Ryan Krofcheck
Contributing Writer
Marlinton will echo with the sound of Appalachian strings Saturday, September 27, as the Hammons Family, Fiddle and Banjo Contest and World-Class Jam takes over the town. A highlight of the Roadkill Cook-off and Autumn Harvest Festival, the event blends contests, concerts and community jams into a full weekend of music and tradition.
The celebration begins Friday, September 26, 7 to 9 p.m., with a square dance at the Pocahontas County Op-era House featuring The Nightcrawlers and Friends. Legendary caller Lou Maiuri will call the dances, setting the stage for a weekend steeped in rhythm and heritage.
On Saturday, September 27, activities will be held at Discovery Junction. Registration and the number draw for contest participants will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. (all contestants, including those who preregistered, must check in before 11 a.m.). Between registration and the start of the contests, audiences will enjoy two special performances: the Modock Rounders with Bobby Taylor as well as Dave and Tim Bing.
The contests start at noon with the Old-Time Banjo Contest followed by Bluegrass Banjo at 1 p.m. Next, Michael Cleveland and Cody Looper will debut a full-length fiddle and banjo set. For the first time at this event, Cleveland, a Grammy winning fiddler widely regarded as one of the top bluegrass musicians of his generation, will showcase extraordinary virtuosity and deep Appalachian roots. The Fiddle Contest will take place from approximately 2:45 to 4 p.m. Entry is free, and preregistered contestants will be entered into a drawing for a free T-shirt and other prizes.
At 10 a.m., the Gazebo Stage will kick off with Mudhole Control, followed by Robin and Dan Kessinger, Jesse Smathers and Corbin Hayslett, The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys, The State Birds, and The Bing Brothers featuring Jake Krack, all while the Roadkill Cookoff is underway.
After the contests, Discovery Junction becomes a concert stage with a Hammons tribute featuring Gerry Milnes and Trevor Hammons, along with multi-band performances headlined by the Lonesome River Band.
Beyond the stages, world-class jams will spread across Marlinton – at Rivertown, the Pocahontas County Opera House, under easy-ups at the town stoplights, and at the Mountain Tavern – inviting visitors to wander and enjoy the living soundtrack of Appalachia.
Masters of ceremonies Bobby Taylor and Gerry Milnes will host Saturday’s contests, with a distinguished panel of judges including David O’Dell, Dave Bing, Mike Hartgrove, Tim Bing, Todd Sams, and Sammy Shelor.
The contest is inspired by the Hammons family, whose legacy of fiddle tunes, banjo music, ballads, and storytelling stretches back to the 1800s. Their music has shaped the cultural fabric of Appalachia, and this annual event celebrates their enduring influence.
The Hammons Family, Fiddle & Banjo Contest + World-Class Jam is presented with the generous support of the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs and Festivals, Pocahontas Coun-ty Family Resource Network, and many local sponsors.
