Dear MariBella & The Pigkickers, a young sibling band out of Hampstead, NC, have a new original single released last week.

Sin Eater is a somewhat haunting, but up-tempo bluegrass ballad that tells the plight of a poor, marginalized individual in historical cultures, particularly in Britain and Appalachia in the 17^th through the 19^th centuries, who would ritually consume a meal, often bread and ale, placed on a corpse. This act was believed to absorb the deceased’s sins, allowing their soul to pass to the afterlife without the burden of sin. The sin eater was then shunned by the community, seen as taking on the evil they purged. The practice or ritual is thought to be from Welsh culture.

In this new single, penned by AnnMari and Isabella Trakimowicz, the Pigkickers tell the story and plight of the sin eater “drinking the sins of those asleep, making promises you can’t keep. Sin eater, oh sin eater. Traveling this world alone and damned, reaching out with empty hands.”

AnnMari (guitar) leads the vocal with sister Isabella (fiddle) and brother Pete (banjo) providing the harmonies. Younger brother Chris plays mandolin and their dad, Joel, plays bass fiddle.

While the song’s subject is rather unusual for the bluegrass genre, maybe except for Bringing Mary Home, it has a catchy melody that moves right along to the ending where the listener learns of the way out for the sin eater. 

Although the band has only been performing for four years, and the siblings range in age from 12 to 21, they are quite professional in their stage presence, their songwriting ability, and their production work in the studio, as demonstrated in this original offering. From their debut EP, titled Magnolia, through their recent album, On Forgotten Paths, the Pigkickers have proved they are an up-and-coming force in bluegrass music. 

AnnMari sings the lead with all the force and finesse that she demonstrated in On Forgotten Paths. This young lady, at only 18, shows tremendous promise in the bluegrass genre. Older sister, Isabella provides a nice tenor part, and Pete, at only 14, is quickly mastering the third parts. Yes, he has a deeper voice than most boys his age. The instrumentation on Sin Eater is spot on, and once again these youngsters have recorded a song where the vocals are not buried beneath the instruments. 

Sin Eater is available for download on all streaming platforms, as well as at Get It Played for radio programmers.

Have a listen in their accompanying music video.

The post Sin Eater from Dear Maribella & The Pigkickers appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Denim & Plaid on the Youth Stage at IBMA Bluegrass Live! 2025 – photo © G. Nicholas Hancock

The 2025 edition of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Youth Stage and Kids on Bluegrass (KOB) programs, held in Chattanooga, TN for the first time this year, far exceeded previous presentations in the opinion of this writer and other observers. Examples would include the vocals and sibling harmonies of Dear MariBella & The Pigkickers, the instrumental abilities of Creekwater Collective, the solo vocals of young Luke Moody, and the stage presence and fiddling of 7-year-old Nash Grier.

The Youth Stage featured 12 young bluegrass bands selected from around the country during Friday and Saturday of IBMA Bluegrass Live! on the streets of Chattanooga, and on the International Stage inside the Chattanooga Convention Center. Kids on Bluegrass consisted of 90 youngsters ages 7 to 17 in various band groupings such as Orchestra Bands, Camp Bands, and Honors Bands, which also performed on the Youth Stage, the Visit Chattanooga Stage, and the International Stage.

“Attending IBMA is always a highlight of my year, and it has been a great privilege to spend the past three years assisting with the Kids on Bluegrass program, directed by Kimber Ludiker and previously Deanie Richardson,” said Jackson Earles, fiddler and recent graduate of The New School in New York City.

“The program is an intense four days of rehearsals, band-leading, and performance which models what it takes to be a working musician. The participants this year showed up very well prepared and were eager to dig into constructing harmonies and arrangements to refine their sound as a band,” Earles said.

“The community fostered by Kids on Bluegrass is truly special, and it is always inspiring to hear what the next generation of bluegrass is up to,” he added.

Dear MariBella & The Pigkickers played a showcase stage at IBMA in Raleigh last year, but here in Chattanooga was their first time on the Youth Stage.

“We were super thrilled to play on the IBMA youth stage in Chattanooga this year! It was an honor to share the stage with so many talented kids and overall, a really great experience for the whole band,” said Isabella Trakimowicz, fiddle player.

“We want to thank Kimber Ludiker and JAM for organizing, and the countless hours of hard work that went into planning the IBMA youth program,” she said.

