Boudleaux Bryant Festival

The Georgia Music Foundation is proud to support the Boudleaux Bryant Festival in recognition of one of Georgia’s musical legends. On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 & 12, the City of Shellman and the Shellman Beautification Association host the Boudleaux Bryant Festival to celebrate what would have been Boudleaux Bryant’s 100^th birthday. On Friday night, Albany’s Bo Henry Band entertains on the main stage at the Shellman Park + Depot. Saturday’s festivities run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with the Backyard BBQ Cookoff, Cornhole Tournament, arts & crafts, food vendors, kids’ activities, a Fiddling Contest and performances by the Matt Rogers Band, Few Miles South and Back in the Saddle. GPB will be on-site to promote Ken Burns’ 16-hour documentary, Country Music, which premieres Sunday, Sept. 15 and includes the story of Boudleaux and Felice.

The Georgia Music Foundation will present the Boudleaux Bryant Festival Fiddling Contest on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12 noon on the main stage at the Shellman Park + Depot. All styles of fiddling are welcome; the goal is to promote fiddlers, foster an appreciation for music education and provide a positive experience for all while celebrating the legacy of Shellman native Boudleaux Bryant.

Contest Rules:

• Registration is free; fiddlers can register online at org/fiddle or register onsite on Saturday, Oct. 12 between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 12.
• The contest begins at 12 noon in the order of Youth; Junior; Middle and Adult. Names will be drawn for contestant order 15 minutes prior to contest.
• Amateur fiddlers only; no professional musicians.
• Fiddle contestants will perform two songs at three minutes or less each.
• Judges will consider contestants’ Timing, Tone, Execution, Skill and Overall Presence.
• Fiddle contestants may be accompanied by one instrumentalist on an acoustic, stringed instrument, but only the fiddler’s performance will be judged.
• The Judges’ decisions are final. All winners will be announced by the Judges following the Adult contest.
• Cash prizes are:

Youth                  1^st Prize: $50              2^nd Prize: $25`                        3^rd Prize: $15

Junior                 1^st Prize: $125             2^nd Prize: $75                         3^rd Prize: $50

Adult                   1^st Prize: $300            2^nd Prize: $150                        3^rd Prize: $75

Fiddling Contest Application