By August we hope to celebrate BIG time the end of Coronavirus social distancing by dancing to the music of Silver Sail and the Red Mountain Yellowhammers, and the calling of JoLaine Jones-Pokorney and Charlotte Crittenden at a new venue, beautiful Camp Skyline just 1.5 miles from downtown Mentone.
Join us August 14-16, 2020, at a brand new facility, Camp Skyline, as we celebrate 2020 with 2020 vision. You will groove to the music of Silver Sail and the Red Mountain Yellowhammers with outstanding calling by Jolaine Jones-Pokorney and Charlotte Crittenden. In addition you will commune with nature and your fellow dancers at the beautiful Camp Skyline waterfront and late night rock and roll.
Register now!
View our keepsake flier here.
Already Registered? You will want our detailed schedule and our essential tips and camp map.
Register now!
View our keepsake flier here.
Already Registered? You will want our detailed schedule and our essential tips and camp map.
Rodney Miller
The Rodney Miller Band is a supergroup of contra dance musicians that have been rocking the dance festival circuit for years! Their amped up wall of sound is provided by rockstar fiddler Rodney Miller (Stringrays, Rhythm Raptors, Airdance), groovemeister Daniel Steinberg (Hillbillies From Mars) on piano and flute, and mystical mandolinist extraordinaire TJ Crow (Lift Ticket, Rhythm Raptors, Dr. Groove).
The Weekend in a Nutshell
On the third weekend in August each year, Birmingham FOOTMAD puts on its annual Old-Time Music and Dance Weekend at Camp Riverview in the resort town of Mentone, Alabama. Riverview has a beautiful, open-sided, wooden-floored dance hall and a waterfront on the Little River, whose chilly waters feel great in the late August sun.
For the past 30 years, the weekend has featured great bands and musicians such as James Bryan and Norman Blake, Lotus Dickey, Ralph Blizzard and the New Southern Ramblers, the Freight Hoppers, the Red Hots, Big Hoedown, Red Mountain White Trash, the Monks, Notorious, and many more. The core activity of the weekend is dancing, but also on the schedule are jams (slow and regular), a concert by the featured band, a late-night swing dance, Sunday morning gospel singing, a dance workshop, swimming, and a wacky waterfront drama or pageant.
For the past 30 years, the weekend has featured great bands and musicians such as James Bryan and Norman Blake, Lotus Dickey, Ralph Blizzard and the New Southern Ramblers, the Freight Hoppers, the Red Hots, Big Hoedown, Red Mountain White Trash, the Monks, Notorious, and many more. The core activity of the weekend is dancing, but also on the schedule are jams (slow and regular), a concert by the featured band, a late-night swing dance, Sunday morning gospel singing, a dance workshop, swimming, and a wacky waterfront drama or pageant.
Dancers stay in un-airconditioned cabins equipped with bunk beds or bring their own tents. Camp Riverview provides some fans but you may want to bring your own. Normally, we experience comfortable nighttime temperatures. Some dancers also stay in bed-and-breakfasts or rent chalets in the area.
FOOTMAD furnishes two breakfasts and we ask dancers to bring a contribution to the Saturday night potluck and any other food or beverages they need. All dancers need to volunteer for a congenial bit of cooking or cleaning during the weekend. This helps FOOTMAD to keep costs low.
The Old-Time Music and Dance Weekend is popular and usually fills up quickly. We limit registration to 280 persons on a first-come-first-served basis. If you do not receive the Mentone announcement you can sing up for it below
After you've registered, received a confirmation flyer, and joined us at Camp Riverview, you’ll find the Old-Time Music and Dance weekend an incredibly fun and friendly affair!
You may want to check out videos from past Mentone dance weekends.
FOOTMAD furnishes two breakfasts and we ask dancers to bring a contribution to the Saturday night potluck and any other food or beverages they need. All dancers need to volunteer for a congenial bit of cooking or cleaning during the weekend. This helps FOOTMAD to keep costs low.
The Old-Time Music and Dance Weekend is popular and usually fills up quickly. We limit registration to 280 persons on a first-come-first-served basis. If you do not receive the Mentone announcement you can sing up for it below
After you've registered, received a confirmation flyer, and joined us at Camp Riverview, you’ll find the Old-Time Music and Dance weekend an incredibly fun and friendly affair!
You may want to check out videos from past Mentone dance weekends.