(gentle music) - [Announcer] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

(lively fiddle music) (gentle Appalachian music) (upbeat Appalachian music) - Welcome to the 50th annual Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

I'm Shan Stout.

- And I'm Jennifer Phipps.

- And we wanna welcome you to 50 years of tradition.

We're so very happy to be back after a very challenging year last year.

- Oh, absolutely.

And speaking of things that came before us, we had seen two days full of musicians, square dancers.

- That's my favorite.

- Absolutely, we've seen so much of it all.

And now we are coming down to the finale and the best of the best that we'll end up with the junior senior fiddle grand championship fiddle off.

- Oh, we can't wait.

Now, but first, before all that fun, we wanna take you back to the stage because Tom is warming up the crowd for all of these great competitions.

- Take it away, Tom.

- Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 50th annual Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree!

(crowd cheering) Woo, yeah!

All right!

Look at this crowd here tonight, ladies and gentlemen.

That's what I'm talking about.

My name is Tom Dugan.

This is my co-host Alex Woodward.

Alex, we're ready to party on a Saturday night.

We're in the bluegrass band ready to go through this.

We got two contestants left and what a fun we've had this weekend.

- Y'all ready to hear some bluegrass?

Can't hear you.

(crowd cheering) "I'll fly away."

(gospel fiddle music) ("I'll fly away") ♪ Some bright morning when this life is over ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ To a home on God's celestial shore ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, oh, Glory ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, in the morning ♪ ♪ When I die, Hallelujah, by and by ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ (picking fiddle music) ♪ When the shadows of this life have gone ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ Like a bird from prison bars has flown ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, oh, Glory ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, in the morning ♪ ♪ When I die, Hallelujah, by and by ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ (gospel fiddle music) ♪ Oh how glad and happy when we meet ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ No more shackles on my feet ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, oh, Glory ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, in the morning ♪ ♪ When I die, Hallelujah, by and by ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ Just a few more weary days and then ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ To a land where joy will never end ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, oh, Glory ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, in the morning ♪ ♪ When I die, Hallelujah, by and by ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, oh, Glory ♪ ♪ I'll fly away, in the morning ♪ ♪ When I die, Hallelujah, by and by ♪ ♪ I'll fly away ♪ (crowd cheering) - Thank you so much.

You'll have a great night.

- Awesome job, contestants number 126 The Kentuckyseans from Springfield, Tennessee.

- Now, for those of you who are long time fans of the Jamboree, you know that this festival began because of the vision of three very important men.

We have Barry C Williams, James G Bobo Driver, and of course, Congressman Joel Evans.

Now this vision was strong and clear because we still celebrate the Jamboree in the exact same style that they did 50 years ago.

- [Jennifer] Oh, absolutely.

And the first Jamboree even had a community chorus like we still see today.

- [Shan] I love it.

And musicians and dancers, they perform in front of a live audience right on the courthouse square, just like they did in 1972.

- [Jennifer] Absolutely.

And now our Jamboree has grown to thousands of fans come in from all over across the world.

- And to make that happen, the first Jamboree sent up over 400 press releases across the world and that brought 8,000 people right here.

So we started with 8,000 and now we have tens of thousands.

- [Jennifer] Absolutely remarkable.

- It was absolutely a success and it's still thriving today.

And so we wanna thank the families of the founding fathers of the Jamboree who still many of them multi-generations are working behind the scenes to make the Jamboree successful, including the Driver family, because they, this year donated the funds to be able to do a 50 years of the Jamboree historical book, which is available as an ebook online.

And you can download that for free, SmithvilleJamboree.com.

Now, when you're here at the Jamboree, if you've never been before, this is kinda the breakdown.

On Friday you come, and those are the beginner categories and everybody's starting out.

- Oh yes, well I mean you can see a lot of the interesting categories.

You can see some banjo and mandolin and I remember seeing autoharp, mountain dulcimer, - You got some of the dancing and the clogging, all of that.

