FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, SEPT. 15, 2009

Old-time band and individual musician winners announced

Contact:   Vickie Hensley-King, contest coordinator
NC Mountain State Fair
(828) 628-5828

            FLETCHER--Winners in the Old-Time music competition at the 2009 NC Mountain State Fair were announced last night at the conclusion of their competition, with three local bands and 12 musicians receiving honors.

Dona's Bow of Asheville took top band honors, with Paul's Creek of Asheville placing second and Jupiter Road of Mars Hill winning third. Dona's Bow won the right to open for The Travelin' McCourys with Tony Rice on Sunday night, Sept. 20, and $500. The second place band won $300 and third won $100.

Individual musicians within the competing bands were singled out for honors as follows with $50, $40 and $30 prizes:

• Vocals:  1st Dona Cavanaugh; 2nd Lawrence Dillingham; 3rd Carol Rifkin
  
• Bass: 1st Jamie Solesbee; 2nd Craig Bannerman; 3rd Hunt Mallett
  
• Banjo: 1st Troy Harrison; 2nd Bill West; 3rd Bob Gregory
  
• Guitar: 1st Lawrence Dillingham; 2nd Hilary Dirlam; 3rd Carol Rifkin
  
• Fiddle: 1st Tim Gardner; 2nd Dona Cavanaugh; 3rd Jaques Lewin
  

No individual awards were presented for dulcimer or mandolin

Bluegrass band competition begins tonight on the Mountain Heritage Stage, and will resume Friday night after a break for the Hyatt Bluegrass Jam Tribute on Thursday evening. The winning bluegrass band will also open for the Sunday night concert, with opening acts beginning at 6 p.m.

-jsk-