LONG JOURNEY HOME
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    • The Historic 1925 Fiddler's Convention
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    • Fred Price
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        
CONTACT: Cristy Dunn                                                                                                                    
PHONE: 423-957-6346                                                                                                                     EMAIL:cdunnoriginals@hotmail.com                                                                                                    

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LONG JOURNEY HOME 2022
"My Home in the Mountains"
Just about as far northeast in Tennessee as you can get, you’ll find a county that is half Cherokee National Forest and half Watauga Lake, where people still gather to play music on their front porches. Nestled within those hills, lies Mountain City (appropriately named), and each year a celebration takes place honoring the iconic Old Time mountain music style that shaped country music as we know it. The three-day festival spans Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 2-4.
“I wandered again to my home in the mountains…” the opening line of the iconic song, Rank Stranger is the theme of this year’s celebration.
This year’s Long Journey Home festival events include:
· Buskin’ on Main, a showcase of local and regional acoustic talent playing up and down Main Street followed an outdoor showing at dusk of Short Life of Trouble: The Legend of G.B. Grayson, a film produced by Appalachian Memory Keepers on Friday, Sept. 2.
· The unveiling of Johnson County’s first full size bronze sculpture honoring Fiddlin’ Fred Price on Saturday, Sept. 3.
· The Musical Heritage Homecoming Tour showcases authentic Old-Time music played at three heritage sites throughout Johnson County by musicians who still carry on the legacy of true mountain music on Saturday, Sept. 3
· A traditional Sunday Singin’ at Heritage Hall Theater featuring authentic old time gospel music on Sunday, Sept. 4

Friday Activities

The fun begins on Friday evening with Buskin’ on Main Street. This event brings the small town to life with music, friends, and plenty of good eating. The Long Journey Home Art Show and Quilt Show are always a big hit. Then, Short Life of Trouble: The Legend of G.B. Grayson, a short film by Appalachian Memory Keepers will be shown outdoors at dusk.

Saturday Activities

On Saturday, the Musical Heritage Homecoming Tour begins at the Old Mill music park at 1pm with the music of Clarence “Tom” Ashley performed by Kenny Price and Jerry Moses. Then at 2:30pm The JAM Band as well as the Long Journey Home House Band will share the stage for the unveiling of the Fiddlin’ Fred Price Memorial Sculpture at Johnson County Center for the
Arts. This life size bronze sculpture is the latest addition to Mountain City’s downtown Mural Mile, a collection of nine murals that honor the stories and songs of this unique mountain community.
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Saturday’s tour concludes, as always, at the Fred Price Homeplace, nestled high in the mountains. Beginning at 4pm, The Piney Woods Boys will perform musical selections from the album Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley’s, Doc Watson’s first album, now on the National Recording Registry. Tour maps may be picked up at the Center for the Arts and other local businesses. The Musical Heritage Mural Mile and Long Journey Home were made possible in part though funding from Johnson County Community Foundation and Tennessee Arts Commission as well as the generosity of community members.
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Sunday Activities

The festivities end on Sunday with a Sunday Singing at Heritage Hall Theatre from 2 to 4:30pm. Several local musicians who carry on the deep traditions of mountain gospel will perform. To learn more, visit longjourneyhome.net.


“It’s about as real as it gets. If you were wondering whether authentic Appalachia still exists, look no further." 


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Fred Price, Clarence "Tom" Ashley, and Clint Howard in the 1960s
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Kenny Price performs clawhammer banjo on the front porch of the Clarence "Tom" Ashley Homeplace as part of the Musical Heritage Tour. Kenny learned directly from Clarence Ashley and was featured on The Ballad of Finley Preston, alongside Fred Price and Clint and Clarence Howard.
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  • Home
  • The Mural Mile
  • The Music
    • The Historic 1925 Fiddler's Convention
    • Clarence "Tom" Ashley
    • Blind Banman Grayson
    • Clint Howard
    • Fred Price
  • Johnson County Center for the Arts
  • PRESS
  • Contact
  • Blog