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Stompin 76

The Official Stompin 76 Site


Fri-Sun, August 6, 7, 8 1976
8 mi. N of Galax, VA
The 425 acre Lawson Farm
New River Jam Site

Welcome to the Official website of Stompin 76, the legendary Bluegrass Music Festival held in the summer of the bicentennial year, North of the Bluegrass Capitol, Galax, VA, USA.

This one-time event was the biggest bluegrass weekend music festival on record. The star-studded bluegrass/ blues lineup combined festival lovers, a low ticket price and historic east coast promotion, made Stompin 76 the place to be August 6,7,8 1976. The promoter was 20 yr. old Hal Davidson from Baltimore, Maryland with his year old Cactus Productions. Many attendees and their decedents still talk about wild experiences forging close relationships lasting a lifetime. Bluegrass music sprinkled with some blues brought them together!

The huge promotion brought festival goers together from all over the eastern U.S.. People from everywhere, that magical artist mix and natural Virginia setting- made this bluegrass festival unlike any other bluegrass festival before or after. Share your memories and wild stories at the OFFICIAL Stompin 76 Facebook page. Stay tuned for another STOMPIN coming to STOMPIN RANCH in mid-Tennessee, August, 2025. We’re building the site now.


APPEARING ON ONE STAGE:


Bonnie Raitt
Earl Scruggs
Lester Flatt
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
John Prine
Vassar Clements

Ry Cooder
John Hartford
Osborne Brothers
The Rowans
Doc & Merle Watson
The Dillards
Papa John Creach

Hickory Wind
New Grass Revival
David Bromberg
Red White and Bluegrass
Nashville Bluegrass Band

Eric Weisberg and Deliverance
Star Spangled Washboard Band
Grass On The Rocks
Good Ol' Boys
Joe and Bing

3 Days of Fun and Music, all 24 bands for only $12.00!




PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, August 6, 1976 The Valley View Hog Roast Squirrel Gravy Band opened the show at about 12 noon; Eric Weisberg & Deliverance, Joe & Bing, Papa John Creach, Good ‘Ol boys, Doc & Merle Watson, Ry Cooder, Hickory Wind, John Prine

Saturday, August 7 That hot summer day and night featured Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs Revue including Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements, David Bromberg, Osborne Brothers, New Grass Revival, The Dillards and Red, White & Bluegrass

A short rain came about supper time cooling things down, giving everybody a chance to eat. Not sure how we fit all 11 bands listed in one day? Saturday’s lineup alone would’ve made a great festival! Of course, looking back, any one of these days would make a great event!

Sunday, August 8 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lester Flatt, John Hartford, The Rowans, Star Spangled Washboard Band, Grass on the Rocks



Courtesy Judy Uhrig





OFFICIAL STOMPIN 76 MERCHANDISE

SAVE WITH COMBO PACKAGES BELOW


This website is the only authorized online source to purchase Stompin 76 quality merch. Thompson’s downtown Galax Market is also an authorized outlet. Beware of knock-offs.
*Despite recent increased shipping costs, shipping & handling is included in all US sales.



Official Stompin 76 Bumper StickerVinyl UV coated Bumper Sticker 11" x 3"

Exact duplicate of the Original
1 Sticker $3.00
4 Stickers $10.00
SHIPPING INCL.
(give one to a friend)
Buy Now Button 1



STOMPIN 76 POSTER
18"x 24"

Stompin 76 Poster

Quality Printed on ROLL-UP 100 lb. glossy paper and 1 vinyl bumper sticker
$15 SHIPPING INCL.
Buy Now Button 2



VINTAGE STOMPIN POSTER
11"x 17"

Stompin 76 Vinatge Poster

Quality Printed on ROLL-UP 100 lb. glossy paper and 1 vinyl bumper sticker
$15 SHIPPING INCL.
Buy Now Button 1




