FIDDLIN' AROUND — The Alleghany County Fiddler's Convention had record attendance this year, despite two brief periods of rain. Pictured above are the "Dank Mountain Boys," who are (from left) Jerry Martin, Terry Atwell, Brent Cassell (back turned) and Johnual Thornton. All the band members are from Independence, except Atwell, who lives in Elk Creek. In the photo at left, Bill Blackwell of Hampton, Va. picks the dulcimer with his grandson, Kyle Hall.

Fiddler's convention attendance rises

The eighth-annual Alleghany County Fiddler's Convention had a total of 63 bands participating, including 32 old time, 28 bluegrass, and three junior bands (age 16 and under).

In addition, 290 musicians participated in bluegrass, old time and junior individual categories.

The convention was held last Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20, at the Justice Carlisle Higgins Agricultural Fairgrounds in Sparta.

Trever Nichols of the Sparta/Alleghany Volunteer Fire Department, which sponsors the event, said attendance was up significantly this year. "I think we had between 4,000 and 4,500 Saturday night," Nichols said. "We ran out of parking for everything. It was all full."

Friday night attendance was also up from last year, despite a brief deluge of rain Friday night and a brief rain Saturday morning.

"The rain didn't hinder us," Nichols said. "The crowd moved back up in the stands and then came back down when it quit. The rain Saturday morning slowed down as little bit with the competition, but not enough to hurt."

Things went well this year for organizers, said Nichols. "It was the biggest and best ever. We are looking forward to next year, hoping it will be even bigger.

"We had a lot of good comments this year, as far as how we're treating people.

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