CLIFFTOP, WV (WOAY) – It’s a mountaintop gathering of musicians and friends that celebrates the evolution of old-time music.
Thousands from all over the United States and beyond have converged on the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop for the five-day tradition since 1990.
People tell me there’s nothing like it.
The contest honors long-ago, sometimes centuries-old traditions. To play a note is a note, but if you have its backstory: the shading, the colors, the singing…
“It’s quite a reputable contest because it can kick-start a young person’s career,” said Contest Coordinator Bobby Taylor. “Several people have won this and gone on to play in major bands, across the country and even on international tours. To rehearse and win this is a major honor.”
He’s a fourth-generation fiddler, so the Clifftop Festival is very special to Taylor.
“Some of the old fiddle tunes are used to describe panthers running through the woods at midnight; you can almost feel the chill and quiet in those tunes, the feeling and soul,” the contest coordinator said. “A lot of that is here now. We’ve got a lot of great performers from around the world. It’s a major thing that people put on their calendar every year.”
The mecca for old-time music, Clifftop,
is where you want to be if you’re an old-time musician.
“Everybody’s welcoming. Everybody wants to play music. Everybody invites you to play music with them,” Portland, Maine Musician Dave Stettler said. “There’s some fabulous musicians here, and walking around listening to them is worth it. But then to get to sit down with people and enjoy that time together.”
Harks back to a time when life was a little simpler.
“Or in some ways harder than others. But you could set an evening on your porch and play the fiddle or the dulcimer or the banjo, hear it echoing through the trees,” said Taylor.
“Connect to nature, connect to things that were cherished so long ago. I can’t put an emphasis strong enough on how important it is.”
She’s been going to Clifftop since she was a child, now Emily Johnson-Erday writes folk musicals and says her life is music.
“It’s the community. I grew up here running around hearing all of this music,” the Brooklyn, NY musician said, adding that it’s the most supportive part of her life.
“It truly is; all of us folks have known each other our whole lives. We’ve known all the changes we’ve gone through, and we reconnect every year right here.”
IF YOU WANT TO GO
When: Wednesday, July 30 – Sunday, August 3
Where: Camp Washington Carver, Clifftop.
What: Concerts, contests, dancing, prizes, food/vendors, and endless jam sessions.
