2015 - Highlights

For a recap of the year to date I'll see what I can recall in reverse Chronological order.
Sept 12th  Rockbridge OT music party.
Sept 5   Floyd Radio Show  w/ Anna Roberts-Gevault and Elizabeth LaPrelle - 5th season opener
 August 31 -  birthdate of our first Grandson  Thomas Beau Traynham  9lbs 1oz.  We made an in person visit on Sept 3 to Reston Va where he lives with our son Ben and wife Lisa.

 Aug 15   First place OT band and Fiddle at the annual Fries Fiddler's Convention

 Aug 21   Busked on the streets of Richmond Va with Mark Campbell and John Schwab as the 

 Sunny Mountain Seranaders

 Aug 22       The Sunny Mountain Seranaders appeared at the CrossRoads Music Venue near   Gordonsville, Va.

July 17 -Aug 9    Hanna came east to go with Jenny and me to the annual Swannannoa Gathering to teach classes  in OT music.  Hanna taught her first class in beginning claw hammer banjo and handled it like a pro.  Jenny had a wonderful class on Old-time back-up guitar teaching some challenging bass runs to make a simple song like Careless Love sound  much more interesting. Inspired by OT guitar great Byrd Moore.  I had a large class of upper level banjo players who were able to rise to the challenges that I gave them in the way of right hand techniques.  We performed the modal song Cuckoo Bird at the final student showcase.   Jenny and I also had success in a class on old-time duet singing  where we emphasized listening and memorization of cool versions from older recordings.

July 17  Hanna began her visit to her parents at her Blue Ridge mountain home.   While here she played her banjo with me in several settings including the first annual Wild Goose a-                  Paloosa festival  in Indian Valley and the Floyd Country Store Sunday PM OT Jam.  We made a brief

trip to  Clifftop where we saw many music and banjo friends.
July 4th - Jenny and my 34th wedding anniversary saw us riding bikes on the New River Trail near Fries, Va.
June 26  -  Elk Creek Fiddler's Convention was ravaged by a massive wind and rain/hail storm that damaged  most camps and put a 'damper' on the festival, no pun intended.

June  23 - 25  Elk Creek Warm-up  - rhythm & Repertoire

June 15    I played fiddle in a band with left handed phenom, Ronald Pennington, on a Monday night  in Stuart Va.  as part of the first  annual Crooked Road Festival, a region-wide event that featured music all week long in many towns across Southwest Virginia.

June 13th  I served as a judge for the annual Henry Reed festival.
June 5-6    Mt Airy fiddler's convention -  good music jams although I was not able to be there as much 

 due to cabinet work commitment to our son, Ben.

May 30    Solo Set at Glen Alton  in Giles County.  Rare for me but enjoyable.

May 23    The Sunny Mountain Seranaders did a two set appearance in Burkeville, Va at Across the Trax,  a small arts and music lunch counter.
May 16th  One day workshop here   Beginner/intermediate level. well attended
May 9    Several kids from the Floyd JAMs program played for an audience as part of Youthfest on the premises of Heartwood near Abingdon, Va.  I was proud to present a group of kids
that I had influenced playing in a regional style before an audience.
May 1-3   Music Weekend at our place - rhythm and repertoire.
April 17th  Jenny and I did a set of OT gospel songs for the Floyd Country Store weekly gospel set that opens each Friday Night Jamboree.
April 18   One Day workshop  - beginners workshop for OT Fiddle, Clawhammer Banjo, and OT Guitar
April 4 - 11   Maple Syrup making with family in Ontario.  Played some tunes and songs with Hanna for family
Feb 28th    The Sunny Mountain Seranaders hold afternoon workshops and an evening  concert at Gene Bowlin's home and studio near Harrisonburg, Va.
Jan 27th  Jenny and I did a special set of songs for the Wild Goose Uprising bi-monthly concert /dance series.


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