A Good Man – debut single from The Arizona Wildflowers

The Arizona Wildflowers – photo © Elaine Thomas Campbell


We’ve written several times about The Arizona Wildflowers, the sisters trio from Casa Grande, AZ, who have been making quite a mark on the bluegrass scene in the southwest. They are big sister Ranelle Dietrich, and her two younger siblings, Brie and Aspen who make up the group, though there is a younger brother, Sawyer (9), and mom, Tiffany, who perform with the band as well.

The girls are especially proud that they have released their very first single, with Darin Aldridge producing and playing mandolin. Called A Good Man, it was written by the Wildflowers jointly about their grandfather, where Ranelle sings lead with lovely sibling harmony from Brie and Aspen.

Ranelle is 16 years old, Brie is 14, and Aspen 12, and they are as excited as any touring artist to see their first single hit.

Speaking as one, they shared these thoughts about A Good Man

“This has quickly become one of our favorite songs to perform, with the special meaning it has for our family. It was also very exciting to record, having Darin Aldridge produce and play on the album!

We spent ten days in Branson, MO playing at Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass and BBQ Festival in May, and at various other places around town. We’ll be heading back there at the end of June to play on Branson Country USA.”

Check it out!

A Good Man is available now from popular download and streaming services online. It will be up soon at AirPlay Direct as well for radio folks.

Also of note…

This past weekend the Dietrichs were at The National Fiddle Championships in Weiser, ID, where Ranelle came away as the Junior Fiddle champion. Well done, young lady!

Sawyer, and littlest sister Isley, also picked up the National Small Fry title.

Expect to hear much more from this bunch.

2019 National Old Time Fiddlers Contest report

Once again this month, musicians descended upon the little town of Weiser, Idaho for the National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival (NOTFC).

Plenty of folks of all ages come to compete, but even more come to jam, and to meet and play with the amazing assortment of really friendly and high level pickers. Folks come from all over the country and even some foreign countries every year. There are also loads of workshops, both organized by the Contest folks and by the campers in the campground which teach all sorts of musical instruments and styles – and even pie making.

The NOTFC is an organization focused on charitable and educational purposes, preserving and promoting traditional fiddle styles and related arts. For the contests one must play three tunes – a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of choice – and there are multiple rounds to most contests as well. The contestants are broken up into divisions based on age as well as a few based on style.

The Weiser area has a long history of these fiddle contests. This one has been running since 1953, though at its inception, it was called the Northeast Mountain Fiddler’s Contest and was held in the intermissions of the Annual Square Dance Festival. It has gone through a couple of names, and settled into its current title in 1963. The town of Weiser generally has a population of 5,200 people, and the locals warmly welcome all the pickers with their signs and friendly manner for the two weeks that the musicians camp out and make their music. The hospitality and friendliness really adds to the whole atmosphere that calls the family and community of pickers back year after year.

There are the very serious, big prize money contests, but there are also some more relaxed contests that go on during the festival. There are the Certified Contests, where folks who have won first place at other festivals can compete for titles like “fanciest costume,” and aim to entertain and amuse the audience. There were also fun contests across the street in the campground and museum areas with categories like the very fun “who can get the guitar pick out of the guitar the fastest.”

The festival in Weiser is a truly special place and a magical event because of the sense of community, and the sincere love of music that is shared by so many who attend. Countless people have come to this festival in Weiser, and have become truly inspired and motivated to learn more about traditional music and history, to become better musicians, and also come back year after year because of the friends they have made. They all eventually become members of a community, and like members of a large music family.

Thank you so much to the staff and the large number of volunteers who bring this event together every year.

(Photo gallery follows results)

The Grand Champion

5.  Maddie Denton (Murfeesboro, Tennessee)
4.  Tashina Clarridge (Mount Shasta, California)
3.  Ridge Roberts (Granbury, Texas)
2.  Tristan Clarridge (Mount Shasta, California)
1.  Katrina Nicolayeff (Maridian, Idaho)

Katrina Nicolayeff

Tashina Clarridge

Senior Senior Division

5.  Paul Dickerson
4.  Mabel Vogt
3.  Hughie Smith
2.  Akiyasu Sumi (He comes all the way from Yokohama City, Japan.)
1.  Vivian Williams (She has been attending the contest for 51 years.)

