An Honor To Perform

We recently were able to attend the 21st meeting of Winter Worship and Workshop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It is sponsored by Barnabas Ministries, and it is an enjoyable meeting. This being our third year, we were excited to see familiar friendly faces from prior years, as well as from Hillsboro Family Camp, Restoration Destination, and the Southwest Indiana Preaching Rally. There is always an encouraging pleasant atmosphere in the place.

As we packed, I was surprised that Dad said to take our instruments, as we were a little tight on space in our Suburban. I was looking forward to the morning and evenings sessions, hiking in the afternoons, and singing and playing with the crowd that gathers in the Music Road Hotel lobby after the nightly sessions. So I was happy he suggested bringing them along.

The first evening gathering in the hotel lobby, we met and talked with a variety of musicians. A guitarist friend looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said he was playing in the key of “B.” He mischievously knew I would not enjoy that key with its five sharps, as it is not a key I play in frequently. Bryan Goins, a new acquaintance, said in a supportive tone, “C’mon Jayla, capo that fiddle and go along!” That brought on laughter from many who understand that fiddles do not capo!

Bryan Goins, we discovered had famous uncles who were known as The Goins Brothers. They were inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Bryan and his band were performing the next night’s concert between sessions, and later he asked if I would consider playing with them as he didn’t have a fiddler! What a surprise! I would be honored to play with his band. He had a banjo, mandolin, bass, and guitar, and I would make the fiddle.

The next afternoon, while hiking through some of Cades Cove, I could hardly keep my mind off of playing that night. Hesitantly, I walked in the door for our practice session and was met with a wave of amazing bluegrass. Almost breathless, I was introduced to the cheerful banjo man, whose joy flowed out through his banjo picking. He shook my hand with his banjo picks on, which made me laugh. I found the quiet bass player very bass-like in character. He nonchalantly stepped on the side of his big upright bass, popping it right up into his hand! The spunky mandolin player arrived, his forty-five years of seasoned playing was apparent as his mandolin practically smoked! These guys were all incredible! We ran through a few songs, working out some intros, harmonies, breaks, and endings. I went back to the hotel not knowing it was possible to be so apprehensive and excited at the same time!

There was so much enthusiasm and energy up there on stage that evening. It was contagious. As I sang the lead to Will the Circle Be Unbroken, the strong, tight harmony of Kevin Prater and Bryan Goins on the chorus was heartening, and the continual happy laughter of the banjo man was uplifting. I was just rolling along with the experience of it all as we played some we hadn’t practiced, and didn’t play some we had run through!

Playing with The Goins Brothers that evening was one of the most exciting things I have ever done! Bryan Goins was kind to allow me to play along with his band. It was an honor to perform music with him. His uncles were known for letting new musicians have a chance to play and he carried on that tradition. In parting ways, he asked me to play with them at Hillsboro Family Camp. He told me to practice and be ready, and I assured him I would.

We said our goodbyes to the new friends and the old. We started our seven-hour journey home, reminiscing of the wonderful time we had and our eagerness to return again next year to the encouragement and uplifting meeting of Winter Worship and Workshop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

~Jayla