The Catawba Valley Music Revival, Inc. (CVMR) hosted the 4th annual Coot Williams Road Bluegrass Festival which ran Thursday through Saturday, September 6-8 and attracted around two to three hundred people per day. The festival follows the Labor Day Weekend Battle of Bluegrass Bands competition, also held at the festival site.

The non-profit organization was founded by John Wayne and Linda Hunsucker who wanted to give young people an opportunity to show off their talents, perform and learn. Linda is the granddaughter of Coot Williams for whom the road and festival are named.

The idea for this gathering came in 1994 after attending the funeral of her aunt where she and her cousins decided to have a family hoedown with music and food. In 2003, she met John Wayne and he wanted to do something to help kids get started with their music careers. Together they created the organization “to preserve and promote traditional bluegrass and classic country”.

While their focus is on young performers, CVMR also holds a senior jam session and fellowship supper in Maiden on the first Saturday night of each month. For directions call (704) 447-5090.

Their passion for helping up and coming musicians includes having a recording studio, NOVA Studio in Maiden where musicians can have a professional demo made to submit for recording opportunities. For information call (828) 381-7631.

For more information about CVMR, visit their website at www.catawbavalleymusicrevival.com.