2025 marks 100-year anniversary of the historic 1925 Fiddlers' Convention! This was the first of the big conventions, and folklorists have called it a watershed in the development of country music.
This year, Long Journey Home will celebrate this important centenary with the release of John McCutcheon's 1925 Fiddler's Convention Tribute Album. This album brings together grammy winning contemporary artists to perform the songs that started it all. We'll kick off this Long Journey Home weekend with Buskin' on Main Street Friday evening. On Saturday, you'll be treated to a musical heritage tour with performances at heritage sites throughout the county. John McCutcheon will be with us and will perform a concert at Heritage Hall at 7pm on Friday night. The weekend will close, as always with a Traditional Sunday Singin' at Heritage Hall.
Make plans now to join us Labor Day weekend to celebrate Johnson County's heritage arts and music.
Friday, August 29 6 pm Buskin' on Main Street A showcase of local and regional acoustic talent playing up and down Main Street, Mountain City. Good friends, good music, and good eatin'.
Saturday, August 31 11am - 2pm Musical Heritage Tour Visit heritage sites throughout Johnson County and hear live music played on front porches just like it used to be. 7 pm John McCutcheon Concert at Heritage Hall (tickets $20 advance/ $25 at the door)
Sunday, September 1 2 - 4:30 pm Sunday Singing at Heritage Hall Theatre Hear old-time gospel music performed by the Junior Appalachian Musicians, the Price Family, Narrow Road and others. This event traditionally includes a jam session ending with the singing of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." Event maps will be available at the Johnson County Center for the Arts at 129 W Main Street, Mountain City, TN and Johnson County Welcome Center. All events except the John McCutcheon concert at Heritage Hall are free to the public. We look forward to seeing you!
Between now and Labor Day weekend, you can visit the Musical Heritage Mural mile in downtown Mountain City or watch these virtual segments from previous years. Bluegrass lovers, be sure to add the Mountain City Fiddler's Convention to your calendar in October! The convention is still going on produced by our own Kody Norris Show.
In a typical year, You can hear clawhammer banjo played on the front porch of the Clarence "Tom" Ashley homeplace, Buskin' on Main Street with an outdoor film. A new mural is unveiled each year and the hills come alive with the sounds of Old Time and Bluegrass! BUT the last two years have been anything but typical. What do you do when life gives you lemons? Make good old fashioned lemonade, of course! Below, you'll find the segments that were produced in 2021.
Be sure to stop by and take your picture in I'll Fly Away on Main Street. Whether you grew up singing "I'll Fly Away" or you're singing it for the first time, we are glad you're part of the picture!
Johnson County's Heritage Arts and Music Celebration is proudly sponsored by:
East Tennessee Foundation Johnson County Community Foundation Tennessee Arts Commission Johnson County Center for the Arts Quality Furniture Johnson County Arts Council Danny Herman Trucking Danny Herman Johnson County Community Theater Johnson County Bank Farmers State Bank Maymead Heritage Hall Johnson County Center for the Arts Bob and Minnie Miller Joe Dean Ashley Russell and Kathy Love Mike and Temple Reece The Town of Mountain City Johnson County Senior Center Mountain City Funeral Home Positive Thinkers TVA Mountain Electric The Ralph Stout Family Karla Prudhomme Gary South Smith & Cockett Quality Furniture