Vandalia Gathering, 2010

Subject: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Janie
Date: 17 May 10 - 12:13 AM

Vandalia Gathering

Memorial Day Weekend, on and around the Capitol Grounds, Charleston, WV.

This will be the 34th Vandalia Gathering. I attended the 1st decade or so of them before I moved. Have rarely been able to attend since, but think I am going to make this one.

This is a wonderful, multigenerational event, a real heritage event, full of Appalachian music, dance (yes - even Morris Dancing!), story-telling, traditional arts and crafts, pie and biscuit contests, quilting.

Lots of jamming under the shade trees around the Capitol and Cultural Center. (Like most old-time festivals, no informal song circles- it is all string jams,) but may have good ballad singers at the concerts in the Cultural Center. and lots of callers and dancing.

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 17 May 10 - 06:22 AM

Janie,

I'll be there.

I will be spending a lot of time with the Westmans. They are the bowed psaltry people. Stop in and say hi. I will be one of the two scary looking old men. Greg is the other one.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Fortunato
Date: 17 May 10 - 06:40 AM

Janie, what's it like, I've heard of it, but not been.

best,
chance

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 18 May 10 - 06:24 AM

Fortunato,

Vandalia is a showcase for WV traditional music.
It is held on the grounds of the capitol in Charleston.
Beautiful setting. Enough free parking for everybody.
The capitol building is kept open for the weekend. Great bathrooms.
If it rains you can jam in the cavernous corridors of power.

Large concerts in a very comfortable setting on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening.
Contests for banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and dulcimer.
Small concerts and workshops.
Dancing.
Jamming all over the grounds.
WV Crafts.
Food.

I love it.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Janie
Date: 18 May 10 - 06:31 AM

Russ,

Annie will definitely be there, while I am a 95% probability. I'll let her know to look for you in the event I decide to not make the trip.




re: those cavernous halls - I love to slip into one of those big marble halls when no one is around and sing - awesome accoustics!

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 18 May 10 - 01:11 PM

Hope to see you.

Hope the weather is good.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Janie
Date: 26 May 10 - 09:29 PM

I'm definitely headed for WV and Vandalia on Saturday, Russ. Maybe Sunday. Looking forward to meeting you.

So far, the weather forecast looks hopeful.

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 26 May 10 - 10:26 PM

YIPPEE!!!

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Janie
Date: 31 May 10 - 07:53 PM

It were grand!

Just in the fiddlers department - Lester McCumbers, Frank George, John Morris, Bobby Taylor, Dwight Diller, Jerry Mills, Buddy Griffin, Dave Bing....to name a few. Loved the number of them who talked about what they knew about the histories of the tunes, and what fiddler, often now deceased, in (pick a county) they learned the tune from.

And kids coming right along to keep the music going - the under 17 banjo, mandolin and fiddle contests let me know the music will not die.

Not only did I finally get to meet Russ, went to a party Saturday night that was like a homecoming for Annie & I - talking and singing with people we had lost track of when we left WV lo those many years ago, many of them who had been very good friends, back in the day....

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Janie
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 09:31 PM

This won't be of interest to many, but perhaps a few. A documentary/sampler of what to expect at the Vandalia Gathering. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, it is easy to scroll through and pick out musicians you might want to hear.

Vandalia Gathering 2009

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Janie
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 09:59 PM

Some of the performances include John Morris, Dwight Diller, the Kessinger Family, Nat Reese, remmants of the Lily Brothers, Ginny Hawker, etc.

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 06:24 AM

This would be something happening in the colonies?

Subject: RE: Vandalia Gathering, 2010
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 06 Mar 13 - 09:40 PM

I'll be there.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)