In 1972, Chuck and Kricket Langley bought sixty-five acres of land in Northwest Georgia in Floyd County. Located north of Rome in the community of Armuchee, at this time the only bluegrass festivals were in Lavonia, which is in northeast Georgia and the Cobb Festival in Cobb, County.

The first Armuchee bluegrass Festival was held in 1973. It started off down by the creek in the pasture of Chuck and Kricket's land on the Old Dalton Road.

The birth of Armuchee was started through the love of the music and in the fact that no other festivals were in North Georgia.

Chuck got his brother-in-law John Farley to help him get started. So John Farley and Harold Galloway came to Floyd County and the three of them walked over the property to decide where to put the stage.

Three elements are needed to put on a festival; a good location, musicians, and bluegrass fans. Make that four things....hard work!

Chuck's job was to furnish the property and get it ready for show time. John's job was public relations with the bands and line up the program. Harold's job was as our first soundman. Music Mart in Marietta donated the sound system. Harold would go by, pick up all the sound equipment and take it back after the show.

John went to Chattanooga, Tennessee and hired Peanut Faircloth as Master of Ceremonies. Later, John cut his hand badly with a chain saw while helping to clear some trees and decided promoting was not his thing - along with the fact that he did not get to jam for three days and that is tough on a picker. Therefore, Harold took on the responsibility that related to bands.

Chuck, Harold, and Peanut worked together for the next eleven years to make Armuchee a landmark within the bluegrass community. Kricket's job all these years had been handling advertising, hiring gate help, doing all the bookwork, keeping the band information current and making sure everything balanced. She was secretary/treasurer and pulled the heaviest load of all - keeping it together for the past thirty years. And, she ran the kitchen for many years. Both she and Chuck are quick to give God the Glory for the festival's long running success. "Our Lord blessed it because all proceeds from the kitchen go straight into Foreign Mission field" through the Men and Women of Action (MWOA), which is a construction ministry. They have been involved with MWOA for eighteen years. Chuck's BBQ and pintos that he cooks in a big iron pot over an open fire became a main attraction under the cooking shed.

Chuck and Kricket continued to produce the festival when after thirteen years Harold and Peanut quit. Armuchee has served as the springboard for musicians across Georgia, and the surrounding states. Today, many of the bands and musicians have landed into the world of professional music.

Chuck and Kricket's love of bluegrass and the desire to preserve the music of their heritage has been the fuel that has powered Armuchee Bluegrass Festival. All bluegrass fans should receive top recognition at every festival. It is the longest running festival in the state of Georgia. Our open stage drew so many bands that producing two festivals a year was the only solution to a good problem. So in 1982, the birthing of the Memorial Day Festival took place. This allowed more bands stage time, which is critical for any band. The policy of giving every band equal stage time, and treating all bands the same has produced lifelong, loving relationships that will continue in Glory Land.

Every personality adds flavor to a festival, but that also is a double edge sword. Peanut's leaving left a big gap in the stage that only he could fill. However, festival fate brought Delmus Franklin to serve as MC for four years, but due to health problems, he had to quit. As a radio disk jockey, Dee had a huge following in Floyd County. He introduced bluegrass into the homes of folks who are still bluegrass fans.

For the last thirty years....and fifty festivals later, Chuck has taken off work for two events per year as a masonry contractor in order to prepare the grounds and get ready for Armuchee. Folks, that averages about two year's salary that he has donated to bluegrass music! He has just recently started playing the mandolin and plays with "Passtime Band." ABF has taken a big chunk out of the lives of Chuck and Kricket.

It seems the production came full circle when in 1971 it was first discussed at the Farley's Thanksgiving dinner table when Chuck said to John, "Why don't we just start a bluegrass festival?" His reply was, "Find us somewhere to have it." ....thus, a festival was born!

Upon retiring, Mack and Evelyn Farley took on a full dose of ABF since they had more time to devote to promoting. Mack took on the job of MC and vice president. And Evelyn has been faithful to the job as treasurer. She took a major load off Kricket. Mack and Evelyn are Kricket's parents and have been involved for the last fourteen years.

Chuck and Kricket are endeared to the fans and musicians, without them...there would be no festival. It is more like a homecoming than a festival. And that is a fact!!!

(Thanks to Chuck and Kricket for the above history. Editor)

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