Senior Division

5.  “Fiddlin” Joe Osborn
4.   Starr McMullen
3.  Aaron Lowe
2.  Marcia Denton
1.  Joe Sites

Adult Division

5.  Julie Miller
4.  Jaydean Ludiker
3.  Andy Emert
2.  Cody Stadelmaier
1.  Jacie Sites

Jacie Sites

Young Adult Division

5.  Alex Sharps
4.  Shelby Murdock
3.  Justin Sherfey
2.  Aarun Carter
1.  Celeste Johnson

Junior Division

5.  Nathaniel Copeland
4.  Jessa Preston
3.  Leah Bowen
2.  Julian Oliver
1.  Grace Partidge

Junior Junior Division

5.  Lillian Arnold Mages
4.  Preston Marriott
3.  Tarquin Bennion
2.  Logan Davis
1.  Teo Quale

Small Fry Division

5.  Adrienne Jensen
4.  McKenna Petersen
3.  Tristan Paskvan
2.  Aspen Dietrich
1.  Josephine Arnold Mages

Small Fry McKenna Peterson

Small Fry Josephine Arnold Mages

Swing Fiddle 18 and Over

5.  Vi Wickam
4.  Celeste Johnson
3.  Maddie Denton
2.  Paul Anastasio
1.  Katie Glassman

Swing Fiddle 17 and Under

5.  Rachel Beck
4.  Ranelle Dietrich
3.  Lillian Arnold Mages
2.  Maria McArthur
1.  Miles Quale

National Twin Fiddle

5.  Madi Dietrich, Danielle Dietrich
4.  Miles Quake, Maria McArther
3.  Kenny Blacklock, Katy Bridges
2.  Eliza Beck, Rachel Beck
1.  Jessa Preston, Grace Partridge

Accompanist Awards

5.  Ed Miller – 56 times on stage
4.  Hyatt Hopkins – 67 times on stage
3.  Ridge Roberts – 80 times on stage
2.  Rod Anderson – 84 times on stage
1.  Joey McKenzie – 92 times on stage

Monday Certified Contest Winners

  • Mabel Vogt – Best Female entertainer
  • Judy McGarvey – Best Costume
  • Emelie Miller – Fanciest Fiddler
  • Paul Makela – Best Male Entertainer

Tuesday Night Certified Contest Winners

  • Cynthia Hamm – Best Female Entertainer
  • Matt Renner – Fanciest Fiddler
  • Grant Wheeler – Best Male Entertainer

Wednesday Night Certified Contest Winners

  • Evelyn Taft – Best Costume
  • Lorelei Hein – Fanciest Fiddler
  • Adrienne Jensen – Best Female Entertainer
  • Cash Niehenke – Best Male Entertainer

Youngest Fiddler Award

  • Jayne Huguenin (age 4)

Oldest Fiddler Award

  • Hughie Smith (He is from Gustine, California. He has been coming to Weiser since 1976 and has won the fiddling contest 11 times. He is 86 years old.)

The contests across the street in the campground areas are below.

Intermediate Banjo Contest

3.  Liam Hamilton and Lovi Gilbert (tie)
2.  Mia Edsall
1.  Kim Ray

Advanced Banjo Contest

3.  Maria McArthur
2.  Jordan Snow and Kevin Dreyer (tie)
1.  Gary Eller

Banjo-Fiddle Contest

3.  Lillian Arnold & John April
2.  Petra Shwartoff & Jason Homey
1.  Vi Wickam & Maria McArthur (tie)
1.  Katrina Nicolayoff & Gary Eller (tie)

Trick Fiddling

3.  Jason, Hannah, Athey, and Bjorg Young, Boise
2.  Lillian and Josephine Arnold-Mages, Boston
1.  McKenna Petersen, Fulcher (TX)

Getting the Pick Out of the Guitar Contest

3.  Penny Manning, Boise
2.  Brett Carpenter, New Meadows (ID)
1.   Barbara Kemp, Boise

2018 National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival report

Weiser, Idaho was once again filled with music for two weeks in June as all sorts of string musicians came from all over the country (and a few international arrivals) to take part in the annual National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival. Musicians, many of whom are high level professionals, start jamming in the campgrounds, like the well known and beloved Stickerville campground and the areas around the historic Institutes and Museum the week before the official contests even start.

