Edgar Loudermilk Band at the 2026 North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival – photo © Bill Warren
2026 was the last year as a venue for the Cherokee location of the North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival. A new location will be announced by Classic Promotions at a later date. The festival went out with a bang for its last year at the Happy Holiday Campground.
Promoters Allen Dyer, Lorraine Jordan, Edgar Loudermilk, and their collection of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to provide top quality entertainment, with 14 different acts, comfortable seating under a huge tent, expert audio from Jackson Bethune Music LLC, and an experienced MC in Sherry Boyd for all to enjoy.
Things kicked off Wednesday night with a covered dish supper and entertainment by Garrett Newton & the Lovesick Drifters performing a tribute to Hank Williams, Sr.
“He’s a young heart with an old soul,” Lorraine Jordan shared about her godson, Newton.
Thursday featured two sets each by Little Roy & Lizzy, The Kody Norris Show, and The Churchmen. A couple members from Paine’s Run along with a few friends performed in Caleb Bailey’s stead since he was involved in a serious automobile accident on his way to the festival. All survived without serious injury, except Caleb’s grandmother, who sustained a broken leg, and the band’s bass fiddle and trailer which were damaged in the crash. A love offering and cards were collected at the festival to convey support from the bluegrass community.
Friday launched with a powerful set by Catahoula Drive from Louisiana. It was their first trip to North Carolina, but hopefully to be followed by many more appearances in the Tarheel State. Thanks to Edgar Loudermilk for including them in this year’s festival line-up.
Junior Sisk & Rambler’s Choice, his new ensemble for the remaining time before his retirement, reached back in the vault and pulled out many of the songss from early in his career. He even decided to include a suggestion box on his merch table for fans to submit their recommendations of favorite Sisk songs.
During Country Grass’ afternoon set, Allen Dyer teased, “”ll you fellas are doing right by bringing your sweethearts to the festival to avoid her having The Friday Night Blues,” and launched into John Conlee’s hit from 1980.
On their second show, Jordan’s Country Grass ensemble featured award-winning songwriter and singer, Larry Cordle. The Mighty Cord performed several of his signature songs solo, and then was backed by a strong assemblage of musicians: Matt Hooper on fiddle, Duncan Stitt on reso-guitar, Lilly Anne Svrlinga on guitar, Kent Dixon on mandolin, and Jordan on electric bass. Cord gave interesting background information and sang several of his mega hits including Murder on Music Row and Highway 40 Blues.
Kicking off Saturday was Billy & the Kids, followed by the South Carolina teen group, Creekwater Collective, featuring 16-year-old Lilly Anne Svrlinga and 17-year-old JonPaul Sepulveda on guitars, 15-year-old Judson Stone on mandolin, and 15-year-old Ethan Chappell on bass. Ethan’s big brother, Ayden, was away attending Béla Fleck’s banjo camp, so they reached out to Sammy Shelor of Lonesome River Band to fill the five-string slot. Praises to the veteran picker for supporting this rising young band. The bluegrass community is truly a family.
They were followed by one last show by Catahoula Drive before they hit the road back home to Louisiana. Then the Chris Davis Band took the stage. His band included Davis’ former band mate, Jason Barie, on fiddle. The pair spent three years together as Radio Ramblers with Joe Mullins until he retired.
During Country Grass’ final set of the festival, Lorraine invited Lilly Anne back to the stage to provide the solo guitar work on their quartet version of Beulah Land. The promoter is dedicated to supporting and exposing the talents of the next generation of bluegrass musicians.
Saturday evening brought the legendary Larry Sparks to the stage, followed by an extended closing set featuring the Lonesome River Band.
Leaving such a picturesque site is sad, but Classic Promotions is promising a bright future for the North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival.
Dyer concluded as the festival ended…
“The North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival has ended another great year. To sum it all up, we had a big family reunion and there were some great Bluegrass bands that entertained us. It’s always the best time at that festival. However, we ended a 51 year run of the North Carolina State Bluegrass festival for now. We are hopeful we can find a new venue location soon to move this long running festival to.
But the good times will not end there. We announced this weekend that we will be launching a brand new festival The Georgia Mountain State Bluegrass Festival in Hiawassee, Georgia next May 20, 21, & 22nd at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. It’s only a little over an hour away from our current location in Cherokee. We are still working hard to get positioned to make an official announcement real soon, so make sure we have your contact information and keep up with us at www.classic-promotions.com or our Classic Promotions Facebook page.”
These photos were taken by Bill Warren. We’ll have another batch tomorrow from Jeff Lahr.