Creekwater Collective from Pickens County, SC played the Youth Stage last year at IBMA in Raleigh, and again this year in Chattanooga. JonPaul Sepulveda, 16, guitarist and vocalist with the group was not disappointed in Chattanooga.

“IBMA is always one of those special festivals that you can look forward to, but if you’re not careful, it’ll be over before you can think about it. This year was no exception!” JonPaul said.

“Being in Chattanooga this year definitely added some excitement, and even suspense, as I had no idea what to expect. The Youth Stage was a blast to play at, and it can make you feel ten times bigger than you are with all the colorful lights and professional sound crew, despite the name,” he said.

“Seeing and jamming with some old friends, and making some new ones from across the country, is definitely an experience that you can seldom find elsewhere. I look forward to next year with hopefully some improvements to the sound engineering or layout of the festival on the streets, but overall, the first year of IBMA in Chattanooga did not disappoint,” he concluded.

And Jacques Bourgeois, 15, a member of the PacJAM Performers from the Junior Appalachian Musicians program in the Tryon, NC area, also gave IBMA a thumbs up in Chattanooga.

“IBMA is by far my favorite festival of the year, and to me it’s a kind of a Bluegrass New Year’s party where I get to jam and have conversations with friendly strangers, or with people who I’ve met at other festivals or at camps over the years,” Jacques said. “I know that some of my favorite bluegrass memories will be jamming in hallways, vending machine nooks, and hotel rooms around the hotel.”

“Every time I attend IBMA, I build more and more relationships and gain so many new friends, especially with teens my age. There’s nothing like a 3:00 a.m. jam in a crowded hotel hallway to strengthen camaraderie. That doesn’t even take into account getting to watch awesome pro bands perform live, while also having performance opportunities myself to play with youth bands on stage. I am very appreciative to IBMA for supporting kids who love bluegrass,” he said.

Amy Tolbert, from Wilkes County, NC and mother of 16-year-old fiddler Charlie Tolbert who played in the KOB Orange Band, said she was impressed with the quality of the bands selected for this year’s Youth Stage and KOB. One of her favorite moments was listening to Luke Moody, 14, sing with his Youth Stage group, the KOB All-Star Band.

“Luke wowed the crowd with his unexpected voice as he sang with his same-aged peers. Listeners probably expected his voice to match his size, but he sings like a professional with a voice much deeper than one might think given his age,” she said. 

“His pitch and vibrato are in line with much more seasoned, veteran singers. He’s quite amazing. I am confident he has a bright singing future. I know I look forward to hearing him sing again!” she added.

And Nash Grier, age seven, once again delighted the Saturday audiences with his fiddling and stage presence. Nash, son of three-time IBMA guitarist of the year David Grier, performed his own arrangement of Lee Highway Blues, and took ownership of the stage like a pro. 

Someone asked me what I thought Nash would be like when he is 15. “He’ll be Billy Strings on the fiddle,” I replied.

G. Nicholas Hancock was in attendance both Friday and Saturday last week to capture several of the KOB band and Youth Stage band performances for the photo gallery below.

The post 2025 IBMA Youth Bands and Kids On Bluegrass Report appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Two years ago in July 2023, Elliot King, at age 11, attended a Billy Strings performance at the Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, NC. Elliot is 13 today, and a budding lead guitarist who takes lessons from Zeb Snyder, guitar man with The Appalachian Roadshow.  

King was near the front of the stage when the Strings performance ended, and Strings apparently noticed Elliot’s rapt attention to every song and tune he played. Before Billy left the stage, he reached down and took up the taped set list, walked over to the stage edge, and handed it to the youngster.

It became one of Elliot’s prized possessions. He bought a frame for it and enclosed the set list and the tape that held it to the stage floor. 

This past week, Elliot and his dad went to World of Bluegrass in Chattanooga because he plays bass for Denim & Plaid, who were selected to be one of the Youth Stage performers. He also played lead guitar and sang in one of the Kids on Bluegrass bands there. He knew Billy Strings was at IBMA as the keynote speaker for the annual conference, so he took the framed set list in the hope that he could get Strings to sign it. 

“On Thursday, someone called me and told me Billy Strings was hanging out in the Exhibit Hall,” Elliot said. “So I grabbed the set list and ran from the hotel room to the Convention Center to find him.”

