Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers Convention canceled in Chattanooga

Mick Kinney, left, and his son, Evan Kinney, play music while Laurie Jo Ramond competes in the dance contest in a previous Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers' Convention. The 2020 competition is March 14 at 901 Lindsay. / Staff File Photo Mick Kinney, left, and his son, Evan Kinney, play music while Laurie Jo Ramond competes in the dance contest in a previous Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers' Convention. The 2020 competition is March 14 at 901 Lindsay. / Staff File Photo

By Barry Courter March 10, 2020 3 min read

UPDATE: The event has been postponed until Oct. 11.

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ORIGINAL STORY: The Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers Convention has had competitions for fiddle, banjo, string band and traditional song for the last 10 years. This year, organizer Matt Downer has added a slot for guitar players.

The event, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at 901 Lindsay (formerly Lindsay Street Hall), is a celebration of old-time music of the type most often associated with fiddle and banjo, and played by gathering family and friends on a front porch or at a community social.

It’s played without benefit of electricity or amplification, Downer said, adding that it was popular for folks a century ago as both a way to entertain and pass along stories and folklore.