One can find jazz, bluegrass, old time, Texas style fiddling, Irish, Brazilian tunes, and sometimes various other styles of music being played throughout the days and much of the evenings. There are loads of workshops in many styles, and on a great variety of instruments, and even in pie-making held over the two weeks as well.

There are the famous fiddle contests and many contests of a whimsical nature during the festival, which can boast of very high caliber fiddlers in the contests and also among their contest judges. The festival also organizes concerts in the town of Weiser at Memorial Park, along with food vendors, crafts, and a parade at the end of the contest week.

This festival is a blast not just because of the great musicians and friendly folks who attend the festival, but also because of its calm, laid-back feel. No big crowds or traffic, just great musicians and music lovers everywhere one looks, along with lovely scenic views.

This festival also sets itself apart by doing a great job of honoring the musicians who have added to its history over its many years it first began in 1953. They have old newspapers with festival coverage from these many years up on the walls of the backstage room. Every year they officially honor some musicians who have passed on in the last year on the contest stage. In the campground they also have some celebrations of life for fellow pickers who have passed on. There was a lovely memorial to Gene Gimble this year, who had added his musicianship and knowledge to the campgrounds of Weiser for many a year, enriching the lives of so many people who had jammed with him or heard his stories.

For the Fiddle Contests each fiddler must play 3 tunes for each round: a hoedown, a waltz, and a tune of choice. There are multiple rounds in the various categories. Fiddlers also may have up to three musicians to accompany them. The festival wisely chooses to have a single large diaphragm microphone suspended from above, getting rid of the clutter of all those mic stands, and the need to adjust them all the time. Each contestant can just have the mic raised or lowered to their size. Easier on the stage sound engineers and a nicer view for the audience.

Another fun fact about the Weiser contests is that they get the trophies made right there in Weiser. Mic and PJ Boles have been making the trophies the last few years, and each year is a unique collectable design. This year’s trophies had a new modern look and are engraved plexiglass fiddles that illuminate with LED lights in rotating colors. It was fun watching the award winners on stage playing with and figuring out how to operate their new trophies.

Here are some photos and video clips to give a tiny taste of the music, but you really have to go to the festival and experience first hand the amazingly nice folks, laid back feel, great music, loads of oral histories being told on all sides, and all the fun to really know the magic that can be found at the National OldTime Fiddle Contest and its campgrounds every June in Weiser, Idaho.

A little clip of Tristan Clarridge in Round 2 of the Grand Champion contest division backed up by Luke Price.

Marina Pendleton in Round 2 of the Grand Champion contest division

Ashley Rose Dryer in contest in Round 2 of the Grand Champion contest division

A clip of Vi Wickam playing in the light-hearted new Air Fiddle Contest being backed up by left handed fiddler, Katrina Nicolayeff (who won the Grand Champion first place in the big official contest this year).

 

Grand National Championship Awards

  1. Katrina Nicolayeff
  2. Doug Fleener
  3. Luke Price
  4. Tristan Clarridge
  5. Ashley Rose Dreyer

Small Fry Awards

  1. Brie Dietrich
  2. Josephine Arnold-Mages
  3. Andrew Beck
  4. Aspen Dietrich
  5. Sorella High

Junior-Junior Awards

  1. Teo Quale
  2. David Lin
  3. Logan Bingham Davis
  4. David Tormela
  5. Tarquin Bennion

Junior Awards

  1. Ridge Roberts
  2. Grace Partridge
  3. Julian Oliver
  4. Leah Sawyer
  5. Grace Christensen

Young Adult Awards

  1. Andrew Linn
  2. Justin Sherfey
  3. McKenzie Johnston
  4. Shelby Rae Murdock
  5. Aarun Carter

Adult Division

  1. JayDean Ludiker
  2. Julie Miller
  3. Gayla Tanaka Bollinger
  4. Andy Emert
  5. Grant Wheeler

Senior Division Awards

  1. John Francis
  2. Starr Page McMullen
  3. Sheila Irene Wright
  4. Aaron Lowe
  5. Eileen Walters

Senior Senior Awards

  1. Vivian Williams (age 80)
  2. Mabel Vogt (age 75)
  3. Duane Stevens (age 76)
  4. Marilyn Block (age 72)
  5. Paul Dickerson (age 71)