The photos below tell the rest of the story.

The post Young guitarist’s Billy Strings dream is realized at WOB ’25 appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Tom Hyatt, Daniel Schronce, and Greg Blake at the E.H. Montgomery General Store
in Gold Hill, NC – photo © G Nicholas Hancock

On Sunday evening, August 3, a unique bluegrass music event occurred at the E.H. Montgomery Store in the small but historic town of Gold Hill, NC. Vivian Pennington Hopkins, store owner, hosted a 2 ½ hour summer concert featuring Greg Blake, the 2003 International Bluegrass Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year, backed by four area bluegrass musicians. 

“The idea for the Carolina Summer Concert came from a conversation between me and Tom Hyatt,” Hopkins said. “I wanted to invite Greg Blake and his wife, Joy Sue, to the store since they’re new to the area, having recently moved to Lexington, NC. So, Tom and I invited some of the best musicians in the region to take part in the house concert.”

Those musicians included banjoist Tom Hyatt, bassist Daniel Schronce of The Gospel Plowboys, fiddler and vocalist Lake Carver of Carolina Detour, and mandolin player Jonah Chaney of The Grass Strings. 

“From there it just all came together with one rehearsal. That rehearsal was the first time that these five players had ever picked together, and the first time Blake, Daniel, Jonah, and Lake had ever met,” Hopkins said.

A set list of 26 songs and tunes was created at that one-time rehearsal, and Blake and crew performed them like they had been playing together for years to a house-packed enthusiastic audience.

The E.H. Montgomery General Store at 770 St. Stephens Church Road in Gold Hill is the music heartbeat of the former mining town. The store was built in 1840, and the town soon became known as the richest, most famous gold mining boom town east of the Mississippi River. The store is one of the two remaining original buildings in the restored mining town.

“It’s a perfect gathering place for picking, especially on Friday nights where even during the cold winter months, folks gather around the big pot-belly wood stove to swap tunes and talk about everything bluegrass,” Hopkins said.

Vivian Pennington Hopkins is the vice president of the Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc. Her father was Ralph Pennington who wrote the bluegrass music standard, My Cabin in Caroline, who sold the rights to record that song to Lester Flatt in 1948.

The post Greg Blake at the Montgomery General Store in Gold Hill, NC appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Slate Mountain Ramblers at the 2025 Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Festival – photo © G Nicholas Hancock

The Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Music Festival celebrated its 24^th anniversary July 24-27, 2025, nestled between hills in the small community of Woodville, NC, located east of Mount Airy and north of Pilot Mountain.

With the slogan “Come for the music and stay for the fun,” brothers Alden and Arnold Nunn provided both for daily spectators, as well as for several families and individuals who camped for three days along the small mountain creek that borders the music park on the north and east sides.

Music began at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday with a free admittance to watch a performance on stage by the Nunn Brothers, and then a jam which lasted into the night. This year’s edition of the Nunn Brothers included Alden on fiddle, Arnold on guitar, Malachi Bulman on banjo, Levi Head on bass, and Elijah Smith on mandolin. Other pickers featured during the jam were banjoist Berkley Stewart of Denim & Plaid from Saltville, VA; banjoist Travis Watts of Travis Watts and Mountain Blessings from Mount Airy, NC; fiddler Shawn Rippel from Pilot Mountain; and WPAQ radio DJ and MC Tim Frye on mandolin, among others.

Friday evening music featured Granite City Grass and Harrison Ridge Band, both based in Mount Airy, and the Nunn Brothers. 

The Saturday night lineup included Travis Frye & Blue Mountain, the Slate Mountain Ramblers, and the Nunn Brothers. 

Admission to the Friday night performances was $10.00 and admission to the Saturday night performances was $12.00. Thursday and Sunday were free to the public and all children under age 10 were admitted free during the entire weekend.

The festival concluded Sunday with a worship service from 10:00 a.m. to noon led by Rev. Ricky Easter of the Albion Baptist Church in the nearby Albion community. From 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. free music and entertainment was provided by The Lower Dam Band out of Meadows of Dan, VA, and the Nunn Brothers & Friends.

The Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Music Festival is held annually on the last full weekend in July at the Nunn Brothers Music Park, 421 Woodville Road, Mount Airy, NC. For more information call: 336-325-6866 (Arnold Nunn) or 336-325-9891(Alden Nunn) or visit them on Facebook.

