Hiwassee Ridge originated from a jam session on the Hiwassee River in 1981.  The group serves as the "Host Band" at the annual Cousin Jake Tullock Memorial Bluegrass Festival in Etowah, Tn.  The band played 28 days at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tn., performed at the Chattanooga Riverbend Festival in 1989 and 2001, and three days at the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Event on the Ocoee River.  The group works annually at the Steve Kaufman Acoustic Camps at Maryville College.