Uncle Georgie's Jamboree of music

George Uhlman started the Friday to Sunday festival, which primarily offers live country, country and western, bluegrass and gospel music. He also hopes to grow the jamboree over the next few years. “We had lots of music this year. We had a little bit of everything and everything went along good. It got bigger this year so hopefully it will get even bigger next year.”

A volunteer has offered to promote the jamboree to bring in more people. Uhlman says at this point not enough people know about it, “but all the people that were there enjoyed themselves. I had some real good helpers and the ladies in the kitchen sure did a good job."

He says not only was the supper, concerts and open mike night popular but impromptu jam sessions started each evening on the Queens County Fair Grounds. Many performers camped in the Caledonia area.

Uhlman's love of music - although he doesn't perform - explains the jamboree. "I just started it to give a chance for the local talent to be together as a group. And it could be something nice for us to have in Queens."

He adds he used to enjoy the area's now-defunct bluegrass festival. "I’d really like to try and bring the music back to the area and thought this was the best way to do it. I’d even like to see the young people take part and maybe in time they will."

He highlighted young drummer, Cameron Lane as an example. "The guys who didn't show up with a drummer took Cameron and said 'he was awesome."

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