The post 2025 Nunn Brothers Bluegrass Music Festival report appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Decorative sign at the 2025 Abingdon Fiddlers’ Convention – photo © G Nicholas Hancock

Nick Hancock has also shared these photos from last weekend’s Abingdon Fiddlers’ Convention, held at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon, VA.

Thanks Nick!

The post More photos from 2025 Abingdon Fiddlers’ Convention appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Yates Family, 1st place Adult Old-time Band at the 2025 Abingdon
Fiddlers’ Convention – photo © G Nicholas Hancock

The summer heat did not deter 22 bluegrass and old-time bands, and 143 individual contestants, from attending the 4^th annual Abingdon Fiddlers’ Convention this past weekend at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Abingdon, VA. Bands and individuals competed for a total of $7,000 in cash and prizes, which included unique handcrafted ironwork trophies made by Melissa Conner.

Tim White of the Song of the Mountains television show and Dale Morris of Elk Creek, VA served as the event’s MCs. 

Friday night was devoted to a Gospel Band competition in which a total of 18 groups competed. After the gospel competition, Daniel Davis & Simple Rhythms provided an hour of entertainment while the judges tallied the scores. Following presentation of the gospel band awards, the New Ballard’s Branch Bogtrotters, based in Fries, VA, provided music for a square dance called by Anne Lough, an internationally known traditional musician and folk-dance instructor. 

In addition to the regular bluegrass and old-time competitions on Saturday, the Abingdon Fiddlers’ Convention awarded five Asher Hurley Memorial Youth Music Scholarships of $300 each to Jeremiah Rasnake of Abingdon, VA; Charlotte Erin Simmons of Wytheville, VA; River Smith of Unicoi, TN; Jessie Amelia Rhea of Hansonville, VA; and Shawn Rippel of Pilot Mountain, NC. The scholarships must be used for traditional musical instrument lessons, tuition for traditional music camps, or college music courses.

Abingdon luthier Keith Hurley, father of Asher Hurley, had made a second acoustic guitar, valued at $4,000, for which raffle tickets had been sold to raise additional money for the Youth Music Scholarships. According to Jennifer Blankenship, convention organizer, $5,000 was raised on the guitar this year. The winning ticket holder was Ed Oakes of Snowville, VA, who was presented the guitar by Mr. and Mrs. Hurley. 

The convention offered free workshops with a flat foot dance class held on Friday. Saturday’s workshops included an instrument petting zoo sponsored and conducted by Mary Munsey and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, The History of the Guitar hosted by William King, an upright bass workshop with Sam West, and a guitar workshop presented by Jack Hinshelwood. Also on Saturday afternoon, a presentation titled, “Medieval to Metal – The Art & Evolution of the Guitar,” was presented by Anna Buchanan, head curator at the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon; musician Jessica Stiles; and Dr. Rene Rodgers, museum director at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Music Museum.

Mrs. Blankenship said plans are already being made for the 5^th edition of the event, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, 2026. 

“We are so grateful to all the volunteers, sponsors, musicians, bands, and spectators who have turned out each year to support this event,” she said.

Winners at this year’s competition were:

Youth Fiddle (Bluegrass)

1. Shawn Rippel – Pilot Mountain, NC 
2. Lydia Walls – Vale, NC
3. Jeremiah Rasnake – Abingdon, VA

Youth Fiddle (Old Time)

1. Lindsey Gladson – Sneedville, TN
2. Alaina Hess – Floyd, VA
3. William Boggs – Clarksville, GA

Youth Guitar

1. Elliot King – Carthage, NC
2. Corban Walls – Vale, NC
3. Truett Wagner – Kernersville, NC

Youth Mandolin

1. Orson Cornett – Boone, NC
2. Rochelle Grim – Floyd, VA
3. Hollace Oakes – Snowville, VA

Youth Banjo (Clawhammer)

1. Hanna Boggs – Clarksville, GA
2. Charlotte Simmons – Wytheville, VA

Youth Banjo (Bluegrass)

1. Harlan Gladson – Sneedville, TN
2. Tucker Conner – Fleetwood, NC
3. Easton Compton – Abingdon, VA

Youth Miscellaneous (Dobro)

