What a difference a year makes. Our experience at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, WV was vastly different from 2012. This was the second time for all of us being more comfortable with this community of Old Time music players at this venue.
We decided to camp this year which allowed us greater flexibility in managing our time and instruments. Jim and Pat where with us on this trip as they brought their lap dulcimers. No contest this year as we did not have time to put together a songs to play. However, we enjoyed all of the other sites and sounds that Clifftop had to offer. We attended the finals for the neo-classical and traditional band contests, did two nights of square dancing (much better than aerobics), managed to take in a few more lessons in flatfoot dancing, and played in a few small jam sessions at the main cabin. We attended a wonderful concert in the main hall by Alan Jabbour who is the founder of the “American Folk Life Center” at the Library of Congress. He told stores of his life with folk and Old Time music and provided a background for each song played. He was joined by his good friend Dean Reed.
The evening porch jams were just great! On Friday night Jim Costa, a highly skilled banjo, fiddle, and harp player established a jam and played many well known songs for all to enjoy. Jim’s songs were wonderful and we enjoyed hearing him play. On Saturday night Roger Sprung took center stage on the porch with his banjo playing and reminding all that he once played with Doc Watson. Again to hear such a seasoned veteran of Old Time music was a treat. Many other seasoned players joined Roger which made for a nice impromptu concert. The music was great and we enjoyed hearing Roger and the others play.