Branum Crowned Fiddle Champ
by Chris Tramel
A Murfreesboro man took the title of Grand Champion in the fiddling competition last Saturday evening, at the 50th Annual Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival. Justin Branum, who took the Junior Fiddling prize, wowed the crowd as he took on the Senior Fiddling winner, Gail Johnson of Lavergne, during the Fiddle-Off at the culmination of the festival. Jamboree President Sam Stout presented Branum the Berry C. Williams Memorial Award to close out the competition.
Branum also won the Neil Dudney Award for Contest Fiddle earlier in the day, and was also the Grand Champion Fiddler last year during the 2020 Virtual Jamboree competition. The Junior Fiddler has won out over the Senior Fiddler, over the last 10 live competitions at the Jamboree.
Earlier in the day, Branum won the Junior Fiddling title (Ages 13-39) by beating out Tyler Andal of Nashville [second place], and Joe Evins Overton of Joelton [third place].
Other winners during Saturday’s competitions were:
Jacob Fennell of Dickson, TN, won the Junior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance (Ages up to 39), with second place going to Trenton “Tater” Caruthers of Cookeville, TN. Kelsey Gray of White Bluff, TN, won third place.
In the Senior Old-Time Appalachian Flatfoot Dance competition (Ages 40 & Over), Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet won first place, while Stanley Reece of Gainesboro came in second. Third place went to Tommie Scruggs, Jr, of Hartsville, TN.
Danny Campbell of Murfreesboro won the Senior Buck Dancing category (Ages 40 & Over), while Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet, TN, came in second, and Tammy Scruggs of Lebanon came in third.
For the Senior Clogging category (Ages 40 & Over), Anthony Harrell of Mount Juliet took the top spot, with Terrie Harrell of Mount Juliet, coming in second. Tammy Scruggs of Lebanon came in third.
Smithville’s own Axel Rico won the Bluegrass Banjo competition, with Trevor Holder of Greenville, SC, coming in second. Shane Cothran of Franklin came in third.
In the Flat Top Guitar category, Tylar Andal of Nashville came in first, while Jake Patty of Lexington, KY, was second. Longtime Jamboree picker Rob Pearcy came in third.
Fiddle Champ Justin Branum won the Contest Fiddle (Neil Dudney Memorial Award), beating out Tylar Andal of Nashville in second, and Sarah Harris of Rockvale, TN, in third. The award was presented to Branum by two Mr. Dudney’s grandchildren, Ethan and Brandon Shaw. Dudney passed away in 2018, and served as President and Coordinator of the Fiddlers Jamboree for 16 years until he stepped down in 2008.
A crowd favorite, the Bluegrass Band competition, was won by Smithville Fiddlin’ Music Team of Johnson City, TN. Second place was awarded to Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band of Chattanooga, while third place went to Clearview of Hillham, TN.
Gail Johnson was this year’s Senior Fiddle Champion, as she beat out second place Thomas Chapman of Falkville, AL, and third place Tony Haley of Mount Juilet, TN.
Another crowd favorite, Square Dancing, was won by Rocky Top Revue of Franklin, TN, with second place going to Harpeth River of Franklin, TN, and Foggy Mountain Steppers of Waverly, TN, taking third.
The winners of the Best Overall Inclusive Dance were Zachary Hughes in the adults category, and Sarah Jensen in the teen category.
The following are the Friday competition winners:
In the Old Time Appalachian Folk Singing (Solo) competition, Conner Steven Vlietstro of Johnson City, TN, took first place, while second place went to Jake Patty of Lexington, KY. Nathan Smith of Dunlap, TN, came in third.
Chris Stewart of Hern Pines, NC, took the Junior Clogging (Ages 13-39) title, with second place going to Sierra Tomlin of Springfield, TN, and third place to Brayden Chunn of Greenbrier, TN.
Jacob Fennell of Dickson, TN, came in first in the Junior Buck Dancing (Ages 13-39) competition, with second place going to Sierra Tomlin of Springfield, TN. Third place went to Chris Stewart of Hern Pines, NC.
In the Old Time Appalachian Folksinging (Duet, Trio, Quartet) category, Jake Patty and Conner Vlietstro of Lexington, KY, took first place, while Cornelia Overton and Sarah Cripps of Smithville, took second place, and Nora Jane and Joe Overton of Joelton, TN, taking third.
The top prize for Dobro Guitar went to Robbie Harris of Rockvale, TN, while second place went to Justin Branum of Murfreesboro, TN. The third place prize was awarded to Westin Stewart of Anderson, AL.
In the Mountain Dulcimer category, Kendra Ward of Bidwell, OH, took first place, while Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, TN, was second. Third place was awarded to Donita Brown of Springfield, TN.
The top spot in the Hammer Dulcimer competition went to Kendra Ward of Bidwell, OH, with second place going to Pam Hunt of Mansfield, OH, and Amelia Brown of Springfield, TN, taking third.
Jim Owens of Deatsville, AL, won first place in the Novelty Event, while Two Daves and Beyond of Alexandria, TN, came in second. Third place went to C.J. Cron of Smyrna, TN.
The Autoharp top spot went to Logan Puryear of Hixson, TN, while Pam Hunt of Mansfield, OH, came in second. Bettye Kash of Cookeville, TN, came in third.
In the Gospel Singing (Solo) category, first place was awarded to Addie Cooksey of Cedar Hill, TN, while Jake Patty of Lexington, KY, came in second, and Larry Chunn of Greenbrier, TN was third.
Rob Pearcy of Smyrna, TN, took first place for Country Harmonica, with Jim Owens of Deatsville, AL, taking second, and Graham Kash of Cookeville, TN, coming in third.
The Old Time Banjo top prize went to Joe Evins Overton of Joelton, TN, with second place going to Trenton “Tater” Caruthers of Cookeville, TN. Third place went to Gunnar Salyer of Beaumont, TX.
In Youth Square Dancing competition, first place was awarded to A Step Up of Waverly, while second place went to Jackson Hollow of Franklin, TN. Third place was awarded to Smithville Select of Smithville.
The Gospel Singing (Duet, Trio, & Quartet) category saw Clearview of Hillham, TN, win first place, while Cornelia Overton and Sarah Cripps of Smithville took second. Third Place went to Addie Cooksey and Sierra Tomlin of Cedar Hill, TN.
Mandolin competition was won by Jake Patty of Lexington, KY, while second place went to Justin Branum of Murfreesboro, TN. Third place was awarded to Gunnar Salyer of Beaumont, TX.
In the Old Time Fiddle Band category, first place went to Mountain Cove Old Tyme Band of Chattanooga, TN, while second place was presented to Georgia Yella Cats of Lexington, KY. Third place went to High Roller String Band of Joelton, TN.
