The first Chattanooga old time fiddlers’ convention was held in 1925. By 1930, all the big names in fiddle and string band music had come here to take part in the event.

Old time music legends like Clayton McMichen, A.A. Gray, Gid Tanner, John Carson and Uncle Dave Macon attended regularly, as well as hometown musicians Lowe Stokes, Bert Layne, Bob Douglas and Jesse Young. They came together to play and celebrate the old time traditional music of their state, region and country. They came together to share tunes and stories, to catch up on the past years news and events. They came to Chattanooga in search of the title - Southern Fiddle Champion.

In a few short years, the event had grown in numbers of both contestants and attendance. By 1926, the convention had 250 musicians enter and compete. Two conventions were held in 1927 (January and December) and were attended by crowds of 4,500 and 5,000 people.

By the early 1940’s, war and fuel rationing put a halt to the convention and so many like it across the south. While widespread interest in old time fiddle music has remained and even grown in the passing years, sadly, most of the old time fiddlers’ conventions have never returned.

The Chattanooga valley will once again ring with the sounds of the old time fiddle and banjo music as the Great Southern Old Time Fiddlers Convention returns on March 20.

Contests will be held with cash prizes awarded in the following old time categories – fiddle, banjo, dance and string band.

Several fiddlers and string bands will perform throughout the day, including Citico, Matt Kinman, Mick Kinney and the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers. Food and drinks will be available.

It is the goal of the convention to be a gathering place for traditional musicians, those who enjoy listening to the music, and the Chattanooga community as a whole.

The convention will be held at the Lindsay Street Hall on March 20 at 3 p.m. Admission is $5.

The event is sponsored by Lyndhurst Foundation, Tennessee Aquarium, Fletcher Bright Co., Rock City, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Moon Pie and Dust to Digital.