The audience roared with laughter when Joe Collins, a Shelbyville, North Carolina native and the 2007 National Mountain Dulcimer Champion, plucked three strings on the mountain dulcimer and called out, "This is an old Chinese song. It's called 'tu-ning!'"
Collins addressed the audience with gracious affection.
"It is a privilege to be down here. I always love coming to'Lochapoka," he said as he smiled and drew out the final word for a few seconds. "You are an audience that is easily blessed."
Upon arrival, guests were directed to their seats by staff.
Collins played many songs, including Lead Belly, a call and response tune about a man who had been working in the fields on a long summer's day, who was longing for water. Collins invited the audience to join him for his last two songs.
There were nearly 100 listeners at the concert on Saturday night.
"It's not a huge festival," said Deborah McCord, chairperson of the festival and secretary of the Lee County Historical Society.
She and her husband, along with another couple, began the music festival many years ago.
"The best part about this is bringing so many people together from different states, [of] many different ages, to enjoy the music," she said.
Jim and Cheri Miller, a husband and wife duo who are from Johnson City, Tennessee, shared their stories and music with the audience as the sun set below the horizon. Both are retired educators who have dedicated their lives to the music circuit.
Amber Rogers, a grammy-nominated folk artist who hails from a small town in Kansas, was lovingly referred to by some members as "the banjo babe," and by others as the "sweetheart of the rodeo."
"It's always a good time coming down here," she said. "it's so beautiful here... I have one song about Alabama, so it's my favorite one."
She invited the audience to sing with her "Brave Boys Down in Alabama."
"I have an interesting style of fiddle... Although I am sure my roommates would call it something different," she joked.
McCord said that Rogers style was "unique" and praised her as a big asset to the music festival in the last few years.
The gathering was not only for festival-goers to listen, but also to learn: all nine performers were also featured as instructors for the weekend.
"[The festival] has expanded," McCord said. "At first, we couldn't get any students. This year... we had the first ever high school band day. We visited area middle schools on Wednesday in Lee, Tallapoosa and Randolph counties, and we hosted 129 jazz band students on Thursday."
The largest class they hosted was 25 students, to allow for all to receive individual help when learning the instruments, which included fiddle, banjo, mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer and mandolin, among many others.
The historical society hosted a hymn singing Sunday morning at the park, which featured all artists, and enticed guests with free coffee and Christian fellowship.
"We have had great food, great weather, and great music all weekend," McCord said. "It's just been a fun experience."
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