BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
A musical style with deep roots in this region will come to life later this spring in a building that celebrates Iredell County history.
The 2026 North Carolina Thumbpickers Convention will be held in the Statesville Historical Collection in downtown on May 15-16.
Clay Lunsford, past president of the group, said some of the top guitar pickers in this style of music will be performing, answering questions and conducting workshops during the two-day event.
Wayne Henderson, Redd Volkaert, Rick Allred, Caleb Coots and Lunsford are on the bill, and other performers are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Thumbpicking is a style of guitar playing which involves using the picking hand to play a steady bass note. Lunsford, an Iredell native, is one of the masters of this form.
The convention, which has been held for more than 20 years in Statesville, has bounced around but, Lunsford said, bringing the history of the musical style to Statesville’s home for history seemed like the perfect fit.
And, he said, it’s a chance for people to see the historical collection.
“A lot of people don’t know this is here,” he said.
Lunsford and another guitarist, Walt McGarvey, said an additional perk to bringing folks into the historical collection is to help a future project planned by curator Steve Hill.
The collection, which for years was housed in the former Gordon’s Furniture Store on North Center Street, moved a few blocks south into the former Woolworth’s building thanks to Stamey Holland and James Wilson. Holland is the fourth generation owner of the building, which was rebuilt after a 1919 fire destroyed the hotel that stood on the site.
Hill said plans for the basement of the former department store include a permanent spot for musical performances.
“I want to make it look like a speak-easy,” he said. The area will include seating for about 125 people and have an entrance off Cooper Street.
Lunsford said he hopes visitors to the Thumbpickers Convention will help with this endeavor.
The musicians set to play at the Thumbpickers Convention are just as interested in preserving history, including the old-time style of guitar picking.
While planning is still underway for the convention, Lunsford said it will offer a weekend of music and opportunities to learn more about this style of guitar playing. Guitar players and banjo pickers are welcome to bring their instruments and play along.
Doors will open at 2 p.m. on May 15 and the concert will begin at 6 p.m. On Saturday, there will be workshops and open mic events and a concert at 6 p.m.
The open mic sessions and workshops will be from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Tickets are $20 at the door or $30 for all events.
The Statesville Historical Collection is located at 117 S. Center Street in Statesville.