Swing Fiddle Awards 17 and Under

  1.  Will McDonald
  2. Ridge Roberts
  3. Leah Sawyer
  4. Miles Quale
  5. Julian Oliver

Swing Fiddle Awards 18 and Over

  1. Paul Anastasio
  2. Keith Niehenke
  3. Vi Wickam
  4. Sarah Stixrud
  5. Chad Matthews

Twin Fiddlin Awards

  1. Leah Sawyer & Ridge Roberts
  2. Grace Chsristianson & Shelby Murdock
  3. Will McDonald & Madison Dietrich
  4. Vi Wickam & Doug Fleener
  5. Donna Reuter & Eileen Walter

Here is a tune from Leah Sawyer & Ridge Roberts in the Twin Fiddle Contest.

Certified Awards – Monday Night

  • Best Female Entertainer- Evelyn Horner
  • Best Costume- Ann Robinson
  • Fanciest Fiddler- Star McMullen

Tuesday Night

  • Fanciest Fiddler- Will McDonald
  • Best Male Entertainer- Grant Wheeler
  • Best Costume- Vi Wickam

Wednesday Night

  • Best Entertainer (Small Fy Division)- Ranielle Dietrich
  • Best Costume (Small Fy Division)- Jetta Brooks
  • Fanciest Fiddler (Small Fy Division)- Roxie Sparks

Accompanist Awards

  1. Rod Anderson
  2. Darin Meeks
  3. Jim McMillan
  4. Ed Miller
  5. Joey Mckenzie

Youngest Fiddler Award

  • Sorella High- age 6 years old

Oldest Fiddler Award

  • Evelyn Horner – age 87

Below are the winners from the contests across the street sponsored by the National Old Time Fiddler Contest and Bee Tree Folk School

Banjo Contest Awards – Intermediate Banjo

  1. Maria McArthur
  2. Kim Ray
  3. Barbara Bancroft and Carol Gies (tie)

Advanced Banjo

  1. Maria McArthur
  2. Gordon Acri
  3. Kevin Dryer

Banjo and Fiddle

  1. Rick McCracken & Vince Crafts
  2. Lori Gilbert & Renee Homey
  3. Kathleen Allyn & Petra Schwarthoff

Novelty Contests – Whistling

  1. Landon & Dylan Vance McCall
  2. Cole Hawkins Star
  3. Jason Hawkins Star

Air Fiddle

  1. Vi Wickam
  2. Brett Carpenter

Air Banjo

  1. Athanasius Young
  2. John Larson

Here is a clip of one of the tunes from Katrina Nicolayeff from Round Two of the Grand Championship division. She ended up taking first place in the contest. 

 

2017 Weiser report from National Oldtime Fiddler’s Contest and Festival

Another fun filled two weeks at the annual National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest and Festival in Weiser, ID has just concluded. There were the official, world-renowned contests taking place in the high school for fiddlers of all ages from Monday, June 19th- Saturday, June 24th, but there were also stages throughout the town with performances and contests. Workshops and classes on sorts of instruments and folk arts, both indoors and outdoors, were held in various locations.

Then of course there are the spontaneous jam sessions of old time, bluegrass, Texas swing, and swing jazz in the campgrounds for two solid weeks of remarkable music making from Monday, June 12th through Saturday the 24th when the last contests finish and the town celebrates with a parade, final awards, parties, and goodbyes. The high level jam sessions throughout the campgrounds are actually a main draw for many, and are populated with professional level musicians and teachers from all over the world. I met folks from the western states, but I also met folks who had come from all parts of the continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, and Japan.