And then you're getting to Saturday and on Saturday it gets serious because you have the winners coming together and competing for the coveted championship for 2021.

And so you're gonna hear some great competitions right here on the stage all night long, just like this.

(lively fiddle music) (crowd cheering) - That was called "Bitter Creek."

- Like we said, things are heating up on the stage.

That competition is getting real.

- Oh it's absolutely.

I don't know how they're gonna choose the winners.

- Like we said, things are heating up on the stage.

That competition is getting real.

- Oh it's absolutely.

I don't know how they're gonna choose the winners.

- And they take it very, very seriously.

And I guess we're just able to sit back and enjoy the show since they're doing the heavy lifting.

(mellow fiddle music) (crowd cheering) Okay, weigh in.

- So CJ, you know, did an absolutely amazing job on the fiddle there, but is he not the same contestant who was playing the Cajun accordion last night as well?

- You see that a lot.

And we really get tickled because the Shade Tree Pickers oftentimes also are competitors, but sometimes the Shade Tree Pickers are just there to enjoy each other and have fun together and just jam.

So he's there and sometimes we talked to them yesterday and they learn a new instrument while they're here with the other Shade Tree Pickers and then if there's not many contestants on the stage for a particular category, they're like, hey man, can I borrow your instrument and let me give this a go.

And it's sometimes they win.

That's how talented these musicians are.

- Shan, I feel like you're kind of letting some of the secrets out of the bag though because that happened and that did happen years ago, too.

(accordion music) - Hello, my name is CJ Cron.

I grew up South Louisiana.

I currently live in Smyrna, Tennessee.

I first came to Smithville about three years ago.

My next door neighbor, Ron Piercey.

- Yeah, I'm Ron Peircey and I've been coming to the festival 41 years, had a little bit of success on the dulcimer my first 10 years, but I did get the backup a lot of people.

- Invited me over and this is where it happened.

I'm an accordion player from years ago and I brought my accordion with me, a Cajun accordion to play some music here.

I didn't know what they was gonna allow me, but somebody told me to bring it with me and see what happens in the novelty class.

I played it in a novelty class and I won third place.

Worked out great.

You should come and enjoy the music.

We're having a good time.

You're invited, come play.

- I've met a lot of great, talented young musicians who've gone on to fame and fortune.

The music I learned here led to me to a teaching profession where I called for Metro Schools for 20 years and 12 years at Vanderbilt Blair School of Music, associate professor, from what I learned here, so it's been a great experience for me.

I kind of blame it all on Smithville is where I got my start.

Now what you see that back here, we have all these different folks jamming.

We have our awning set up here and we practice for the competitions here.

And some folks come here, they don't even enter the contest.

They just come here and to the shade to play and have fellowship with other musicians.

You know, learn things from each other.

(upbeat banjo music) - One part of this jamboree is the competition, but the other half is the great Shade Tree Fiddlers.

I got started here and have met so many great people playing bluegrass music under the shade tree here at Smithville.

And this is where you learn how to play music.

You interact with other great musicians, great talent, and just a great time.

It's you let your hair down, enjoy the weather, enjoy each other and enjoy bluegrass music.

I encourage all young people to come out.

And this is again, how I got started.

It makes you more comfortable and you get to know other people.

Shade Tree picking is a tradition that's been going on for many, many years.

It goes back to the first bluegrass festival that ever happened.

Shade Tree picking is absolutely what we come here to do to meet other people.

We love it.

Everybody's invited to come out and get under a shade tree and do some picking.

(upbeat banjo music) - How long did you play?

- A long time, 40 years I guess.

- Yes.

I'll tell you you've been coming up here some 40 years.

- Yeah, close to it.

I missed a few in the early days, but in the older days, I never missed.

And I hope I keep coming.

I'm shooting for 100, I'm 86.

(upbeat banjo music) - He's our national treasure of bluegrass at Smithville Jamboree.

- Thank you.

There's no substitute for practice.

