Yadkin Valley Bluegrass Convention

In order to present a fair contest and make judging as simple as possible, the following rules are provided and apply to each band and/or individual:

• No electric instruments will be allowed in competition.  Although bands
  will not be disqualified for using an electric bass, only acoustic basses will be judged for an individual prize.

• A band is constituted as having at least three (3) members consisting of a guitar,  a banjo, and either a fiddle or a mandolin.  Any band consisting of eight (8) or more members will be disqualified.  Bands are automatically entered and judged in the Vocal Group category.

• Each band is allowed two (2) tunes.  Individual performers (not with a band) will be allowed only one (1) tune.  It is suggested that bands perform in the traditional style of bluegrass music.

• Individual band members will be judged during the band's performance.  Instru­mentalists, with the exception of Bass and Rhythm Guitar, must take at least one break to be judged.  Individual performers (not with a band) may be accompanied by one other instrument.  These back-up performers should refrain from leading – providing rhythm only.  You may register only once as an instrumentalist.         (Exception: You are allowed to register once as a Solo Vocalist in addition to your registration as an instrumentalist.)

• Solo Vocalists and Vocal Groups will be judged during the band's performance.  Solo Vocalists may enter as individual performers and will be allowed one instrument as an accompaniment.  Individual soloists (not with a band) will be allowed one song.

• Individual prizes will be awarded in two Divisions.  Contestants aged 15 years old (and younger) will be judged in the Junior Division.  Contestants aged 16 years old (and older) will be judged in the Senior Division.

• Any individual registering and/or performing twice or more (even on different instruments) will be disqualified and will result in the disqualification of any band (or bands) involved.  Performing with multiple bands is not allowed even if the performer is registered only once.  (An exception is allowed in accompanying individual contestants not registered with, or performing with, a band.)

• Prior to the start of competition, at 6:00 PM, a representative of each register band and all registered individuals who are not with a band must reeport band to the registration area to participate in a drawing to determine the order of performance.  Failure to appear will result in disqualification and forfeiture of refund(s).

• Properly registered performers will be refunded their admission immediately following their performance.  It is the contestants' responsibility to obtain the refund - convention management will not be responsible for  performers failing to report to the refund table. Contestants failing to report to the stage as scheduled will be moved to the end of the schedule.  Failure to report will also result in a three-point penalty and forfeiture of refund(s).

• The Yadkin Arts Council reserves the right to refuse refund to anyone determined to be intoxicated or otherwise disorderly.  Such individuals will be asked to leave without recourse.

• The Yadkin Arts Council is not responsible for prizes and cash awards not claimed at the conclusion of this event. 

• The judges' decisions are FINAL.

Please help us by keeping your practice area clean.  Thank you for your cooperation!

                                             The Yadkin Arts Council

Questions?  Send an Email!

Disclaimer:  We have made every effort to represent the rules accurately on this web page.  In the

event of any discrepancies on this page, the printed version that is presented to the contestant at

the time of registration will take precedence.  You may print an advance copy of the rules by visiting 

our Print Shop.