1. Orson Cornett – Boone, NC

Youth Folk Song

1. Lindsey Gladson – Sneedville, TN
2. Tucker Conner – Fleetwood, NC
3. William Boggs – Clarksville, GA

Youth Band (Old-time)

1. Little Creek String Band – Floyd, VA
2. Iron Shack – Abingdon, VA

Youth Band (Bluegrass)

1. Denim & Plaid – Fleetwood, VA
2. Harlan Gladson & The Sorghum Slurpers – Sneedville, TN
3. Roan Street Ramblers – Unicoi, TN
4. Russell and Compton with Skillet – Abingdon, VA

Best All Around Performer (Youth)

• Elliot King – Carthage, NC

Adult Fiddle (Bluegrass)

1. Charlie Tolbert – Purlear, NC
2. Hollace Oakes – Snowville, VA
3. Jordan Blevins – Falls Mill, VA
4. Shawn Ripple – Pilot Mountain, NC

Adult Fiddle (Old Time)

1. Hollace Oakes – Snowville, VA
2. Lindsey Gladson – Sneedville, TN
3. Todd Gladson – Sneedville, TN
4. Grayson McGuire – Todd, NC

Adult Guitar

1. Elliot King – Carthage, NC
2. Cody McGrady – Galax, VA
3. Matt Osborn – Bristol, VA
4. Berkley Stewart – Saltville, VA

Adult Bass

1. Briar McDowell – Hendersonville, NC
2. Travis Watts – Mount Airy, NC
3. Sadie Yates – Konnarock, VA
4. Jordan Blevins – Falls Mill, VA

Adult Mandolin

1. Orson Cornett – Boone, NC
2. Charlie Tolbert – Purlear, NC
3. Darrius Flowers – Pilot Mountain, NC
4. Reagan Brown – Springfield, TN

Adult Banjo (Clawhammer)

1. Jared Boyd – Floyd, VA
2. Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC
3. Sadie Yates – Konnarock, VA
4. Todd Gladson – Sneedville, TN

Adult Banjo (Bluegrass) 

1. Nessie Hunt – Marion, VA
2. Travis Watts – Mount Airy, NC
3. Berkley Stewart – Saltville, VA
4. River Smith – Unicoi, TN

Adult Miscellaneous

1. Paul Byrum (Dulcimer) – Kingsport, TN
2. Holger Olson (Dobro) – Elizabethton, TN
3. Jonathan McHone (Dobro) – Danbury, NC
4. Amelia Brown (Dobro) – Springfield, TN

Adult Folk Song

1. Jessie Rhea – Hansonville, VA
2. Lucy Smith – Unicoi, TN
3. Brock Greer – Kingsport, TN
4. Leslie Smith – Unicoi, TN

Adult Flatfoot Dance

1. Todd Gladson – Sneedville, TN
2. Travis Watts – Mount Airy, NC
3. Hollace Oakes – Snowville, VA
4. Debbie Yates – Konnarock, VA

Adult Band (Old Time)

1. Yates Family – Konnarock, VA
2. Gladson Family – Sneedville, TN
3. New River Wranglers – Floyd, VA

Adult Band (Bluegrass)

1. Travis Watts & Mountain Blessings – Mount Airy, NC
2. New River Line – Galax, VA
3. Blue Rock N Grass – Marion, VA

Best All-Around Performer (Adult)

• Jared Boyd (Clawhammer banjo) – Floyd, VA

Bluegrass Gospel Band

1. Calvary’s Chosen – Bristol, VA
2. New River Line – Galax, VA
3. Roan Street Ramblers – Unicoi, TN

The post 2025 Abingdon Fiddlers Convention results appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Rarely do I hear a new recording in any genre that contains a vocalist that makes me go, “Whoa! Where did that come from? Who is this person?”

A new album titled On Forgotten Paths by Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers made me do just that. And the person is AnnMari Trakimowicz.

The Pigkickers consist of the Takimowicz siblings Isabella (20) on fiddle, AnnMari (18) on guitar, Peter (13) on banjo, and Chris (12) on mandolin. Dad, Joel, handles the bass duties. While the sibling harmonies are delightful to hear and are spot on, it is AnnMari’s singing that stands out on this eight-cut volume, the first six of which are originals penned by AnnMari and Isabella. 

