Granite Quarry Fiddlers’ Convention Oct. 10

SALISBURY — The Granite Quarry Civitan Club will host the 60th annual Granite Quarry Fiddlers’ Convention on Saturday, Oct. 10, at East Rowan High School, beginning at 4 p.m. with the youth competition. 

Since 1970, the Civitan Club has honored individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the promotion and preservation of traditional old time and bluegrass music. This year’s honoree is Allen A. McCanless of Pittsboro. The special presentation will be conducted at 8 pm. 

Al, an accomplished fiddler with more than 50 years of musical experience, has performed with numerous bands throughout his lifetime, including the 1970s ground-breaking group, New Deal String Band, the Red Clay Ramblers, the Bluegrass Experience and, most recently, Hindsight Bluegrass, which hosts an annual New Year’s Eve concert at Sunset Theatre. 

Beyond the fiddle, the retired pharmacist also plays guitar, mandolin, clawhammer banjo and harmonica, even crafting custom hybrid instruments like a “banjotar.” In addition to bluegrass music, he is accomplished on playing Irish Celtic fiddle tunes.

The McCanless family was a prominent and influential business and development family in Salisbury during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Al’s ancestors are credited with many historic landmarks in Salisbury and Rowan County. Al will be joined on stage by a band of friends for a short set of music following the presentation.

The event will include competition in two band categories: Bluegrass and bluegrass gospel as well as individual youth and adult instrument competitions. Competition rules have changed for this year.

Registration opens at 3 p.m. for all categories. Youth competition is first, followed by adult individual competition.

Adult Band competition begins at 7 p.m. All adult band entries must be registered by 6 p.m. to be eligible to draw a number for performance time in a lottery style drawing. Youth winners will be announced at 8 p.m.

The Ralph Pennington Memorial Master Fiddler Award will be presented to the First Place Fiddler in the adult competition. Pennington was a luthier of finely crafted string instruments. Although he played all the instruments, he was widely known for playing the fiddle and mandolin and won many awards on both instruments. 

The Don and Margaret Livengood Memorial Award will be presented to the Most Outstanding Youth Performer as selected by the panel of judges. 

The award was created by their daughter Patti and her husband Walter Beaver in memory of her parents. Don was the last of the original three Granite Quarry Civitan members who chaired the Fiddler’s Convention Committee. The other two members of the committee were James Mathis and Junior Bost, both of whom are deceased. 

The Civitan Club will serve BBQ chicken plates, hamburgers, hotdogs and desserts throughout the day and evening. Food will be available 11 a.m. until sellout. Advance tickets are available for chicken plates by contacting a Civitan member. Tickets are $14 each.

Admission to the convention is $12. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult. East Rowan High School is located at 175 St. Luke’s Church Road, Salisbury.

Granite Quarry Civitan Club President is Jim LaFevers and Fiddlers’ Convention Chairman is Norman Ribelin. Vivian Hopkins, former President of the North Carolina Bluegrass Association, is the convention coordinator. Jeff Branch of Oakboro (Big Lick Bluegrass Festival promoter) will serve as this year’s emcee.

For more information, call 704-267-9439 or 704-633-2995. The registration rules and more details can be found on the event Facebook page: 2026 Granite Quarry Civitan Fiddlers Convention.