CLIFFTOP 2025: INCREDIBLE ESTRO-GIN JAM

Searching for Roots Music is back at one of the most awesome old-time music festivals: The Appalachian String Band Music Festival, at Clifftop WV. Although the festival only runs from Wednesday through Saturday, the diehards arrive at Camp Washington Carver the previous Thursday, and stand in line to be admitted to the grounds on Friday morning. They camp "on the hill" in the woods, and jam 24/7. Our previous videos will give you a good overview of this incredible tradition, currently in its 34th year. This video shows a segment of the "Estro-Gin Jam," a jam session for women, where men in dresses serve gin and tonic to the musicians. Men do participate, but sit at the outside of the big (and ever-growing) group of musicians. I have never seen so much positive energy in a jam session. This clip features a well-known old-time song, "Hangman's Reel," which is a fast, exhilarating tune which has 4 sections (most old-time tunes have only 2 parts).