This is the youngsters’ first studio project, and it was recorded by Andy Pow at Digital Wave Recording in Fayetteville, NC, and mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering in Charlotte, NC. David Pell was Executive Producer for the CD released on April 8, 2025.

Unlike many first-time albums by relatively new young artists, the vocals on this CD stand out and are on top rather than buried behind the instrumentation. Kudos to Andy Pow and Dave Harris for producing a highly professional-sounding CD. 

Now back to AnnMari. Some people are just natural singers, and AnnMari is one of them. Her vocals on this album sound like she has been singing and recording for 30-some years. Her vocal range is impressively wide, and her control, inflections, and phrasing are remarkable at her age. One may tire of a lesser singer’s voice after five or six songs, but not with AnnMari. I could listen to her sing all day. The only other singer that affects me that way is Louise Holder of I Draw Slow. And I won’t even try to compare AnnMari to any other singer, as to sound or style; that would be doing her an injustice. She is herself, she sounds like AnnMari Trakimowicz, and I admire that in any artist.

Now for the songs. 

Eternity’s Garden is a haunting, Irish-sounding ballad with a nice guitar intro. The fiddle and banjo provide appropriate fill-ins and solos. The ending is mysterious and fitting.

Train Keep a Rollin’: Every bluegrass album needs a train song and young Peter on banjo and lead vocal are featured on this original song. Peter’s banjo picking is tasteful and with an obvious J.D. Crowe flavor.

Trying to Survive is reminiscent of the 1930s depression era with AnnMari delivering some forceful poignant lyrics. 

I’ll Have Faith is an original bluegrass gospel song with AnnMari on lead, and Isabella and Peter on harmony vocals. Peter’s banjo solo and backup during this is very well done for a 13-year-old player. 

Sailor’s Lament in A minor is another haunting ballad with AnnMari in the lead with Peter and Isabella providing beautiful harmonies. Isabella’s fiddle backup is subtle and lovely, with Peter’s banjo backup and brief solo perfect for this number. Some powerful lyrics here. The a cappella harmonies on the ending are beautiful and bone chilling. 

Peter Trakimowicz takes the lead on I Didn’t Know It Was a Crime, which is an up-tempo, humorous bluegrass song about law enforcement and youthful mistakes that Chris kicks off on mandolin. Peter, who sounds older than his 13 years, does a fine job on the lead, and on the banjo picking.

AnnMari takes the lead on Wayfaring Stranger. She delivers a very strong performance of this classic, with tasteful guitar, banjo, and fiddle accompaniment.

It Is Well with My Soul, by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss, was first published in 1876. Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers deliver an up-tempo, strong, and powerful rendition.

On Forgotten Paths can be purchased directly from the artists on CD, is available on all streaming platforms and for purchase in Apple Music. It is also available on AirPlay Direct for all radio programmers.

The post On Forgotten Paths – Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Bodhi Guinn at the 2025 Mt. Airy Fiddlers’ Convention – photo © G. Nicholas Hancock

Here is another large gallery of photos taken by G. Nicholas Hancock at last weekend’s Mt. Airy Fiddlers’ Convention in North Carolina, capturing all the activity in the park, both on stage and off.

The post More photos from the 2025 Mt. Airy Fiddlers’ Convention appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

New Floyd County Ramblers, 1st Place Old Time Band at the 2025 Mt. Airy
Fiddlers’ Convention – photo © G. Nicholas Hancock

The 53^rd  Mount Airy Fiddlers’ Convention was held this past Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in Mount Airy, NC. On Saturday, 218 pickers competed in the individual instrument categories from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., according to MC Dale Morris and convention coordinator Randy Hiatt. Fifty-one bands played in the old-time band and bluegrass band competitions this year, compared to the 34 bands in the combined categories in 2024. Old-time bands numbered 27 and there were 24 bands in the bluegrass category. 

Once again, individual pickers and bands from near and far lined up in the heat to await their turn on the stage to perform before the judges for ribbons, trophies, and a more than $5,000 in cash prizes. Local musicians such as twin brothers Alden and Arnold Nunn from Mount Airy competed in the bluegrass band category, and individual contestants such as Johan Nilson from Sweden by way of Silicone Valley, CA and Evie Ladin, also from California, entered the guitar and old-time banjo categories.

