New Media from a Journalism Veteran
Oh, the joy of it all
The Friday NIght Jamboree is all about having fun and it doesn’t matter what age you might be.
Young, old, middle-aged or young adult — the proof that the Jamboree is an eternal event can be found in the faces of those who dance, those who play the music and those who just come to watch.
This young lady was all smiles last Friday but you will find such joy on any Friday night at Floyd’s most famous musical venue.
Inside the country store, the dourness that comes from politics, Presidential elections, far off wars, high gas prices or a faltering economy fades away with the sounds of bluegrass and taps on dance shoes.
The Jamboree didn’t exist when I grew up in Floyd but after four years back it is hard to remember when it was not part of the life and culture of the county. During the many years that I traveled the country and world, people would ask: "Where are you from?" When I said "Floyd, Virginia," many of them would do a double-take and tell me about the time they came to Floyd and visited the Friday Night Jamboree.
"It’s put Floyd on the map, that’s for sure," Hubert Robertson, former owner of the Country Store, told me in 2002 when Amy and I began filming the first documentary on the Jamboree. The Jamboree has been featured in magazines and newspapers all over the world. A film crew from Germany visited last month and the Jamboree is featured on The Smithsonian’s web site right now and will soon be in the institution’s magazine.
Ah, the joy of it all.
Time for FloydFest
FloydFest kicks off its four days of music, crafts, games, lifestyle and fun today at the Patrick County site just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The collection of musical acts includes perennial crowds favorites like Donna the Buffalo (above) plus Railroad Earth, Dave Grisman and many others.
Some see the annual event, which grows in size and scope every year, as a Woodstockian "hippie" festival but FloydFest has evolved into a family weekend (below) that includes fans of all ages and persuasions. It is an event that has makes Floyd a popular summer destination for many and brings much-needed dollars into the local economy.
We won’t be there this weekend because of a prior commitment but the weather forecast looks good for the festival, which has been hit by rain, storms and even a hurricane in seasons past.
It should be a banner weekend for Kris, Erika and all the folks at Across The Way Productions. (Photos from Floydfest 2006)
Yes, that's my ferret
The music wasn’t the only attraction for this young visitor to the Friday Night Jamboree.
The King and his Court
Clyde Williams (center on fiddle) has been a fixture of the Friday Night Jamboree for a long as most can remember. His Old Time Country Band is a crowd favorite and musicians like to jam with him outside the Floyd Country Store. Now a German television audience will know about Clyde and the Friday Night Jamboree. A video crew shot (below) shot footage for an upcoming special on the store and music in America.
White Top Mountain Band and lots of fun
Grayson County’s ever-popular White Top Mountain Band, featuring the always-energetic Martha Spencer (above) brought a capacity crowd to the Floyd County Store Saturday night. Store owner Woody Crenshaw called the show one of the best Saturday night events at the store.
White Top is the Spencer family band, including Martha, daddy Thornton Spencer, mama Emily (right), bassist Debbie Bramer and mandolin player Jackson Cunningham.
As always, the band provided an evening of fun for young and old and the crowd certainly seemed to enjoy it (below).
Martha and Jackson appeared on the stage of the Friday Night Jamboree a few weeks back, playing with Mac Traynham’s group and the family band plays the Oak Grove Pavilion last year. They have been a fan favorite at FloydFest in recent years but, sadly, are not on the schedule this year.
Bloggerman or cloggerman?
Yes, that’s Fred First, dean of the Floyd County bloggers, on the dance floor of the Country Store at Saturday night’s concert by The White Top Mountain Band. We won’t go so far as to call his dance steps "clogging." They remind me more of the Dancing Man of YouTube Fame.
A dog's life
Who says a dog’s life is bad? In this case, man’s best friend rides along in his master’s motorcycle sidecar. Ah, life is good.
The bike is a Ural, a Russian made machine that features several sidecar models and has a cult following. A Ural motorcycle group was in the area over the weekend.
Music wasn't just on the street
Floyd’s music venues were busy Friday night, proving all the music wasn’t just on the street Bob Grubal’s group entertained diners at Oddfellas Cantina (top) while the young group Statement (right) opened the Friday Night Jamboree with an hour of Gospel Music. At Cafe del Sol (below) Abe Gorski and Scott Patrick provided tunes fo rhe java crowd.
The music contines tonight with Statement at Oak Grove Pavilion at Zion Lutheran Church, Sway Katz’s big band sound at Pine Tavern and The White Top Mountain Band at the Floyd Country Store.
Guess music in Floyd isn’t just for Friday nights any more. Saturdays are becoming a main movie night as well.
And, for those who are keeping track of such things, the town’s new public restrooms, AKA The Timber Frame Outhouse, was open for business Friday night and, we are told, will be open again tonight. We still don’t know what the hours will be on a continuing basis but will let you know when we learn.
Street music
Floyd’s streets were alive with the sounds of music Friday night. High gas prices did not keep the throngs away and even though the town spent a fair amount of money building wider sidewalkers with alcoves for musicians and spectators, that did not stop some from setting up their lawn chairs on the street to watch the musicians.
Others stayed off the street and opted for the alley between the Floyd County Store and Angels in the Attic to watch Clyde Williams (below) hold court with other musicians.
