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 beginning at 8 p.m. 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 (details below) 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 premiered Sept. 15 and includes the story of Boudleaux and Felice.

Boudleaux Bryant Fiddling Contest Rules:

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.

• Registration is free; fiddlers can register online here at or register onsite on Saturday, Oct. 12 between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
• The contest begins at 12 noon in the order of Youth (up to 12 years old); Junior (13-17 years old); and Adult (18 and up). Names will be drawn for contestant order 15 minutes prior to contest.
• Amateur fiddlers only; no full-time 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: $100              2^nd Prize: $50`                        3^rd Prize: $25

Junior                 1^st Prize: $250            2^nd Prize: $125                         3^rd Prize: $60

Adult                   1^st Prize: $500            2^nd Prize: $250                       3^rd Prize: $125

For questions about the fiddling contest, email: lisa@georgiamusicfoundation.org.

Fiddling Contest Application