Blue Ridge Mountains Blues
go! - South Africa|July 2020
In Galax, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains region of America’s famous Appalachian range, Dara Kell finds solace in memories of her aunt – and the sound of a banjo.
Dara Kell
Blue Ridge Mountains Blues

It is hard, if not impossible, to find Galax, Virginia, on most paper maps of the United States. But you know you’ve reached it when you see a sign that proudly declares, “Welcome to Galax: World’s Capital of Old-Time Mountain Music”.

In 1994, my aunt and uncle packed up their house in Somerset West, and moved to Galax with my three cousins. A decade later, I moved to New York for work and started visiting them for the holidays. We would celebrate the American tradition of Thanksgiving by cooking and eating way too much.

Each time I visited, I would make sure to pop into Barr’s Fiddle Shop on Main Street, a converted barbershop crammed with handmade mandolins, banjos, guitars, drums and, of course, fiddles. The walls are lined with dusty posters and autographed record sleeves, one of them signed “with love” by Dolly Parton. I would return to New York with Tupperware containers filled with my aunt’s spiced apple cake, gooey koeksisters and her famous crunchies. Her sweet treats were so good they often didn’t last all the way home.

When my aunt died last year from cancer, I was heartbroken. I wanted to feel close to her one last time. I had a week off between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, so I took the chance to go back to Galax – this time, alone. With my uncle away, the cats needed looking after and I needed a break from the grime and noise of New York.

Galax hosts the world’s largest fiddler convention. Every summer, its population swells from 7 000 to more than 70 000 as musicians camp out for a week and compete for prizes in categories like Claw-Hammer Banjo, Folk Song and Flatfoot Dance.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2020-Ausgabe von go! - South Africa.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2020-Ausgabe von go! - South Africa.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS GO! - SOUTH AFRICAAlle anzeigen
Rolling out the big guns
go! - South Africa

Rolling out the big guns

If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
June/July 2024
TAKE A HIKE
go! - South Africa

TAKE A HIKE

The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop

time-read
3 Minuten  |
June/July 2024
Time out in Dullies
go! - South Africa

Time out in Dullies

A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June/July 2024
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
go! - South Africa

Gallivanting in the Galápagos!

The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...

time-read
9 Minuten  |
June/July 2024
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
go! - South Africa

BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN

How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
June/July 2024
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
go! - South Africa

Long live the Hibiscus Coast

The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.

time-read
8 Minuten  |
June/July 2024
The island at the end of the earth
go! - South Africa

The island at the end of the earth

Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
June/July 2024
A day on the road
go! - South Africa

A day on the road

You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
June/July 2024
The wilder shore
go! - South Africa

The wilder shore

The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
February/March 2024
A river runs through it
go! - South Africa

A river runs through it

Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.

time-read
10 Minuten  |
February/March 2024