T-SHIRTS SHORT SLEEVE

Stompin 76 t-shirts
100% Quality Cotton
Quality silk screen printing!
4 color logo on front,
1 color back: Bands & site listed

Stompin 76 SHORT SLEEVE t-shirt colors/ sizes
Unisex: S to 2XL Available in:
White, Black, Khaki, Powder Blue, Ash, Pink.
in 3XL black or white only.
Stompin 76 t-shirt colors

SHIPPING INCL. USPS Mail fast
$25 OR 2 FOR $45 (S-XL)
$27 2XL/ $31 3XL
OR SAVE! BUY 2 (XXL) for $49
OR 2 (XXXL) $55

Buy Now Button 3
Also availabile in our Combo Packages - see below


LADIES V NECK

Click image to enlarge

Stompin 76 t-shirts
BELLA + Women’s Relaxed Jersey V-Neck Tee
100% Airlume combed and ring spun cotton.
This quality V-Neck has a Super soft feel!

Born in the USA, assembled in Honduras
Sizes: S - XL
Color: Pink, Coral, Dark Gray, Black

Relaxed fit Tear away label
Machine wash inside out in warm water
Do not dry-clean
Quality long-lasting silk screen printing
multi color logo front
On back: STOMPIN 76/venue/dates/bands
$29 SHIPPING INCL.
Buy Now Button 3


STOMPIN RINGER TEE SHIRT

Extra soft unisex
Navy rings, white shirt
Bands on back

Ringer Tee Shirt

· 5.4-ounce, 100% white cotton
· 50/50 cotton/poly sleeve/ collar rings

In 1976, we used two different logos,
this ringer has not been seen since then.
$25 OR 2 for $45 Unisex: S-XL
SHIPPING INCL.
SOLD OUT- BACKORDERED




BLACK LONG SLEEVE
GILDEN T-SHIRT

Black Long Sleeve
Black Long-Sleeve, Gilden
with color STOMPIN logo on front
Bands on back in white.
UNISEX SIZE
$29 S to XL
$31 2XL
$34 3XL
SHIPPING INCL.

Buy Now Button 5




LIGHTWEIGHT HOODIE

Light Hoodies
Stompin 76 logo on front, bands on back
3 COLORS: Black, Gray, Tahiti Blue
Unisex sizes: $35.00
NOW $27
M, L, XL
Gray is also avail. in XXL $37.00 NOW $29

SHIPPING INCL.
25% Cotton, 50% Polyester, 25% Rayon
Super comfortable - No drawstring or pockets
Buy Now Button 6


HEAVY HOODIE

Black Hoodie
Black 50/50 Heavy Hoodie
with color STOMPIN logo on front.
Bands on back in white print.
UNISEX SIZE $40.00 M, L, XL  Now $37
$42.00 2XL  Now $38
$45.00 3XL  Now $39
SHIPPING INCL.
Buy Now Button 6


EMBROIDERED STOMPIN 76 CAPS

hats
Light denim torn bill
Adjustable Plastic mesh back $27.50
or
Cotton khaki back w/ denim bill
leather back strap, back printed  $31.50
SHIPPING INCL.

Buy Now Button 6
Also availabile in our Combo Packages


COMBO PACKAGES

COMBO #1 - $39 SAVE $4
STOMPIN 76 T SHIRT + BUMPER STICKER + 11x17 POSTER


COMBO #2 - $45 SAVE $5
2 STOMPIN 76 T SHIRTS (S-XL)


COMBO #3
S-XL $49 / 2X $51 / 3X $53
SAVE $10
STOMPIN 76 T SHIRT + EMBROIDERED STOMPIN 76 KHAKI CAP, 1 STICKER


COMBO #4 - $55 SAVE $7
2 STOMPIN 76 T SHIRTS (3XL)



Buy Now Button 6


ALL PRINTING IS PROFESSIONALLY SILKSCREENED


Thanks to the IBMA for inducting STOMPIN 76 into the BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME, Owensboro, KY


"The Woodstock of Bluegrass"

Promoted from February - August 5, 1976 Stompin 76 was put together by Hal's Cactus Productions, Inc. of Las Vegas, founded the year before with the intention of promoting concerts back home in Baltimore, Maryland, with his many contacts. His new step-brother Don Berger agreed to be V.P… both were 19 yrs. old in 1975. Stompin 76 was not on the horizon yet, but after promoting 10 concerts in Baltimore, the concept and name was born in the early winter of 1976. It was the 200th Birthday of the nation, something had to be done! A sense of immediacy took hold as the name and the music and the land all merged in March.

