Musicians Give 4,000 a Good Time

On a warm Sunday, with most beaches closed and sporting events canceled, the 32nd annual Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest was one of the few weekend diversions in the riot’s aftermath.

More than 4,000 people showed up at Paramount Ranch in Agoura for an afternoon of bluegrass music, square-dancing and cowboy poetry. The turnout was smaller than in past years, but not by much.

“I expected a pretty good crowd because we’re about the only show in town,” said Mary Wordin, a contest official.

The audience sat on a wide lawn at the foot of wooded hills, amid mingling scents of barbecue smoke and suntan lotion. Hawkers sold jewelry, flowered skirts and cowboy hats. Music emanated from a small stage, where a procession of fiddlers, flat-picking guitarists and banjo players performed.

“Everything has calmed down in the city,” said Ken Hornaday, waiting backstage with his guitar. “We’re here for a good time.”

But the rioting could not be put out of mind. Talk of the violence drifted across the festival grounds. People expressed their anger at the not guilty verdicts for the four Los Angeles police officers in the beating of Rodney G. King.

“I don’t think anybody here has forgotten about what went on,” said Alison Edwards of Granada Hills. “How could you?”

One woman had written a song, called “L.A.ment,” inspired by the King incident. A band on stage took time to plead for peace.

“We’re all part of the same melting pot,” Cyrus Clarke, of the Acousticats, told the audience. “So let’s keep it together.”

Contest officials had waited until Friday night before deciding to carry on with the annual event. Many of the people in attendance had also waited, closely watching news reports before deciding to come.

Mike and Stephanie Correz of Hesperia figured that it was safe enough, but said they drove on roads that kept them as far away from Los Angeles as possible. Jim Tryner and Mary Sibert drove from Stockton in Northern California, even though friends tried to dissuade them.

“They thought we were plain stupid,” Sibert said. “I knew this was far enough out of the area where the rioting was.”

Kevin Barlow was simply relieved to get out of the house after several nights of curfew, nights when he would normally have been socializing.

“But I also feel a little guilty for having fun,” said Barlow, of Torrance. “I drove through the riot areas to get here. It’s tough.”