The Dukes of Floyd

This passed weekend the 'Dukes of Hazzard' came out on the big screen. Although I grew up on this show I did not see the movie and am not sure if I will in the long run. Perhaps I like to remember the show (in all its southern glory) as it was when I grew up. Plus my tastes have changed and although it may be a rental, I don't see going to see it. But I am not writing to say what I did not do, but rather what I did this weekend.

Friday night I headed down to Floyd country for the Friday night Jamboree. What is this Jamboree? Imagine going back about 50 years to a place where people sat on their porches and the main form of entertainment was not television, but rather telling stories. Where music was played, not primarily to entertain, but for the love of the music and as an avenue to (once again) tell stories. This is what the small town of Floyd is. Every Friday night (minus 2: Christmas & Thanksgiving, I think) people come from all around to play bluegrass music. Fiddles, guitars, the bass, banjos, mandolins come out of the woodwork (like the pun?) and alive in not only the 'Floyd Country Store' but also on the streets of Floyd. People just pull out lawn chairs and start playing and next thing you know there are makeshift bands in the streets! Another interesting fact is that Floyd is one of the 2 places voted as the best to listen to bluegrass music in the world! Not only is the music great, but so are the people. So nice and down home. It's like being surrounded by nice Grandparents (most of the crowd is of the older set). I even met Roni Stoneman from one of my childhood shows 'Hee Haw'. I'll be heading back soon.

After Floyd Curt has an idea to surprise some friends who were watching the "Dukes of Hazzard" in Roanoke. But not just any surprise... Rumor has it these friends had dressed up to go see the movie, so Curt and I did the same. We headed over to his place, looked at the "Dukes of Hazzard" DVD that he owned to see what kind of clothing we would be looking for. Well, I have to say when I saw the box and realized it was flannel shirts with no t-shirt I was a bit confounded. An odd look by far, but if that's what it was going to take... Ended up driving up in Curt's Jeep (see the Dukes of Hazzard Jeep) and rolled around the city of Roanoke blasting the song from the TV Show. Ended the night dancing at Corn Beef & Co. a local dance club. All in all a good night. And that was just Friday...