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FOLK FESTIVAL HONORS MOUNTAIN MUSIC - Mix Of Old And New Musicians |
| (06/21/2011) |
Professional fiddler, Erin Marshall, of Galax,
When you don't have a seat, an instrument case will do By Drew Moody/Story And Photos Bluegrass, Old-Time music, and square dancing were in abundance at the annual West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville, last week. A newly completed downtown pedestrian mini-park greeted visitors, replacing what previously was a gravel parking lot eye-sore. The annual event draws a mix of old and new musicians each year. For many locals it's a county-wide homecoming of sorts.
 The tradition of musicians gathering throughout the downtown area to play traditional tunes is a feast for the ears. Walking from one area to another one song fades, as the volume of another increases. An informal poll of several veteran musicians found them in agreement that Folk Festival attendance was significantly down. The under-50 banjo and fiddle contest Saturday afternoon drew only about 100 spectators, leaving Glenville State College's Fine Arts auditorium looking mostly empty.
Square dance caller, Michael Ismerio, traveled from It was Michael Ismerio's first Folk Festival, traveling from his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana, a place he proudly referred to as a "lefty bubble." What drew him to the Folk Festival were stories he'd heard about the "great square dancing" here. Ismerio is a fiddle player and professional square dance caller who is often on the road more than at home. "I just called square dances in Bejing." More typically, Ismerio's calling turf is confined to throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The West Virginia State Folk Festival is held annually, Thursday through Saturday, of the third week in June.
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