Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Fiddle player Keane Brown performs "Photo Finish" by Chris LeDoux with drummer Duane Castleberry and keyboard player Ronny Fouts Thursday night at the 67th annual Floyd Lions Club Country Jamboree in the Floyd High School gym. The jamboree will have a 7 p.m. performance tonight, with a gospel show 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 per person.
FLOYD — The lure of live music in a family friendly environment drew many first-time attendees to the Floyd Lions Club Country Jamboree Thursday night at the Floyd High School gym.
The jamboree, now in its 67th year, brought together a multitude of performers to play classic country, gospel and bluegrass music.
Darrell Roe and his mother Sue Roe, both of Portales, were hesitant about braving a sand storm on the way to Floyd, but found the event's style of music to be worth the trip.
"We like country music; good country music," Sue Roe said.
While he had only ever driven through Floyd in the past, Tucumcari resident Andy Swapp said he was thoroughly impressed by what he had seen of the jamboree.
"My kids and wife play in one of the little bands, and their sound check and setting up the sound system was very professional, really well done," he said. "I like the style of music, and I love small towns and small town people."
Of course, the gym was also heavily populated by veteran attendees to the jamboree, such as Vonnie McIntosh of Texico, who guessed she has been coming "probably about 35 years, maybe 40."
"We just love it. I love the small town atmosphere of it, and I love all the performers, and you get to see a lot of different talent. You don't just see the same thing over and over. It's something different all the time," McIntosh said.
She noted that she has attended jamborees all over the country, and Floyd's event ranks high on her list.
"We've been to Nashville, we've been everywhere, and this one rates right up there. I think it's pretty cool. You get to see everybody you know," she said.
As a lover of music, Leonard Martinez of Portales appreciated the style on display at the jamboree.
"I come from a music family. My dad was in country and western for 15 years. The music that they're playing is history. It goes way back in the old days; a little bluegrass, folk music. It kind of tells a tale of the old days," he said.
Halfway through the jamboree, Martinez marveled at the unity between attendees.
"It's bringing the community together, families together. It's just a good, warm feeling you don't see very often nowadays," he said.
