Charlie Poole Festival

04/10/2026

Wow!! Thank you so much to all the amazing DJs and listeners for taking my new single “Take a Drink On Me” to the #1 spot on the charts! I am so honored

My vision behind this project is to bring authentic Stringband music to a new audience, highlighting musical styles of the artform; many are foundational to bluegrass stylings that came later. While doing this it is most important to me to build a community. The music I make is done with a sense of joy and reverance for the artform and it is something that all can enjoy. Appalachian music isn’t just an artform, it’s a way of life. In a world that’s ever changing and growing there is solace in the simplicity. There is connection in sharing a tune with a neighbor. There is a sense of gratitude felt by passing down a tradition, whether it be singing, picking, dancing, storytelling, crafting. These traditions create personal interaction that is so healthy and necessary.
If you haven’t heard it yet, head over to your favorite streaming service and give “Take a Drink On Me” and the rest of my latest string of singles a listen and while you’re at it give my music a follow so you’re the first to hear new music heading your way! 👀🪕🎻

04/02/2026

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Kinney Rorrer, Charlie Poole’s biographer. As the great-nephew of Poole’s wife and her brother, Posey Rorer - fiddle player in Poole’s band - Kinney had personal knowledge of the many fascinating stories associated with this transformative figure in American music. That, coupled with Kinney’s scholarship and dedication to research and preservation, created one of the most important resources for information about 1920s stringband music of the Piedmont. Kinney Rorrer carried the torch for the preservation of this rich cultural history - he will be sorely missed.

03/22/2026

Happy Birthday to one of the most influential musicians in American history - born on March 22, 1892.

03/15/2026

Thankful to see my latest single out on “Take a Drink on Me” debuting on the weekly Top 30 chart! Thanks to all the wonderful DJ’s and listeners!

If you haven’t heard it yet, be sure to give it a listen on your favorite streaming service and request it at your favorite radio station!

07/27/2025

Celebrating the historic first recording session of Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers at Columbia Records, New York, NY, on July 27, 1925.

https://youtu.be/5SnNevl0QFY?si=eAPn3lfp8q1TIsdQ

06/19/2025

Talent was on full display at the Charlie Poole Festival Competitions on June 14 on the campus of Rockingham Community College. Here is the list of winners - congratulations to all!

Charlie Poole Festival
2025 Adult Contests

Solo Vocal
1st – Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC
2nd – Robert Stowe – Stoneville, NC
3rd – Devon Flaherty – Carrboro, NC
4th – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
5th – Lily Evans – Stoneville, NC

Duet Vocal
1st – Devon Flaherty (Carrboro, NC) & Robbie Herman (Taylorsville, NC)
2nd – Greyson Leybourne (Kernersville, NC) & Bekah Santis (Mocksville, NC)
3rd – Molly Stouten & Alan Teichman (Jamestown, NC)

Folk Song
1st – Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC
2nd – Devon Flaherty – Carrboro, NC
3rd – Bill Moore – Chapel Hill, NC
4th – Micah Bowen – Coats, NC
5th – Bekah Santis – Mocksville, NC

Charlie Poole Song
1st – Devon Flaherty – Carrboro, NC
2nd – Debbie Kauffmann – Green Cove Springs, FL
3rd – Micah Bowen – Coats, NC
4th – Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC
5th – Bill Moore – Chapel Hill, NC

Open Instrument
1st – Sam Harris – Raleigh, NC
2nd – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
3rd – Doc Ratliff – Greensboro, NC

Flat Pick Guitar
1st – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
2nd – Micah Bowen – Coats, NC
3rd – Kevin Holdson – Greensboro, NC
4th – Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC
5th – Bill Moore – Chapel Hill, NC

Finger Style Guitar
1st – Devon Flaherty – Carrboro, NC
2nd – Micah Bowen – Coats, NC
3rd – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
4th – Isaac Connell – Knightdale, NC
5th – Bill Moore – Chapel Hill, NC

Bluegrass Fiddle
1st – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
2nd – Bekah Santis – Mocksville, NC
3rd – Isaac Ennis – Raleigh, NC

Old Time Fiddle
1st – Andrew Walker – Chapel Hill, NC
2nd – Sam Harris – Raleigh, NC
3rd – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
4th – Bekah Santis – Mocksville, NC
5th – Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC

Bluegrass Banjo
1st – Don Wright – Eden, NC
2nd – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC
3rd – Bill Moore – Chapel Hill, NC
4th – Devon Flaherty – Carrboro, NC
5th – Jamie Holt – Pippa Passes, KY

Clawhammer Banjo
1st – Devon Flaherty – Carrboro, NC
2nd – Jackson Gunter – Reidsville, NC
3rd – Andrew Walker – Chapel Hill, NC
4th – Robbie Herman – Taylorsville, NC
5th – Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC

Bluegrass Band
1st – Railroad Ramblers – Carrboro, NC
2nd – Tony Rice U-Haul – Kernersville, NC
3rd – Newest North Carolina Ramblers – Coats, NC

Old Time Band
1st – Railroad Ramblers – Carrboro, NC
2nd – Newest North Carolina Ramblers – Coats, NC
3rd – Carolina Buddies – Kernersville, NC

GRAND CHAMPION BANJO
Old Time, 3 Finger, Charlie Poole Style
Greyson Leybourne – Kernersville, NC

06/19/2025

Congratulations to all of our talented young musicians in the Charlie Poole Festival Youth Contests! Here is our list of winners for 2025 - they are all winners in our book!

Charlie Poole Festival
2025 Youth Contests

Solo Vocal
1st – Harley Shreve – Stoneville, NC
2nd – Edison Nance – Reidsville, NC
3rd – Loretta Meadows – Eden, NC
4th – Nora Robertson – Eden, NC
5th – Cora Ellis – Madison, NC

Duet Vocal
1st- Edison Nance & River Nance – Reidsville, NC
2nd – Zoey Kinlaw & Nora Robertson – Eden, NC
3rd – Harley Shreve & Jackson Chester – Stoneville / Eden, NC

Open Instrument
1st – Evan Hodnett – Bahama, NC
2nd – Tobias Conkle – Eden, NC
3rd – Harley Shreve – Stoneville, NC

Guitar
1st - Evan Hodnett – Bahama, NC
2nd – Molly Latham – Eden, NC
3rd – Jackson Chester – Eden, NC
4th – Cora Ellis – Madison, NC
5th – Harley Shreve – Stoneville, NC

Fiddle
1st – Audrey Nappier – Reidsville, NC
2nd – Felicity Smith – Prescott, AZ
3rd – Lily Evans – Stoneville, NC
4th – Ryker Flynn – Eden, NC
5th – Braxton Richardson – Eden, NC

Banjo
1st – Jackson Gunter – Reidsville, NC
2nd – McKinley Hairston – Eden, NC
3rd - Asher Evans – Stoneville, NC
4th – Elias Meadows – Eden, NC
5th – Rylee Hancock – Reidsville, NC

Youth Band
1st – Appalachian Echoes
(Jackson Gunter, Molly Latham, Felicity Smith)

2nd – Pickled Spaghetti
(Cora Ellis, McKinley Hairston, Audrey Nappier)

3rd – Last Minute
(Jackson Chester, Tobias Conkle, Harley Shreve)

4th – Three Blues
(Asher Evans, Ryker Flynn, Elias Meadows)

06/17/2025

Congratulations to the Charlie Poole Festival Grand Champion Banjo winner for 2025 - Greyson Leybourne! Greyson took home this beautiful ribbon in 2016, as well, making him our first ever two-time champion.

06/13/2025