Hindman in Exile Gathering

We were NOT about to let the cancellation of the Hindman Homecoming dulcimer festival stop us!  Some of us had non-refundable airfare, or lodgings, or had scheduled time off work.  We decided to do our own traditional dulcimer gathering!

We -- Ken Hulme (Florida), Ken Longfield (Pennsylvania), David Bennett and his wife Karen (Alabama), Richard Stieb (North Carolina) and John Knopf (Michigan), came together at the Boone Tavern in Berea, KY, a second 'dulcimer mecca' in that state a couple hours north of Hindman.  Dan Cox was also able come over from Tennessee to meet KenWl and John for lunch on Sunday.

Because David and KenWL had contacts from previous visits to the area, they were able to arrange for us unprecedented 'hands on' access to many historically important original dulcimers and other instruments.  We had a day trip to the Appalachian School of Lutherie and Dulcimer Collection in Hindman, and the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music at the Univ of Kentucky in Lexington.  We also visited the church where Niles is buried, which features doors which he carved for the entry.

We would like to publicly thank Doug Naselroad of the Appalachian School of Lutherie and Dr. Revell Carr, Director of the John Jacob Niles Center for their kindness and time spent entertaining us.  

In between road trips we met in various lounges of the Boone Tavern to play and discuss both traditional dulcimers and the current state of the dulcimer world.  Here's a video that some passing guests took when they became fascinated by the sound of the dulcimers and our story of coming together  -- five friends who had known each other for years yet never met.

KenWL has posted pictures in Photos under the title Hindman in Exile, and I'm sure David will be adding a bunch of photos as well in the next day or so.

We would also like to thank the staff at the Boone Tavern for graciously allowing us to use the spaces there.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!  Much more so than yet another DAd-centric, learn-more-tunes, nothing-for-traditional-players festival. WE"RE GONNA DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR!   And YOU'RE  INVITED.

We aren't sure where, yet; although both Berea and Lexington have been mentioned, rather than Hindman.  We're not sure exactly when either, but May of 2019 has been mentioned.  We'll keep y'all apprised of details as they develop, and promise to give you lots of notice for planning.

This won't be a conventional Festival with a rigid schedule. No Chords!  No repertoire building learn-another-song classes!  No One Tuning To Rule Them All!  No Big Name teachers.  No evening concerts.   This will be much more laid back and relaxed.  Road trips to significant dulcimer-related things, maybe a couple presentations, and LOTS of time for playing together and dulcimer-friendly conversation among folks who appreciate traditional dulcimers and how to play them whether they are experienced or new to the subject.