Sept 22-24, 2023

Music Makers of the Blue Ridge (Bluegrass Roots) Reunion

with Filmmaker David Hoffman

Rare Bird Farm was happy in 2023 to produce a special reunion event featuring acclaimed filmmaker David Hoffman. The event reconnected Hoffman, whose groundbreaking documentary film “Music Makers of the Blue Ridge” made in 1965 captured the essence of Appalachian Music, with the community he first visited over 60 years ago. This event was made possible with the generous help of the Madison Tourism Development Association.

In 1965, a twenty-one year old filmmaker, David Hoffman, embarked on a journey to Madison County to create one of the first documentary films on Appalachian Music. The black and white film made for public television followed the musical journey of Bascom Lunsford through the picturesque backroads of Madison, Wilkes and Buncombe Counties. The film, a unique time capsule of history, features renowned musicians such as Obray Ramsey and Ray Lunsford. After being rediscovered on YouTube, the film has gained new recognition.

We worked with Nashville based filmmaker Tim Duggan to create a documentary short of the weekend.