July 2002 Pictures

Where were the Cockmans this month?

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July 4...  It was a patriotic service at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Fruitland, NC.  President Kenneth Ridings was good to invite us back for the second year.  Aunt Maggie and Uncle Dwain Kitchel brought Grandma Cockman from Knoxville, TN, and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jack Meyers came up from Columbia, SC to visit us at Fruitland.  They later met with Uncle Elijah and Aunt Joan Cockman for a bit of a family reunion.  Dwain and Maggie publish Grandma's Cookbook.  Click here for more information.

Click here for Fruitland 2001

Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute

Fruitland, NC

July 4... We were almost rained out July 4th at our Independence Day concert with George Hamilton IV at Hopewell Methodist Church.  The concert, scheduled to be held outside, was move inside and we got started half and hour late.  Darren Gantt was cool under pressure as he moved the sound system back into the church and quickly set back up.  George Hamilton's mixture of great music and storytelling was an instant hit at Hopewell, and we all ended with a congregational singing of "God Bless America".

Independence Day Concert

Sherrill's Ford, NC

July 6... This was our tenth year to sing in blowing Rock.  Like last year, Mama and Elizabeth Riley rook their granddaughter Arwen in the parade, this time with Daystar and Samuel.  We got a kick out of the Vagabonds again, and enjoyed the beautiful weather and parade.

Click here for Blowing Rock 2001
Click here for Blowing Rock 2000

Independence Day Celebration

Blowing Rock, NC

July 7... Pastor Harry Reader invited us back to Briarwood Presbyterian for the second year.  Emily Smith was there to make us feel welcome, and sound men Frank and Jessie were great as usual.  David and Jessie came through Chattanooga and picked up Jessie's mom, Marylisa.  Kenneth Deese came along with like last time, though we probably shouldn't tell anyone about the abuse he put the rental car through.

Click here for Briarwood 2000

Briarwood Presbyterian Church

Birmingham, AL

July 12... We sang with the Rarely Herd, along with Jerry and Tammy Sullivan at the Broyhill Civics Center in Lenoir, NC.  We have known the Rarely Herd band for years.  They are perennial winners of SPBGMA's "Entertaining Band of the Year" award, and are a fun band to watch.  We also enjoyed the Grammy-nominated Sullivans.  The best part of the concert was the food, catered by Fran Bass.

Foothills Bluegrass Gospel Celebration

Lenoir, NC

July 13... The rain held off long enough for us to sing at the Doc Watson Music Festival in Cove Creek near Boone, NC.  We were disappointed that we couldn't stay to hear Doc and the Kruger Brothers (and many other great groups), but we had to leave immediately to make it to our next concert.  We especially were impressed by the Steep Canyon Rangers from Asheville, NC.

Doc Watson Music Festival

Cove Creek, NC

July 13... Butch Cook of the Golden Valley Crusaders invited us to the Otis Cook Memorial Gospel Festival.  The festival is not too far from Caser, NC, which is way too far from anything.  We fell in love with the Golden Valley Crusaders when the sang at Murray's Mill last year, and were pleased to be able to come to their festival.  We were surprised at how many people came down from the wilderness, and how they stuck with it through several drenching downpours!

Otis Cook Memorial Gospel Festival

Caser, NC

July 14... We missed last year's concert at Fred's General Mercantile because of a storm, but the weather mostly held off this Sunday night.  We got a little cold and wet when a cloud passed through (umbrellas were useless), but other than that the weather was great.  We ate a wonderful meal downstairs at Fred's Backside Deli (not an appetizing name, especially if you've seen Fred).  If you're trying to beat the heat and the crowds, Beech Mountain (elevation 5,500 ft., population 310) is the place to be. 

Click here for Beech Mountain 2000

Fred's Mercantile

Beech Mountain, NC

July 20... We literally sang up a storm at the Farmer's Day Festival in China Grove, NC.  We performed at noon on the Hanna Park Stage, and the weather was scorching.  Some nice clouds came over for our concert, and we finished up just before the rain began to fall.  I left my fiddle at home, but we asked around and before fifteen minutes were up, two fiddlers in attendance had loaned me their instruments.  We appreciate Janice Jenkins for inviting us, and hope to come again next year!  Sorry -- no pictures (camera in fiddle case)!

Farmer's Day Festival

China Grove, NC

July 25... It looked to be too rainy to sing outside at Lake Tomahawk, but the sun cam out just as we finished setting up in the clubhouse.  There was a large crowd, but fortunately the fire marshal was there to oversee our over-occupation.  We were thrilled to see Maury Scobee of the BGEA, who brought us all sandwiches and copies of Billy Graham's new book, "Hope For Each Day".  Maury's tireless enthusiasm is always inspirational to us.  I also ran into my friend Chris Tulbert, who graduated in my program at ASU and now works in Black Mountain. 

Lake Tomahawk

Black Mountain, NC

July 28... Our first visit to Jones Memorial in Mooresville was lots of fun.  There were a lot of visitors, and a lot of teenagers to baby-sit our kids!  We saw Mr. Robertson, who plans to begin hosting Tuesday night concerts each month at the Mooresville Civics Center.  The Cockman Family will be featured Nov. 12, the opening night.

Jones Memorial United Methodist Church

Mooresville, NC