her daughter continues to dance to the rhythm of the fiddle and guitar. “It’s just so beautiful.“

Transcript:

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Bluegrass has been the soundtrack of central Appalachia for decades.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

MARTÍNEZ: The musical genre known as old-time music goes back centuries. But in an age of infinite digital choice, how do you keep this musical tradition alive? NPR’s Frank Langfitt attended the Old Fiddler’s Convention in Galax, Virginia, to find out.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: Thousands of people have come to this small city in southwestern Virginia for nearly 90 years to attend the event. It’s the oldest of its kind in the U.S. People set out folding chairs in the city park to watch mostly amateurs compete in music, singing and dance for six days for prize money.

MARY LYNN HATHAWAY-GAYDOS: (Singing) When she heard her mama say, whoa, come to Mama, darling.

LANGFITT: Mary Lynn Hathaway-Gaydos is reprising her performance in today’s folksong competition. That she made it on stage is a big deal.

HATHAWAY-GAYDOS: I’ve been coming here for about 19 years. And funny thing is, every time Folk Song comes around, I kind of chicken out – not because I don’t feel that I could do it, but it’s been a rough night the night before, and I’ve stayed up picking till 6 a.m.

LANGFITT: Hathaway-Gaydos works as hospice nurse over the border in North Carolina. She first showed up in Galax as a fan.

HATHAWAY-GAYDOS: After coming here, I said, I’m going to play an instrument. At the age of 34, I picked up mandolin, then went to fiddle and now guitar and a bunch of other instruments. And I sing and write songs, and it’s all because of this place.

LANGFITT: She honed her skills during jam sessions among the hundreds of RVs that people park here for the week. This is where musicians have traded tips for decades.

RAISTLIN BRABSON: Well, I’m Raistlin Brabson. I’m about to play “Shootin’ Creek.” Shay Garrick (ph) just taught it to me. He’s here on guitar.

(Playing musical instrument).

Here we go.

(Playing musical instrument).

I really like Shay’s playing. I’ll usually just think of a song. I like how he plays it, and then bother him at one of these conventions to learn.

LANGFITT: Garrick’s known about Brabson’s family for years.

SHAY GARRICK: I met your great-granddad before I ever met you…

BRABSON: Yeah.

GARRICK: …But maybe before you’re born. He was on an old record called “Blue Ridge Barn Dance.”

BRABSON: Yeah. I have it.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

LANGFITT: As the men continue to play, Margo MacSweeney steps onto a piece of plywood and begins to dance. She’s 13 and lives in the town of Floyd, about an hour away. Margo kicks up her heels and occasionally slides from side to side.

MARGO MACSWEENEY: Now, that’s called flatfoot dancing. It’s a little bit different than clogging. It’s just sort of, like, smaller steps lower to the ground.

LANGFITT: And how did you get into it?

MARGO: I moved to Floyd, and they have the Friday night jamboree at the country store, and everyone dances.

LANGFITT: Robyn Reitz is Margo’s mom. She credits Margo’s first banjo teacher for giving her a feel for the music and the region.

ROBYN REITZ: He cares so much for the children to learn exactly what the region and the town, their tunes and passing on the tradition so it doesn’t die and we’re not all just staring at our cellphones. It’s just so beautiful.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

LANGFITT: Organizers say the Old Fiddler’s Convention drew about 30,000 people this year. Those numbers are below pre-pandemic levels. Some here say the loss of some older musicians may also have had an impact, which is why people at the Old Fiddler’s Convention say encouraging the next generation – kids like Margo – is so important.

Frank Langfitt, NPR News, Galax, Virginia.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)