July 2, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Fifty years of Fiddlin’
The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree & Crafts Festival is back again alive and kicking today ( Friday) and tomorrow July 2-3 downtown Smithville.TN. This year’s festival will be celebrating 50 years of the Jamboree with a visit by Governor Bill Lee, a special line-up of entertainment and nostalgia for attendees, along with a newly constructed main stage, and secondary performance stage.
WJLE AM 1480 and FM 101.7 will broadcast LIVE and on the LIVE stream at www.wjle.com.
Gov. Lee will provide the official welcome to kick-off the Celebration this evening (Friday, July 2nd) at 6:00 p.m. as part of the opening ceremony featuring other local and state dignitaries. The Community Chorus will also present a patriotic musical and dance program during the 6 p.m. hour.
Multi-GRAMMY nominated duo Dailey & Vincent will be recognized at the Fiddlers’ Jamboree on Saturday, July 3 for their contributions as one of the most popular bands in contemporary American music, embracing bluegrass, country and gospel.
Darrin Vincent will be celebrated by the State of Tennessee with an unveiling of his “Tennessee Music Pathways” marker on the square during the Fiddlers’ Jamboree at 5 p.m. CT. Launched by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development in 2018, Tennessee Music Pathways is an online planning guide that connects visitors to the state’s rich musical heritage at tnmusicpathways.com. From the largest cities to the smallest communities, Tennessee Music Pathways stretches across all 95 counties and features hundreds of landmarks from the seven genres of music that call Tennessee home.
Jamie Dailey will also be honored at the event as the recipient of the Fiddlers’ Jamboree’s 2021 Blue Blaze Award. The Blue Blaze Award is designed to honor an individual or group that keeps the embers of bluegrass music burning for future generations. The Blue Blaze Panel Committee for the Jamboree voted unanimously for Dailey’s nomination for the 2021 award citing his long-running contributions to bluegrass music. Following the presentations, Dailey & Vincent will perform a mini-concert on the main stage.
“For the 50th Anniversary Celebration, we wanted it to be extra special for everyone attending. For us, it’s like a giant family reunion as we plan to bring back former champions, past hosts, and lots of historical moments thrown into this year’s schedule of events,” said Sam Stout – President and Coordinator of the Jamboree, “We look forward to all of the special moments celebrating our long-running history, along with a commemorative knife and book available in very limited quantities.”
Former hosts of the Jamboree have been invited to come and participate once more in the on-stage festivities.
For musicians competing in this year’s event, the prize money has been raised to $15,000 with a donation from the James G. Bobo Driver Family, making the Berry C. Williams Award prize money at $875, and the Bobo Driver Award raised to $775. “It is our hope that with the elevation of cash prizes, we can entice even more musicians to compete for the 50th Celebration.” said Kim Driver Luton – spokesperson for the James G. Bobo Driver Family. “At the heart of the Jamboree, it has always been about celebrating the music and contestants, and we are so proud of our family’s heritage in continuing the James G. Bobo Driver National Championship for Country Musician Beginners for fifty years and counting.”
“In addition to all of these great new changes added to this year’s Jamboree, we will also have more prize money for Craft Booth Competitors for 2021. There will be a $150 Cash Prize for Best of Show, and $50 each for Best Display/Best Appalachian Craft/Best Newcomer,” said Olivia Southard – Crafts Director for the Jamboree.
The Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival welcomes the community to come out and support the 50th Anniversary Jamboree on July 2nd and 3rd, with many surprises in store including a special Saturday concert by this year’s Blue Blaze Award Winner, new craft booths, and a NEW second performance stage. You don’t want to miss this great moment in our county’s history, so bring your smiles…and the Jamboree will provide the fun! For more information on the 50th Annual Jamboree, go to: www.smithvillejamboree.com or follow their FaceBook page.