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Uncle Dave Macon Days 2014

Last weekend marked the 37th year that folks have been gathering to celebrate Uncle Dave Macon and his contributions to music.  It started as an afternoon of banjo picking at the Rutherford County Courthouse in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and has become one of the top events in the Southeast.


Now, the festival meets at historic Cannonsburgh Village in downtown Murfreesboro.



This year's Heritage Award winner went to Dailey and Vincent. 



 Dailey and Vincent have won three consecutive IBMA awards for Entertainer of the Year and three awards for Vocal Group of the Year.  Both have been playing and singing traditional music since they were children.



There was lots of fiddlin' and banjo pickin',


and lots of people laid back watching.


There was practice for competition in a quiet spot,



and jammin' under the shade trees.









There were clogging and buck-dancing competitions, in addition to banjo and other competitions,



and some cute, hot babies!

This year, for the first time ever, it did not rain while we were there. Last year, there was a massive downpour during the Ricky Skaggs concert, and we looked like drowned rats when we got to our hotel. This year, we looked pretty much the same, but it was from the heat and humidity.  More about that tomorrow.

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