I don't care how good you might ever be.

And I don't practice, I don't have time.

I'm see ya work, I'm a farmer.

- You know, dealing with what we had to deal with last year we really missed this festival.

(lively fiddle music) - We come here for this.

- Yeah.

- Fellowship, fellowship.

- Fellowship and music around the shade tree.

That's what it's all about.

Bluegrass music is spiritual music.

It bonds people together.

- Makes 'em happy.

- That's right.

(upbeat acoustic strings music) ♪ If you don't have a peach tree ♪ ♪ Don't shake the tree ♪ - Just thankful and good times to look around you, see familiar faces again, be a part of jam bands again and jam with friends like- - Being 80, yeah.

- All the good playing and Philip.

(lively fiddle music) - Bluegrass music, once it gets in your blood, you've had it.

(lively bluegrass music) - Okay, I heard square dancing.

I heard Rocky Top Revue.

It's my time to get excited.

You're all about the fiddles.

I'm all about the square dancing.

And I'm so excited about this category because last night we had the Smithfield Steppers.

They made it to the finals for the first time in their history.

And I'm telling you, the crowd went crazy because we have rooted for them for years, but they just were just so close and just missed that brass ring, but last night, let me tell you they made it.

So they are gonna bring it.

And it is going to be a crazy competition because last night I'm telling you, I got to literally sit on the stage and film and watch them perform and I was like, whoa.

(crowd cheering) (lively fiddle music) (hands clapping) (shoes tapping) - I absolutely loved the dancing as well.

And there's so many different categories of dancing that we're gonna see.

- It is very intense.

And they're all about their costumes too.

We talked to several of the square dancers and the cloggers and they're like, listen, we had this done and we changed this for the 50th.

And they are looking sharp.

- So we're from Robertson County, Tennessee.

And we've got eight square dancers and they are called the Sunshine Stompers.

They are excited today.

Nice and cool, usually it's really, really hot.

We're getting everybody's hair braided done with the girls, get double braids.

- The metal on the bottom, it's loose so whenever we go kick forward, it will hit the floor in jingle.

And then when we go back, it will also jingle and then when we stomp the floor, it'll just make a bang so it's supposed to sound like a horse galloping, so that's what it says, it guess.

- It's beautiful, it's fun, and it's rhythmic and here we go.

Speaking of rhythm it's time to enjoy the house band.

(lively fiddle music) - Yeah, Rocky Top Revue, contestant number 156.

Brightland, Tennessee, great job, y'all, great job.

- Now, one of my favorite things besides the square dancing is the shopping.

I truly enjoy it.

When you show up at the Jamboree, every street around the square is full of handmade crafts.

There's glassware, pottery, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

I bought way too much.

I literally, while I was filming, would just give them my credit card and say, I'll be back in a minute, go ahead and ring me up and I'll circle the square.

I'm mean, that's how I get to shop.

- Okay, so here at the Smithville Jamboree, it is about the music, it's about the dancing, but it's also about the shopping.

- Now it's not just any shopping.

This is high-end artists and crafts, beautiful pottery, glassware, woodworking, and things that you just can't find anywhere else.

Now I'm not gonna lie, I did a little shopping with you.

- Oh my goodness, well, we're gonna go back.

Let's go shopping now.

(lively fiddle music) ♪ I went up on the mountian ♪ ♪ To give my horn a blow ♪ ♪ I thought I heard my true love say ♪ ♪ That's coming from my bow ♪ ♪ Run down and shake a little hill ♪ ♪ Run down and shake a little hill ♪ ♪ Run down and shake a little hill ♪ ♪ And get your fill ♪ - Now, when you're here shopping for crafts, there's some crafts that you can put on your table to decorate and there's some crafts you can put on your table to eat.

- And we're here at Abby's Special Dips.

And guess what?

The Abby is here with us today.

Hey, Abby.

- Hello.

- So where are you from, Abby?

- Texas.

- Texas, that's awesome.