Stompin 76 was started with enough money to place deposits on the Lawson farm, north of Galax, VA (we all know Galax is home to the Old Fiddlers Convention- which Stompin had no affiliation with), we also paid 50% deposits to the bands, start-up marketing and some salaries. Things were simple then, the promotion took over.

In the preceding few years, Hal attended J. Pierce Van Hoy’s Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Union Grove, NC, the 1974 August Jam in Charlotte Motor Speedway and all kinds of outdoor concerts like Ten Years After in the Arizona desert or his first concert, the Grateful Dead- Baltimore 1971. These lasting impressions and exciting events from such profound live performances seared a path in Hal’s head literally forcing him to dream up and bring about Stompin 76. It was all adding up.
My friends and many others from MD, VA and NC about the same age helped grow Stompin 76 the Bicentennial summer!

We opened 2 eastern Stompin 76 operations and ticketing offices located in Owings Mills, Maryland and Winston Salem, NC. Ticket buyers responded to exciting widespread major market radio ads, large newspaper ads, aerial banners over the beaches and a ton of youthful energy which steamrolled into the biggest event in the east that bicentennial year! Fans mailed cash into these locations where their ticket orders were filled and mailed back. This rudimentary marketing method and ticket outlets in 6 states is how the 29,000 advance tickets were sold. An estimated 2,000 more were sold at the gate even though over 100,000 attended and it’s estimated many thousands more were backed up on the surrounding roads and interstate and couldn’t get in.

"In fear of not promoting enough, we over promoted and made history" My apologies to that rural county and those nice country people. "The Galax Fiddler's Convention got a big boost from it forever."
... Hal


Stompin Ticket Stub


Stompin 76 packed roads


Stompin 76 packed roads

A bunch of us drove down from NJ, in a questionable vehicle, and camped in one of the cornfields. As I recall, the Pagans were there as "unofficial" police, and I remember catching rides to the stage area from time to time. One of my enduring memories is of Johnny Hartford, who showed me this origami style bird made from leaves of some sort (possibly corn husks) that someone gave to him. It has endured in the annals of my memory as one of the best adventures I've had.
Cheers Nancy MacIntyre Hollinshead

$12 for a three day festival; no wonder I could afford it then. Unbelievable and I was there.
David Valentine

I remember parking on the side of the road and hiking in for 5 miles just to get to the gate to get in. So many people and the music was great. I lived in Carroll County, VA and I had never seen that many people in one place. First time I got to see Bonnie Raitt. It was great! We helped so many folks to get to and from the festival and saw some that had been driving in circles for hours trying to find the way back to the main roads. One of my most memorable times ever.
Selena King

The festival that stands out above the rest was Stompin 76. Wow! I traveled there with 3 friends from NJ in a VW van, of course. We got there late at night. I remember seeing all the Pagans when we pulled into the grounds. We got stuck on the road close to the river and that is where we wound up camping. Not only was the music line up fantastic but since my boyfriend was a musician, I listened to many great jam sessions.
Donna Segalla Steele

We got there Thursday night about midnight and set up - wasn't a level spot anywhere, so I set my tent up so I would roll down against the side and not slide out the door. Each morning the PA would fire up with "Let Your Love Flow" by the Bellamy Bros. (anyone else remember that?). The creek that fed into the river was the place to be - everyone each morning. White Lightning was $4 a cup (dispensed via 16 oz Dairy Queen cups as I remember it) what a heavy head after THAT. Yep, that was SOME time.
Clark Robbins

Stompin 76 crowd and performers 1


Stompin 76 crowd and performers 2


Stompin 76 crowd and performers 3


Stompin 76 crowd and performers 4


Stompin 76 packed roads

Early Stompin 76 flyer (est. March 1976) shows Kingfish with Bob Weir, who ended up not being available, this was before we booked Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, The Rowans, & David Bromberg.


