The Right Side of Indiana

It was 100 degrees in the shade on Saturday, and rain kept falling sporadically on Sunday; but the Old Time Music Festival in Metamora went on.  Over 30 regional groups and performers shared their talents from two stage areas, workshops were well attended, and everyone had a great time! 

One highlight of Sunday was an impromptu performance of "I saw the light" by Brian Keith Wallen (2011 Cincy Blues Challenge winner and Starr-Gennett Blues Artist), Dean Phelps (2010 Indiana Thumb Pick Guitar Champion and 3rd in the nation for 2011), and Ted Yoder (2010 National Champion Hammered Dulcimer player).   This was captured on video and can be seen on YouTube.

Workshops this year covered many facets of guitar playing (blues, 12 string, thumb pick) and dulcimers both mountain and hammered, fiddle, harmonica and mountain music. Luthiers were on hand on Saturday to discuss building guitars and mandolins. Joe Bauer discussed bracing a guitar with a partially built instrument available to show.

Labor Day weekend Metamora, Indiana's Canal Town, was indeed the place to be for fans of old timey, mountain, blues and traditional music. Put it on  your calendar for next year.