- Now tell us how your little business got started.

- We were looking for a business, small family business that all three of us could do.

And I put my catering recipes into dry form, into dip form.

And then we decided to name it Abby's Special Dips.

- So you worked for the big boss now.

- I worked for the big boss.

- We are so glad that you found your way to the Smithville Jamboree.

- Thank you.

- Welcome to Tennessee, guys.

♪ Poor gal and I'll tell you the reason why ♪ ♪ She got so many kin folks ♪ ♪ She make my business fly ♪ ♪ Run down and shake a little hill ♪ ♪ Run down and shake a little hill ♪ ♪ Run down and shake a little hill ♪ ♪ And you'll get your fill ♪ (lively fiddle music) - People come from all across the country to be here at the Smithville, Jamboree, talented artists from everywhere.

But today we have a local artist.

- Now I'd like to introduce you to Roger Wiggs and Roger you've been here for just a few years.

- Yes I have.

It's been, it's probably about my 10th year to be here as a part of the Jamboree.

- Well, and we consider you as staple now of the Jamboree so you'll have to come another 20 years.

That's all there is to it.

- I hope I live that long.

Then I'll do it if I live that long.

- Now, Roger, what type of style would you call your art?

- Well, I do mostly wildlife.

I do a lot of stuff in pencil.

That's how it started with pencil.

But in the last few years, a lot of people's asked me to do stuff in color.

So I've added color for the last couple of years.

So I'm always busy doing artwork and taking people's suggestions and doing what they like.

And I've had a request today to do raccoons.

I'll be doing a raccoon before long.

- Well, all this wildlife art goes perfectly.

(lively fiddle music) We're here with Sarah Holmes.

Her booth is called Paper Doll.

- Now, as I was saying earlier, this is one of those extraordinary booths, full of unusual items that you just can't find anywhere else.

But speaking of extraordinary.

- She has the sweetest story to tell.

- Okay, so I'm gonna tell you about five years ago, we were sitting on the couch and we were watching PBS and the Smithville Jamboree came on so we sat and watched the whole thing with my four kids and we loved it.

And I had no idea we're gonna be in here in Tennessee, living here now, and we get to be here, so excited.

- Well, we're as excited as well.

I tell you that is so just a testimonial, Shan.

- Welcome to the Jamboree, Sarah.

(lively fiddle music) ♪ I've never married a poor gal ♪ ♪ And I'll tell you the reason why ♪ - Now when you've shopped til you dropped at the Jamboree, it's time to enjoy some of their great food.

- And you can find all kinds of food here at Girl Scout.

- Troupe number.

- [All] 633!.

(cheering) (lively fiddle music) - [Man] One more time.

- All right, let's see what else we got.

(lively fiddle music) - [Tom] Fantastic, Jacob Contestant number 13, Jacob Fennell from Dickson, Tennessee and how about a big round of applause for all of our finalists and the junior old time Appalachian flatfoot dance.

- These competitions, they start at 9:00 AM and they usually wrap up between 10:30 or 11 at night.

So this is just a giant party on the square that goes until the wee hours of the evening.

And it's even gone before two and three in the morning.

If the weather inhibits us in any way, but the weather this year is perfect because it is our 50th and it's all about magic and the magic is happening right now on the stage.

- Here's your nice old gospel tune called "Kneel Down at the Foot of the Cross."