Stompin 76 crowd 01


I'm glad I have the opportunity, 44 years later, to thank you for putting together Stompin 76. Although the craziness and party atmosphere certainly have their places in my memories, above all else was the great music. My friends and I saw nearly every minute of every act, leaving the stage area just long enough to scarf down some food and fill up the coolers. We were amazed that you were able to get all the musicians in and out of there.
Thank you! Brian Yoklavich

I was there.One of the best times of my life.My only regret is that I didn't get to see every performer there.Wasn't sufficiently medicated,I guess.Thanks for the memories.Hope to get the "t-shirt".All the best!
Dan Poteat

What an epic weekend this must have been. I was too young to go with my Dad, but he gave me some pictures. He snapped this one I wanted to share with you.
Keith Umberger

My, oh my. Talked to an old friend today---and he had brought up our trek to Galax way back when. What memories came in to view when I saw this website. I was 15 when I went to Woodstock with my uncle------and 22 when I went to Stompin 76. I'm 56 now, and out of the mix-Stompin was the one that I most remember. We took off from Pennsylvania and Maryland and headed down 81. In the process of getting as close as possible, and trying to park----the 2 carloads got separated. I remember, we had to walk a couple miles to get anywhere near the music. And, as for the Pagans---I remember they were pretty much traffic overseers.And the music---no words---utopia.Thanks for the memories. Good stuff.
Later Van

Watched a documentary about Woodstock the other day and got me to thinking about Stompin 76. Left Maryland on Thursday, Aug 4, 1976 with 3 other guys in a 70 Chevy Impala. We took 20 cases of beer, some food and quite a few illegal smiles. We got caught in the big traffic jam like everyone else so we decided to split up. Many hours later we drove as far as we were allowed and pulled into a field and set up camp. Instantly met many new friends we never knew we had. Had the best time I ever had at any festival. Never saw a fight or any trouble. Did eventually run into our other two friends. This was probably the best 4 days of my party life. Wish I remembered more of it!
Terry

Man, what memories. I was there all three, maybe four days. Grew up in southwest VA and went to many music festivals in the 70s, including Union Grove many times. Stompin 76 was by far the best. That festival was unbelievable. I spent most of my time watching the music and wondering around from camp to camp meeting new folks. The music was fantastic and the setting priceless. Thank you so much for putting that event together and I am sorry it was so hard on you Hal. With greatness comes a price.
Doug


Stompin 76 crowd and performers 1


Thanks to the throngs of wild, adventurous people who make the trek to Stompin 76, all of you who are still alive, and those of you who contacted me over the past years since the internet emerged. Thanks for all of the contributions to the Facebook page as well. It's good we've finally rejoined virtually!

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.


Stompin 76 crowd 02


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 and youngins that just wanted to celebrate in that magical summer from all parts gathered for those historic 3 days. Stompin 76 was the bluegrass festival that made bluegrass cool and exposed it to an entire eastern nation's youth that year.

Boyd Lawson's 425 acre farm was the historic site for the event. Thanks to his hospitality and the kindness of his wife, their land will live in infamy. Located off Route 58 about 8 miles North of Galax.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
~Berthold Auerbach

Stompin 76 crowd 02

Stompin 76 by Silvia Hoefnagels (aka Salix Tree)


Stompin 76 crowd 02

Stage Emcee Burl Ketchum pic provided by his son Kevin, 2017


"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."


Stompin 76 crowd 02


Stompin 76 crowd 02