Bluegrass shop sponsoring contests
NEW ATHENS, Illinois — Five levels of competition for fiddlers and three for banjo pickers are featured in an Oct. 27 competition at L&B’s East End in New Athens, Ill., in the greater St. Louis area.The contests, which start at noon and are non-profit, are being sponsored by The Bluegrass Shack, a fiddle and instrument shop , which caters to bluegrass consumers.
Registration starts at 11:30 a.m.
Fiddle contests are broken into Junior III for ages 12 and younger; Junior II for 13- to 15-year-olds; Junior I for 16- to 18-year-olds; Open for those 19 and older; and senior for fiddlers 60 and older.
First-place prizes in the fiddle contest range from $15 to $150, and the first five finishers in each class will receive cash, trophies or both. All junior competitors will receive a medal.
The banjo competition levels are Junior for those 15 and younger; open for those 16 and older; and senior, for those 60 and older. First-place prices range from $20 to $100. Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to those finishing close to the top. As in the fiddle contests, all junior participants receive medals.
Entry fee for all contestants is $2, while $7 admission is being charged at the door. Contestants do not pay the admission fee.
Food and beverages will be available during the contest.
Other details, including all contest rules, are available from Chris Talley Armstrong at The Bluegrass Shack, 618-475-3678 or L&B’s Eastend, 618-475-8010.
Chris Talley Armstrong and her husband Earl run The Bluegrass Shop, which continues to gain notice from the bluegrass and acoustic music crowd in Illinois and Missouri. The small shop, which is crammed with fiddles and a variety of other musical instruments, has also become home to regular jam sessions that are drawing musicians from a wide circle. Armstrong is also becoming well known as a violin luthier in the region. And, in her spare time, she fronts the Chris Talley Trio.
Details about the fiddle and banjo contests, as well as The Bluegrass Shack itself, can be found at www.thebluegrassshack.com
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