(gospel Appalachian music) ("Kneel Down at the Foot of the Cross") ♪ Kneel down, kneel down ♪ ♪ At the foot of the cross ♪ ♪ And ask forgiveness ♪ ♪ That you may not be lost ♪ ♪ Jesus will forgive you ♪ ♪ Of your every sin ♪ ♪ And you can go to heaven ♪ ♪ My brother, when He comes again ♪ (upbeat Appalachian music) ♪ All of you sinners ♪ ♪ Who live the sinful way ♪ ♪ And go on living in sin every day ♪ ♪ Jesus will guide you if you let Him in ♪ ♪ And you can go to heaven ♪ ♪ My brother, when He comes again ♪ (mellow Appalachian music) ♪ Kneel down, kneel down ♪ ♪ At the foot of the cross ♪ ♪ And ask forgiveness ♪ ♪ That you may not be lost ♪ ♪ Jesus will forgive you ♪ ♪ Of your every sin ♪ ♪ And you can go to heaven ♪ ♪ My brother, when He comes again ♪ (lively Appalachian music) ♪ All you merry makers ♪ ♪ Who live the wicked way ♪ ♪ You turned your back on Jesus ♪ ♪ And curse every day ♪ ♪ Jesus is calling ♪ ♪ Won't you let Him in ♪ ♪ And you can go to heaven ♪ ♪ My brother, when He comes again ♪ - All right, number 158, Smithville Fiddling Music Team.

- Now, speaking of the things that are happening at the Jamboree, yesterday we had Governor Bill Lee here and he had some things to say, let's take a look.

- Thank you very much what a, gosh, what a beautiful night it is.

Thank God for his favor, for this beautiful weather and for this beautiful community and what a great opportunity it is for us to all come back together again and celebrate 50 years of this very special historic event.

That means so much not to just, not just to Tennessee, but really to the country.

And Maria and I are very proud to be here.

You know, Tennessee is 225 years old this year.

President George Washington, that's right, a little applause for that, there you go.

President George Washington signed a document 225 years ago that made Tennessee the 16th state in the nation.

And I'm a strong believer that it's the greatest state in the greatest nation in the world.

(crowd cheering) Happy 4th of July and may God bless the great state of Tennessee and may God bless the United States of America.

Thank you very much.

(lively fiddle music) - [Tom] Hey, great job, Stanley, that's contested number 125.

That's Stanley Reese from Gainsborough, Tennessee.

Mr. Scruggs, come on out sir.

All righty, 90 years young.

I believe that's what we heard today.

This man's been cutting a rug a long time, folks.

He's mighty good at it.

Contestant number 81, ladies and gentlemen, number 81 from Hartsville Tennessee, here is Tommy Scruggs Jr. (lively fiddle music) (crowd cheering) Yes, sir, Mr. Tommy Scruggs, Jr., constant number 81.

Mr. Scruggs said earlier today he'd been to all but two of the 50s Smithville Fiddlers Jamborees.

That's quite remarkable.

All right, Anthony Harrell, Anthony's ready to go.

Judges, he will be contested number 56, number 56 from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, let's hear it for Anthony Harrell.

(lively fiddle music) Yes, sir, that's Anthony Harrell, contestant number 56 from Mount Juliet, Tennessee.

I just feel bad for Anthony having to compete against his wife here in a few minutes 'cause I really don't wanna see him have to walk home.

- Okay, if that didn't make you smile, you are hard to impress.

- Absolutely you're hard to impress because those were some of the most well-renowned dancers that you will see at the Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree.

- Tommy Scruggs being back here on this stage where he belongs.

That is a moment in history that we're gonna remember forever.

(Appalachian fiddle music) - Thank you so much.

I love this.

I'm gonna let you hold it 'cause I'll break it probably but it's wonderful to be here on a great beautiful day in Smithville, Tennessee.

♪ I don't care if the tops don't spin ♪ ♪ I don't care if the gems don't gem ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ So darling, let it rain, let it snow ♪ ♪ Let us go where lovers go ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ North to south, east to west ♪ ♪ You know I will stand the test ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ (lively banjo music) ♪ Well, I don't care if the birds don't sing ♪ ♪ I don't care if the bells don't ring ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ I don't care if the world don't turn ♪ ♪ I don't care if the fire won't burn ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ So darling, let it rain, let it snow ♪ ♪ Let us go where lovers go ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ North to south, east to west ♪ ♪ You know I will stand the test ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ (lively mandolin music) ♪ So darling let it rain, let it snow ♪ ♪ Let the cold north winds blow ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ North to south, east to west ♪ ♪ You know I will stand the test ♪ ♪ Just as long as you love me ♪ ♪ Oh darling just as long as you love me ♪ - So we're hoping you're feeling like you're right here with us, but be sure if you ever get a chance to visit the Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree, come here in person.

