Annual Grayson County Fiddlers’ Convention

An Official Crooked Road Event

SPONSORED BY THE ELK CREEK VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT & LADIES AUXILIARY


ALWAYS THE LAST FULL WEEKEND IN JUNE

$3500 CASH PRIZES, RIBBONS & $1500 YOUTH AWARDS

Friday 5PM & Saturday 3PM

LOCATION: ELK CREEK SCHOOL BALL PARK, 57 School Lane, Elk Creek, Virginia 24326

ADMISSION: FRIDAY $10, SATURDAY $10, UNDER AGE 12 FREE

CAMPING: OPENS TUESDAY JUNE 25TH $10 PER NIGHT, SHOWERS AVAILABLE

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, VOLUNTEERS OR VENDORS INFO: CONTACT 276-768-6721

The Grayson County Fiddlers’s Conventions has been preserving and celebrating mountain music and the culture of Southwest Virginia since 1967. Its mission is not only to preserve the artistic heritage of Grayson County but also the people and property of the Elk Creek community.

The Elk Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary are the proud sponsors of the and depends on funds generated to purchase equipment and provide emergency services.

Come the the VALLEY, you’ll find a small town feel, plenty of friendly faces and amazing mountain and valley views. Well seasoned musicians, kids, first responders, and travelers find themselves at home during our two day convention.

GENERAL CONTESTANT INFORMATION

Contestant will be charged admission at the gate. After performing, admission will be refunded at the registration table behind the stage. Ticket must be presented before a refund will be made. No refunds for folk song or flatfoot dance competitions.

COMPETITION RULES

Decision of The Judges and/or Event Manager during the event is Final. Your participation in our event signifies your agreement to abide by the rules as presented.

  • Registration for each contest will remain open until the contest is over.
  • Individuals and bands must perform while their particular contest is taking place. Once that contest is finished, no other contestants will be allowed to perform.
  • Bands must perform Friday and Saturday night to be eligible for awards and prize money.
  • An old time band must have at least 3  members but no more than 7 and must have a fiddle and a banjo played in an old time style.
  • A bluegrass band must have at least 3 members but no more than 7 and must have a banjo and also a fiddle or mandolin played in a bluegrass style.
  • Band members should be the same during each night’s performances unless an emergency arises. Changes must be cleared with the competition manager before the band takes the stage.
  • Drums, horns, and electric instruments are not allowed in any contest. Harmonicas and other reed instruments are permitted.
  • Individual contestants can have one additional instrumental back up if they choose.
  • For the folk song contest-it’s best to select a traditional song from the public domain, however, the song does not necessarily have to be a ballad. A folk song is a song that’s been passed down from one generation to the next and has become a part of the folk song tradition. A singer may also choose to have an additional instrumental back up but they cannot have any vocal accompaniment. Registration is limited to the first 20 to sign up on Friday and the first 20 on Saturday. A contestant can sing on Friday or Saturday but not both days.
  • A person can enter only one instrumental contest and only one band. They can also enter folk song and dance if they choose. Youth contestants can enter one adult individual contest and one adult band in addition to youth contests. 
  • Individuals will not be judged out of a band performance.
  • If a contestant breaks a string while performing, they should stop playing. They will be allowed to return later to perform without any penalty.
  • The Elk Creek Fire Department reserves the right to make audio and/or video recordings without consent from any band or performer. 
  • No copyrighted music.

FRIDAY’S ORDER OF CONTESTS ARE: (5 PM START)

  • FOLK SONG (1st 20 to register, judging combined with Saturday’s performance)
  • DULCIMER
  • AUTOHARP
  • OLD TIME BANJO
  • BLUEGRASS FIDDLE
  • BANDS (LINE UP AND PLAY ANY ORDER)
  • FLATFOOT DANCE (ROSETTES ONLY FOR FRIDAY DANCE)

SATURDAY’S ORDER OF CONTESTS ARE: (3 PM START)

  • FOLK SONG (1st 20 to register, judging combined with Friday’s performance)
  • DOBRO
  • BASS FIDDLE
  • MANDOLIN
  • BLUEGRASS BANJO
  • OLD TIME FIDDLE
  • YOUTH COMPETITION (AGE 16 AND UNDER)
  • YOUTH BAND & DANCE
  • GUITAR
  • BANDS (ORDER ANNOUNCED AT REGISTRATION)
  • FLATFOOT DANCE
  • Youth awards will be presented before the start of the Saturday evening band performances.
  • ROSETTES FOR ALL WINNERS.
  • ALL ADULT AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER ALL COMPETITIONS ARE OVER.

YOUTH INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES (AGE 16 AND UNDER)

FIDDLE, GUITAR, BANJO, MISCELLANEOUS, DANCE

  • 1ST PLACE … $25
  • 2ND PLACE … $20
  • 3RD PLACE … $15

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS – 4 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE AWARDED $250 EACH IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS, DETAILS AT REGISTRATION

YOUTH BAND COMPETITION

  • 1ST PLACE … $200
  • 2ND PLACE … $100
  • 3RD PLACE … $50

OLD TIME BANDS

  • 1ST PLACE … $600
  • 2ND PLACE … $300
  • 3RD PLACE … $200
  • 4TH PLACE … $100
  • 5TH PLACE … $75

BLUEGRASS BANDS

  • 1ST PLACE … $600
  • 2ND PLACE … $300
  • 3RD PLACE … $200
  • 4TH PLACE … $100
  • 5TH PLACE … $75

ALL INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENT CATEGORIES AWARDED:

GUITAR, DULCIMER, AUTOHARP, OLD TIME BANJO, BLUEGRASS BANJO, DOBRO, BASS FIDDLE, MANDOLIN, OLD TIME FIDDLE, BLUEGRASS FIDDLE, FOLK SONG

  • 1ST PLACE … $30
  • 2ND PLACE … $25
  • 3RD PLACE … $20
  • 4TH & 5TH PLACE … ROSETTE

ADULT FLAT FOOT DANCE

  • 1ST PLACE … $20
  • 2ND PLACE … $15
  • 3RD PLACE … $10
  • 4TH & 5TH PLACE … ROSETTE