Calhoun, Georgia became a center for tufted textile industry through the pursuits of one woman, creating a billion dollar industry from her original crafting of chenille bedspreads.

Old Time Music sprouted from the efforts of early recording artists The Georgia Yellow Hammers and Andrew and Jim Baxter, record label competitors of The Skillet Lickers, just down the road. This fertile ground was situated halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga, who all hosted immensely popular annual fiddlers’ conventions that drew thousands, being the social event of the year, and the subject of much press coverage. All the greats came to Calhoun, and at least one local old-timer remembers Riley Puckett and his contemporaries playing in the streets. We resurrected The Gordon County Fiddlers’ Convention in 2007, which had its biggest year in 1927, with a reported 5,000 in attendance. Generous $ prizes in traditional singing, buck dancing, banjo, string bands and fiddle, as well as the popular retro ribbon medals.

This raucous Georgia-style of fiddling was all the rage nationally, during this time, and these artists efforts spanned the style category catalog in an amazing fashion. Come join us to celebrate this fine tradition, and learn some new tunes where they were originally hammered out!

And “How Country Music Broke Loose in Georgia” on the history of the festival and oldtime in North Georgia.

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