A bluegrass celebration: Shelton State will host 2023 Fiddle Fest

Jasmine Hollie, The Tuscaloosa News
·2 min read

An event celebrating bluegrass music and talented local musicians will return to Shelton State Community College.

The 2023 Fiddle Fest and Southeastern Fiddle Championship will be held Saturday on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College, 9500 Old Greensboro Road.

Admission to the festival is free.

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“Last year’s event was the shot in the arm we needed to continue this important tradition,” said Glenn Taylor, president/CEO of the Community Foundation of West Alabama.   “We are excited to capitalize on the success of 2022 and showcase even more tremendous talent than before.”

The Community Foundation of West Alabama, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission, the Alabama State Council on the Arts and Shelton State serve as sponsors of the Fiddle Fest.

Fiddle player Noah Goeble jams in the court yard with guitarists Kerry Varble and Todd Varble after performing in the 2022 Fiddle Fest at Shelton State Community College, Saturday April 30, 2022. [Photo/Will McLelland]
Fiddle player Noah Goeble jams in the court yard with guitarists Kerry Varble and Todd Varble after performing in the 2022 Fiddle Fest at Shelton State Community College, Saturday April 30, 2022. [Photo/Will McLelland]

The festival will include food and drink vendors, arts and crafts, musical performances and other family friendly-activities. At 4 p.m., there will be a musical performance by Iron Horse, a four-member bluegrass band from Muscle Shoals. Iron Horse has released three albums featuring bluegrass classics and covers of heavy metal songs by artists such as Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica.

The highlight of the festival will be the seventh annual Southeastern Fiddle Championship.

More than  $7,500 in prize money will be awarded in categories ranging from small fry (fiddlers 8 years old and younger) to senior fiddlers (ages 50 and older). There are also competitions for best band, the best mandolin, guitar and banjo players, as well as a buck dancing contest.

Gideon Eddy watches as Ethan Parten and Justin Koch jam out together in the hallway of the 2022 Fiddle Fest at Shelton State Community College, Saturday April 30, 2022. [Photo/Will McLelland]
Gideon Eddy watches as Ethan Parten and Justin Koch jam out together in the hallway of the 2022 Fiddle Fest at Shelton State Community College, Saturday April 30, 2022. [Photo/Will McLelland]

Registration starts at 8 a.m., with contests beginning at 9 a.m.

In previous years, the Fiddle Fest has been held at Kentuck Park and Black Warrior River. There has also been a similar event held at McFarland Mall in the past.

For more information, go to thefiddlefest.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: A bluegrass celebration: Shelton State will host 2023 Fiddle Fest