Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention part of a long history in Chattanooga [photos, video]

Brian and Austin Derryberry jam outside the Lindsay Street Performance Hall during a past convention. Brian and Austin Derryberry jam outside the Lindsay Street Performance Hall during a past convention.

By Barry Courter March 6, 2017 4 min read

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No Fiddling Around: Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention part of a long history

Moses Nelligan and Coleman Akin do a little pickin' on the lawn.

Tyler Andal performs in front of a large crowd at 2014's Fiddlers' Convention.

Mick Kinney and sons perform during the 2013 convention.

Fans and performers pose for a group photo at the Great Southern Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention in 2014.

If you go

› What: Great Southern Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention› When: Noon, Saturday, March 11› Where: Lindsay Street Hall, 901 Lindsay St.› Admission: $10› Online: www.oldchattanooga.com

When Matt Downer got a copy of “Chattanooga Fiddlers’s Convention History” a few years ago, he was amazed to learn that Chattanooga was once the Southern capital of fiddling.

A picker himself, Downer, was fascinated by the collection of newspaper clippings from the Chattanooga Times and Chattanooga News put together by Ken Parr, and says it “made me want to bring this back.”

Inspiration running high, he wanted to create a national competition similar to ones that took place here in the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s.

So that’s what he did.