See what it's all about.

The sights and sounds.

You can hear fireworks going off above our head as we speak.

It is just all here.

Every bit of Americana in this tiny little charming downtown, right on the courthouse square.

It just doesn't get any better.

(lively banjo music) ♪ I have seen ♪ ♪ A last tomorrow ♪ ♪ I am holding ♪ ♪ My last breath ♪ ♪ Good bye ♪ ♪ Sweet world of sorrow ♪ ♪ My new life ♪ ♪ Begins with death ♪ ♪ I am standing ♪ ♪ On the mountain ♪ ♪ I can hear ♪ ♪ The angles' songs ♪ ♪ I am reaching ♪ ♪ Over Jordan ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Lord, lead me home ♪ ♪ All my burdens ♪ ♪ Are behind me ♪ ♪ I have prayed ♪ ♪ My final prayer ♪ ♪ Don't you cry ♪ ♪ Over my body ♪ ♪ 'Cause that ain't me ♪ ♪ Lying there ♪ ♪ I am standing ♪ ♪ On the mountain ♪ ♪ I am standing ♪ ♪ On the mountain ♪ ♪ I am reaching ♪ ♪ Over Jordan ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Lord, lead me home ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Lord, lead me home ♪ Thank you.

(upbeat music) - "You are My Sunshine."

("You are My Sunshine") (Appalachian music) (crowd cheering) - [Tom] Good job contest number four, Mr. Jim Owns.

I hope I have that much breath when I make 92.

- Okay, they're tossing the coin.

You know what that means.

- This is bringing some memories.

It means that we're gonna find out who's gonna go first.

- So did you win the toin toss.

Let's just do that, it's late.

- [Jennifer] Girl, you've been at this a long time.

- [Shan] I have, I have.

I don't really, I can't blame that coin toss.

- But I don't remember, so I don't have a great answer to tell you here.

I have no idea if I won the coin toss.

- Either way you won fiddle off, which is the most important.

And I was actually there every time.

- Oh, that is too perfect, that's right.

You were there every year.

- I was rooting for you for you.

You were just the up and comer that was just the fireball of talent.

(upbeat fiddle music) She's so talented.

She knows what these competitors are going through.

They're nervous, they're excited.

And they have that dream of the goal they've been working for all year long.

- Absolutely.

I mean, you know there is a moment when you've won your junior or your senior category, but there's nothing like this part of the competition trying to bring that one home.

- Oh, it's a big deal.

I look forward to it.

Here we go.

Let's see what they've got.

(lively fiddle music) It's time to see our final competitor, here we go.

(lively Appalachian fiddle music) - Thank you.

- It's been a wonderful junior senior fiddle off, and now we are just waiting for Vicki Woods and her band of merry tabulators to finish adding these scores together.

And we are about to know who the winner is.

- Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Barry C Williams Memorial trophy.

This is the grand champion fiddle.

Our Barry C Williams Grand Fiddle Champion for the 50th anniversary, Smithville Fiddlers Jamboree goes to contestant number 57 from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Mr. Justin Branum.

- Well, welcome back.

We've done it.

We have the grand fiddle off champion, Justin Branum on the Murfreesboro, Tennessee and he is here to send us off on a great farewell for our 50th anniversary celebration coming to you next year.

'Cause we will see you July 1st and 2nd, 2022.

That's all for the 50th annual Smithville Fiddler's Jamboree and Crafts Festival.

I'm Shan Stout.

- And I'm Jennifer Phipps.

- Happy Jamboree, everybody.

Good night.

(lively Appalachian music) (crowd clapping) (gentle music) (lively fiddle music) (gentle music) - [Announcer] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.