The Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention first began in the early 70s and was hosted by the Sugar Grove Fire Department. This event was set up on the ball field at Sugar Grove School for a number of years and featured musical entertainment from all around. At one point, Bonnie Raitt performed in Sugar Grove prior to becoming widely known and going mainstream. This has been confirmed by at least 3 individuals who were in attendance. She was also confirmed in the area as close as Galax during that same time.
The Fire Department provided food and drinks at this time and benefited from the proceeds. At some point during the 1970s, this event was moved to a new location owned by the Medley Family at Cedar Springs. It is not completely clear why the event had a change of venue but several have suggested it was because upgrades were offered at the new location to accommodate more people and more popular performers. Additionally, alcohol and a broader variety of concessions could be brought in at a location off school property.
This location became known as Highlands Park and from that point forward, the event was then known as The Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention at Highlands Park. This venue consisted of a covered stage area, lighting, sound equipment and a more professional entertainment setting that was better equipped to accommodate performers as well as the audience. This event routinely drew at least a thousand or more people and became very popular. The Sugar Grove Fire Department continued to cater the event providing food and drinks as a fundraiser for their organization and the event grew steadily until the summer of 1977. (Photo of original shirt contributed by Michael Osborne)
July 1977 Incident at the Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention
The Sugar Grove Fiddlers Convention was in full swing on a hot summer July weekend, more than one thousand people were in attendance according to Smyth County News. A disturbance was noted mid-day between two individuals who were arguing but that seemed to subside without further incident.
The musical entertainment continued into the evening. Just after 11 PM, a single gunshot suddenly rang out. Everything suddenly came to a screeching halt. Chaos ensued as attendees became aware that someone had been shot among them.
The newspaper confirmed this along with the following information: “A Smyth County man was shot in the face Saturday night as he sat in front of the band box at the fiddlers convention.” The article goes on to identify the victim as Charles Peake, 34, of Sugar Grove and reads “Witnesses said a man walked up behind Peake, stuck a pistol in his mouth and puled the trigger.”
Peake escaped certain death from the gunshot when he jerked his head causing the bullet to pass through his lip and exit out the side of his face. Miraculously no one else was hit or harmed. He was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released.
Witnesses confirmed the man identified as the shooter was the same man who had been seen arguing with Peake earlier in the day.
Both men were initially arrested in relation to the incident. Noel Bain Johnson was charged with “unlawfully and felonously using a firearm in the commission of a felony” according to the Smyth County News and Smyth County Sheriff’s Department. Johnson was picked up by Smyth County Sheriff’s Department, and booked at 9:45 PM Sunday July 10th and was released on $25,000 bond.
Common Law Order Book 23, Page 477 available at the Smyth County Courthouse reflects a jury indictment as follows: “Noel Bain Johnson- using a pistol in attempt to murder- a True Bill.” and ” Malicious wounding – a True Bill” signed and entered by Judge J. Aubrey Matthews, August 23, 1977.
This marked the end of an era and series of entertainment events for Sugar Grove.
Other Little Stories and Interesting Things
The day after the event, the Millers would all go to Highlands Park and take along some neighborhood kids and black trash bags to pick up trash and clean the grounds. They earned money for every full bag of trash collected.
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When the event was moved to Cedar Springs I could walk from my parents house thru the fields to the convention, but taking your vehicle & parking on top of the hill in front of the stage was the thing to do , some wild nights spent on that hill, ah wasted youth😊😊😊😊😊😊😊. Don’t remember Bonnie Raitt , but think that is great , she is & will always be one of my favorite entertainers
From what I have been able to collect, Bonnie Raitt performed at the event before it relocated to Cedar Springs when it was still being hosted at the school. This was in the early 70s as best I can determine—I found documentation she was in Galax during the same time and there were 3 who said she was there in Sugar Grove. I understand she went around to a lot of these kind of events before she went mainstream. I really wish I could find a photo or something to document this more officially for our community.
I remember this well. Lived right down the road from Bain at the time.
Hobbs and Partners performed at highlands on the medley farm
The band was Arnold Hobbs guitar &vocals, Pam Hobbs lead singer and guitar, Connie Hobbs tenor and Banjo, Bobby Golf jr Mandolin and fiddle. Arnold also owned Partners 2 club in Centreville, Va. which brought in top name bluegrass bands on Saturday night.
I was a personal friend the host and door man for the club.
I was there!
Bane Johnson was a friend and a good guy until he got some booze in him then his whole personality changed, from friendly, fun and laughter to anger and fighting. Rest in Peace Bane.
Thank you so much for providing this information about the band! This is great to know!
Bonnie Raitt performed at Stomping ’76.
It was on a farm near Galax but not at the actual Fiddler’s Convention.
Stompin’ 76 was a large bluegrass music festival held from August 6-8, 1976, on a farm near the New River in Carroll County, Virginia. The event drew an estimated 100,000 people and featured a lineup of prominent bluegrass and folk artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs, John Prine, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.