http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/themeparkh_1651.mp3
Silver Dollar City is hosting the first annual National Single Microphone Championship. Mike Smith talked with SDC talent coordinator D.A. Callaway about the event, and has this excerpt from KSMU's Bluegrass Music program Seldom Heard Music:
D.A. Callaway says the single mic performance style takes us back to the early days of recording and live performances. A good example of this he says, was depicted in the film Oh Brother Where Art Thou? when the Soggy Bottom Boys went to a rural radio station to "sing into the can". Callaway says these days, theere are several national touring band using the single mic configuration including Nothin' Fancy, Rhonda Vincent, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver and others.
Callaway reminds listeners that use of a single microphone made life on the road much easier for travelling bands.
Bluegrass bands from all over the country will compete for top honors of single mic use at Silver Dollar City. Round one was held today, (Saturday 19 May) Round two will begin Sunday at 4pm inside the Opera House Theater. The mic used for the contest is the AKG model C-3000. The competition is part of SDC's annual Bluegrass and Barbeque Festival which continues through June 3rd.
FOr KSMU, I'm Mike Smith.