I'd like to thank the throngs of wild people who went to Stompin 76, who are
still alive, and those of you who contacted me over the past years since the
net emerged.
It's great to hear your stories after all of these years. Now with facebook's
new group: "I was there at Stompin 76" the legend continues and is growing. The
web has provided us with a virtual gathering farm once more. Those raw days
back then, we were all so young, so carefree. Stompin was the
biggest party that year and in retrospect one of the biggest outdoor camping
festivals in modern American music history. You were all parking and camping
all over that poor county (Carroll). The State Police Commandant flew in on his
helicopter just to let me know that my customers were parking on his interstate
11 miles away and walking in. He wanted to know what I was going to do about
it. I didn't have a good answer so he left.
Those of us that were there will never forget the freedom that was had by all
and how simple it all was back then. Long live bluegrass and blues! I'm glad me
and my mates pulled off the biggest bluegrass party in Southwest Virginia
history. It was for us at that time! Now we can live the memories all over
again. Just once in time, we enjoyed each other en mass to the sounds
of non-stop Stompin Stars for a whole weekend, way back in a hot Southern
August. Stay young, keep Stompin! Forever Yer Pal, Hal Abramson, 2009
This is to commemorate that classic bluegrass festival, the people that ventured there, and to stir the spirit once more so that those vivid (or blurred) memories of Stompin 76 linger for many, many years to come!
For 3 days in August 1976, 8 mi. north of Galax, Va., on Lawson's Farm, we
called the New River Jam Site, just a stone's throw from the North Carolina
border, bluegrass and blues abounded. Outdoor Music festival lovers from all
parts gathered for that historic event. Stompin 76 was the bluegrass festival
that made bluegrass cool and exposed it to an entire eastern nation's youth
that year.
Appearing on one stage: Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Vassar
Clements, Ry Cooder, John Hartford, Osborne Brothers, The Rowans, John Prine,
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Doc & Merle Watson, The Dillards, Hickory Wind, New
Grass Revival, David Bromberg, Red, White and Bluegrass, Nashville Bluegrass
Band, Papa John Creach, Eric Weisberg and Deliverance, Star Spangled Washboard
Band, Grass On The Rocks, Good Ol' Boys and Joe and Bing. 3 Days of Fun and
Music, all for only $12.00!
The T-shirts list everyone one of these bands on the back. Wear it to your
favorite music festival and we'll guarantee you'll make new friends.Stompers
are everywhere!
Doyle Lawson's Farm mentioned herein, is not the performer, the name is a
coincidence. Though the performer was part of the incredible Country Gentleman
at the time, they were not booked, nor did they appear at Stompin 76.
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~Berthold Auerbach
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Stompin 76 by Silvia Hoefnagels (aka Salix Tree)
"Long long ago, my husband (who was then my boyfriend) and myself, and his brother and bro's girl went to a music festival in the mountains of Virginia. We had forgotten to bring the tent poles, so I went to the woods nearby to get branches, to which we tied the tent. Having no camera with me, I just had to draw a pic of the place. That's me in the little tent. Everyone was camped in this big cow pasture, and there was a great festival atmosphere going on." |
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