Loudon is a small rural town south west of Knoxville, reached by a drive through lovely country, where rampant kudzu cloaks all the trees and bushes at the road’s edge.

An antiques show spilled out around Loudon County Offices building and in Legion Field nearby, a large white tent was set up. From the tent came tantalizing chords from banjos, guitars, fiddles, and assorted instruments, including a washboard.

We paid our entrance fee, browsed the five or so "arts and crafts" booths that surrounded the tent. It was BYOC, or bring your own chair. But the folks from the huge campers and RVs that lined the edges of the fields had set up their lawn chairs the previous night and many were empty. So we sat down to give a listen.

The first group was juvenile fiddlers and they were so cute it was scarcely to be believed. Tiny little people played tiny little fiddles. With their dads strumming guitar beside them as accompaniment. But all the attention went to the child playing. Only his/her name was given. Some of these young ‘uns were surrounded by two adults playing backup but all eyes were on the little ones. Prizes were $75, 50, 30, for the top three spots.

Next came 15 miscellaneous instruments. We heard a mountain dulcimer with a haunting drone behind the notes. The best of the lot was the hammer dulcimer. A beautiful instrument played very very well by a young woman who was backed up by another woman on the guitar.

Food offerings ranged from fried pork skins (Puhleeeze!) to funnel cakes, hot dogs, chili, lemonade, etc. Ugh. The whole event was staged by the Rotary to benefit Loudon and it was well done. What a fabulous opportunity for these young folks to play for the first or second time before a warm and forgiving live audience. One father played first with his youngest son and then with one about three years older. They seemed to be having a great time.

The heat became oppressive under the tent by 12:30 when we headed off to the antique show. Then we left for home, limp and sleepy from the heat. It was grand!!