Here are the Official, and Totally Inflexible Rules for the Throwdown.  

1. Divisions: There will be three divisions of fiddler's. The Small Fry is for 10 and under. The Junior is for 18 and under. The Open is for anyone who dares. Mandolin, guitar, banjo and dulcimer are all getting tossed into a single division because it’s hard to tell those instruments apart. If we get enough folks, we will divide the other instruments into separate categories. Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo and Dulcimer are for competitors 18 years and younger. 

2. Tunes: You can play any tune you want… even highfalutin arty tunes. However, tunes that smell like biscuits and gravy will be favored. 

3. Accompaniment :This is a No Holds Barred event — meaning you can have help in the form of backup musicians, laser light shows, smoke machines, bubble makers. It’s close to Halloween so a silly get-up is encouraged, and will be rewarded accordingly. 

4. How to win! Tunes will be judged on the following: 

1. Tone — Does it sound pretty or does it sound like you just stepped on a sleeping cat? 

B. Timing — Does it make you wanna shake your money-maker? If so, you’ve got a good rhythm. Does it make you wanna do your taxes? Then it has a terrible rhythm. 

C.Je ne sais quoi — Does it have that special something that’s hard to define? Does it have artistry, pizazz, emotion, chutzpah, finesse, bravura…In other words, does it have special sauce? 

5. Band Scramble – We will also have a Band Scramble which is open to all ages.  Put your name in the hat, we choose bands at random, bands go practice for 15 minutes, then the bands duke it out in a musical trial by combat.

6. Judging. We will have as many judges as we can hog-tie. The judges’ decisions are final. Anyone who dares to question the judge’s decision will be appointed judge for next year’s week-long Yodeling and Accordion competition. 

7. Prizes, prizes, prizes!!!

8. Audience: All manner of tomfoolery is encouraged. Clapping, dancing, singing, joke telling, factual embellishment, hooting AND hollering, juggling, drinking through your nose… whatever you got to support the contestants.  

9. Whining, Kvetching, complaining, venting. Not allowed.  

WHERE ITS AT: Grace Brevard 55 East Jordan St, Brevard, NC 28712

WHEN ITS AT: Saturday October 26th 12:00 - 5:00

12:00 - Small Fry Competition Fiddle - Age 10 and under

1:00 - Open Mandolin all ages

1:30 - Open Banjo and Guitar open - all ages

2:00 - Juniors Fiddle - 18 and under

3:00 - Open Singing - all ages

4:00 - Open Fiddle - all ages

5:00 - Band Competition - all ages 

6:00 - Brevard Square Dance or Band Scramble

RAIN OR SHINE