Youth Fiddle Camp in Bethel, Mo
Sunday, June 14, 2020 – Friday, June 19, 2020
Bethel, Missouri
Youth camp is the prime opportunity for aspiring young fiddlers to perfect technique and learn tunes of Missouri Style fiddling. Individual lessons daily set this camp apart from other group camp settings. Dance is a big part of the Bethel camp where all campers learn to dance old-fashioned square dances and have the opportunity to learn to call the dances if they choose to do so. Tuition is $350 and includes meals and lodging. For more information or to register, contact Wendy Bumbaugh at 573-822-9498.
Adult Fiddle Camp in Bethel, Mo
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 – Saturday, May 2, 2020
Bethel, Missouri
Adult fiddle camp allows fiddlers age 18 and over to study with master fiddlers to learn new tunes, build a network of fiddler friends, and/or perfect technique. Campers stay in refurbished 1844 colony houses and take all breakfast & lunch meals at the Fest Hall Restaurant, and dinner at the Highway 15 Bar & Grille. The registration fee, $300, is all inclusive for lessons, meals & lodging. This year’s camp starts at noon on April 29 and runs through 5 p.m. on May 2. For more information or to register, contact Wendy Bumbaugh at 573-822-9498.
Bethel Youth Fiddle Camp
Sunday, June 17, 2018 – Friday, June 22, 2018
Bethel, Missouri
The annual youth fiddle camp returns for 2018, with the following slate of instructors:
- Vesta Johnson – Fiddle – Kirkwood, Missouri
- Steve Hall – Fiddle, guitar – Kirkwood, Missouri
- Angie Lennie – Fiddle – Ottumwa, Iowa
- Liz Amos – Fiddle – Sandy Ridge, Pennsylvania
- Kenny Applebee – Guitar – Mexico, Missouri
- John P. Williams – Fiddle – Madison, Missouri
Bethel Adult Fiddle Camp
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 – Saturday, April 21, 2018
Bethel, Missouri
New for 2018 is a standalone adult fiddle camp held in Bethel, Missouri, the site for many years of the annual Bethel Youth Fiddle Camp. This year’s instructors, Angie Lennie (Ottumwa, Iowa), Mickey Soltys (Carbondale, Illinois), and Charlie Walden (Evanston, Illinois), bring a wealth of experience and a variety of fiddling styles to the camp.
Fiddler’s Dream: Old-Time, Swing, and Bluegrass Fiddling in Twentieth-Century Missouri with Howard Marshall
Thursday, January 18, 2018 • 7 p.m.
Missouri State Archives, 600 W. Main Street, Jefferson City
Author and musician Dr. Howard Marshall recently released his much-anticipated to Play Me Something Quick and Devilish, his well-received book on Missouri old-time fiddlers and the history of fiddle and dance music in our state. In the new book, Fiddler’s Dream, he picks up the historical discussion in the 1920s, and again uses archival research, oral history, photographs, and fiddle tune transcriptions to trace the evolution of fiddle music into the 1960s. The book focuses on such topics as radio performers, 1920s fiddlers contests, the growth of popularity of oprys, Show-Me State fiddlers who emigrated to the West Coast taking Missouri fiddling with them, and the influence of traditional fiddle music in swing, jazz, and bluegrass. Join us as Dr. Marshall speaks on these prominent themes and performs with an accompanying ensemble of well-known central Missouri musicians, David Cavins, Amber Gaddy, and Kathy Gordon.
Copies of Fiddler’s Dream will be available for signing after the program, courtesy Downtown Book and Toy.
Howard Marshall is Professor Emeritus of Art History and Archaeology at the University of Missouri (Columbia) and former director of the Missouri Cultural Heritage Center.
The Thursday Evening Speaker Series is free of charge and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless otherwise noted, programs will be held at the Missouri State Archives, located at 600 W. Main Street in Jefferson City. The series is underwritten by the Friends of the Missouri State Archives.
Fiddler’s Dream Book Talk and Program
Sunday, October 15, 2017 • 2 p.m.
Museum of Art & Archaeology, Mizzou North, 115 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO
On Sunday afternoon, October 15, at 2 pm there will be a Gallery Talk with live fiddle music to celebrate Prof. Howard Marshall’s new book and CD, “Fiddler’s Dream” (University of Missouri Press) in the European Gallery in the Museum of Art and Archaeology (North Campus, on Business Loop 70 Drive W.) in Columbia. The program is sponsored by the Missouri Folk Arts Program; for more info, please contact Dr. Lisa Higgins higginsll [at] missouri [dot] edu ). Copies of the new book and companion CD will be available. An ensemble of local musicians will join Marshall (fiddle) in performing and discussing a selection of fiddle tunes representing the historical and cultural themes discussed in the book — Dale Pauley, Bud Wyatt, Russ Ravert, Brad Roby, and Kathy Gordon.
Marshall and Williams in Concert in Jefferson City
Saturday, June 25, 2016 • 2 p.m.
Jefferson Landing State Historic Site
John Williams and Howard Marshall, at the monthly dance and basket dinner in Hallsville, October 2013. (Photo by Jean A. Fugate-Besalke)
There will be concert of Missouri fiddle tunes in Jefferson City at the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site (commonly known as Lohman’s Landing, next to the AMTRAK station and down hill from the Capitol — map), at 2 pm on Saturday, June 25. Sponsored by the Missouri State Museum (Tiffany Patterson, director).
The concert features mid-Missouri fiddle stalwarts, Howard Marshall (Fulton) and John Williams (Madison), with Russ Ravert of Columbia (guitar), and John T. Turner of Ashland (bass).
Travis Inman, HK Silvey and Apprentices in Concert
Saturday, April 23, 2016 • 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, 100 Jefferson Street, Jefferson City
The Missouri State Museum and the Missouri Folk Arts Program bring old-time fiddling to Jefferson Landing State Historic Site. Join us to hear two Missouri fiddling traditions—Southwest Ozark and Little Dixie styles—brought to you by master fiddlers Travis Inman and H. K. Silvey. Their apprentices and guitarists will fill out the sound. Bring a lawn chair, pack your lunch and tie on your dancing shoes for a day of music at the landing. Read more.
John Williams in Concert
Friday, April 22, 2016 • 5:30 p.m.
European & American Gallery at the Museum of Art and Archaeology, Mizzou North, 115 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, Mo.
“Then and Now: Apprentice Journeys,”a new addition to the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, showcases apprentices who ultimately achieved master artist status. Join master fiddler John P. Williams, Jr. (Madison) and friends to hear some of the finest fiddling in mid-Missouri—and beyond.
Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival
Saturday, May 23, 2015 • 10 a.m.
Homestead National Monument (map)
The Monumental Fiddling and Acoustic Band Championship will now be known as the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival! With a free workshop in the morning, jam sessions erupting throughout the day, up to $3,000 in award monies, and a chance to win a violin, the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival is the place for musicians of all ages to be on Saturday, May 23, 2015. This is the 15th year for this festival at Homestead National Monument of America.
Still free to all participants and spectators, the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival encourages all ages and abilities to join in friendly competition. One unique rule for this competition is that all songs must have been in existence when Homestead National Monument of America was established in 1936. There are Junior, Senior, Legend, and Acoustic Band divisions.