2025 winners in the various categories were:

Adult Old-time Fiddle

1. Ruth Shumway, Charlotte, NC
2. Raistin Brabson, Floyd, VA
3. Richard Bowman, Mount Airy, NC
4. Billy Hurt
5. Andrew Small, Floyd, VA

Adult Bluegrass Fiddle

1. AJ Srubas
2. Hollace Oakes, Snowville, VA
3. Darrius Flowers, Pilot Mountain, NC
4. Charlie Tolbert, Purlear, NC
5. Rex McGee, King, NC

Adult Old-time Banjo

1. Jared Boyd, Cana, VA
2. Trish Fore
3. Marsha Todd
4. Devon Flaherty
5. Ashlee Watkins

Adult Bluegrass Banjo

1. Trevor Holder
2. Travis Watts, Mount Airy, NC
3. JR McFalls
4. Malachi Bulman
5. Nessie Hunt

Adult Guitar

1. Chad Harrison, Claudeville, VA
2. Nick King
3. Cody McGrady
4. Jack Hinselwood
5. Tae Childress 

Adult Mandolin

1. Allen McMillan
2. Daniel Ulloum
3. Ralph McGee, King, NC
4. Elijah Smith, Mount Airy, NC
5. Alex Meredith, Chapel Hill, NC

Adult Bass Fiddle

1. Levi Head, Mount Airy, NC
2. Austin Janey
3. Tim Geen
4. Django Burgess
5. Stacy Boyd

Adult Dobro

1. Johnathon McHone
2. Keith Aiken
3. Charlie Milliron
4. Robert Ellis
5. Rick Hansen

Adult Dulcimer

1. Diane Parker
2. Lyle Richards
3. Eva Casstevens
4. Ehukai Teves
5. John Renwick

Adult Autoharp

1. Mason Winfree
2. Vicki Boyd
3. Jimmy Handy

Adult Folk Song

1. Jeanie Thicken
2. AnnMari Trakimowicz, Wilmington, NC
3. Asenath Easter
4. Andrew Small
5. Tommy Nichols

Adult Dance

1. Nathan Fargo
2. Phil Jaimeson
3. Maggie Holder
4. Evie Ladin
5. Cherie Compton

Adult Old-time Band

1. New Floyd County Ramblers
2. Slate Mountain Ramblers
3. Up Jumped Trouble
4. Cool as Grits
5. Shock Doctors

Adult Bluegrass Band

1. Five Mile Mountain Road
2. New River Line
3. Harrison Ridge
4. Foggy Window Ramblers
5. Promise Lane

Youth Old-time Fiddle

1. Finton McGrath, Rockbridge County, VA
2. Emmerson Braningham
3. Whitleigh McGee, King, NC
4. Sterling Hollifield, Independence, VA
5. Miles Kexel

Youth Bluegrass Fiddle

1. Whitley Thorton
2. Lydia Walls, Vale NC
3. Shaw Rippel
4. Isaiah Imperiale
5. Benjamin Ferranti

Youth Old-time Banjo

1. Margo MacSweeney, Floyd, VA
2. Samuel Spencer, Floyd, VA
3. Acacia Fugate
4. Mason Hayden
5. Hannah Boggs

Youth Bluegrass Banjo

1. Aaron Hess
2. Silas Walls
3. Eleanor Bastin
4. Michael Harper

Youth Guitar

1. Corban Walls, Vale, NC
2. Ricky Caudill
3. Andy Nichols
4. Kingston Hollifield, Independence, VA
5. Annalise Hess

Youth Mandolin

1. Orson Cornett, Boone, NC
2. Rochell Grim
3. Chris Trakimowicz
4. Charlie Moses
5. Luke Spencer, Floyd, VA

Youth Bass Fiddle

1. Coley Palmer, Dobson, NC

Youth Folk Song

1. Miles Kexel
2. Chris Trakinowicz
3. Malyn Delle Todd
4. Peter Trakinowicz
5. Rochelle Grim

Youth Dance

1. Margo MacSweeney, Floyd, VA
2. Misha MacSweeney, Floyd, VA
3. Miles Kexel
4. Nuni MacSweeney, Floyd, VA
5. Rylah Grim

Most Promising Youth Trophy

• Fintan McGrath

Up-and-coming Youth Band

• Samuel Spencer

Youth Old-time Band

1. Floyd VA Girls & Aaron

Youth Bluegrass Band

1. 4 Walls

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