There were classes and workshops on all the major bluegrass, old time, and string swing instruments at various levels and styles from beginner through advanced, but there also were workshops in other folk arts like old time banjo making and pie making, which one does not see at many other festivals. One can also take guided tours of the museum right there at the festival to learn about the history of the region. The backstage room for the contests is also a wonderful testimony to their interest and respect for their music history. The walls are covered with old newspaper articles about the music, the festival, and the musicians from the 65 years that the festival has been running. There was even a hoppin’ old style western swing dance on Sunday night with great live bands.

A new feature this year at Weiser was the the renovations of the historic Slocum Hall which is located in the middle of the festival jamming and merchandise area. People can now rent a basic room for their festival accommodations right in Slocum Hall. The hall was built in 1909 and was used as be a boys dormitory for years. Folks can become a sponsor of this renovation project with tax deductible donations. The National Old Time Fiddler’s Inc. is a 501(c)3 and is running the restoration process. If one sponsors a room for renovation, they can have some input on its final look, and also then have dibbs on being able to stay in that room during upcoming festivals. If folks are interested in becoming a sponsor they can contact Gary Eller by email.

Thank you to the staff and volunteers who work year round to make this great event happen each year. This event enables so many fine musicians from around the country to meet each other, play music together, and learn from each other. It inspires up and coming musicians and provides the spark to bring new people into playing and listening to traditional music. The magic of this festival is not just what happens on the stage, but also what happens back stage, at the campgrounds, and around the town for those two weeks each year.

There are around 250 volunteers working on the festival. Each year they give an award to the Volunteer of the Year, which I think is a great idea highlighting the massive amount of work that some people put in behind the scenes to bring an event like this together so seamlessly.

To learn more about the festival one can go to their web site where they have all sorts of information about the festival and how it works, how one can get involved as a contestant, an affiliated festival, a watcher, a listener, a supporter, and even on the big upcoming festivities planned for the solar eclipse coming up August 18th. Weiser is supposedly the best place to be to see the eclipse, so people are expected to be coming in from far and wide, so folks at Weiser are organizing music and a parade for that as well.

Below are the award winners for 2017

Small Fry Division (youngest division)

  1. Lillian Arnold Mages – age 8, Pittsburgh, PA
  2. Niko Quale – age 8, Alameda, CA
  3. Ranelle Deitrich – age 8, Casa Grande, AZ
  4. Jetta Brooks – age 8, Middleton, ID
  5. Josphine Arnold Mages – age 6, Pittsburgh, PA

Youngest Fiddler

Sorella High – age 5, Blackfoot, Idaho

Junior- Junior Division

  1. Grace Partridge – age 12, Rigby, ID
  2. Julian Oliver – age 12, Estes Park, CO
  3. Teo Quale – age 10, Alameda, CA
  4. Tarquin Bennion – age 10, Sidney, MT
  5. Jesse Quintana – age 9, Lakewood, CO

Junior Division

  1. Regina Scott – 15, Tulsa, OK
  2. Ridge Roberts – 14, Granbury, TX
  3. Vance Voetberg – 17, Chehalis, WA
  4. Mackenzie Johnston – 17, Littleton, CO
  5. Sawyer Porter – 17, Middleton, ID

Young Adult Division

  1. Abigail Stepper – 22, Fairfield, WA
  2. Ashley Rose Dreyer – 18, Spirit Lake, ID
  3. Karissa Nugent – 20, Burleson, TX
  4. Michael Rolland – 31, Mesa, AZ
  5. Makaela Shippy – 18, Caldwell, ID
  6. Alexander Sharps – 24, Julian, CA

Adult Division

  1. Jacie Sites – age 37, Rigby, ID
  2. Cody Stadelmaier – age 45, Fort Collins, CO
  3. Julie Miller – age 39, Caldwell, ID
  4. Vi Wickam – age 41, Loveland, CO
  5. Andy Emert – age 46, Portland, OR

Senior Division

  1. John Francis – age 62, Salt Lake City, UT
  2. B. Starr McMullen – age 65, Corvallis, OR
  3. Aaron Lowe – age 62, Spokane, WA
  4. Janet Shelby – age 60, Sagle, ID
  5. Gene Banks – age 67, Athens, TX

Senior-Senior Division

  1. Vivian Williams – age 79, Seattle, WA
  2. Mabel Vogt – age 74, Potlatch, ID
  3. Akiyasu Sumi – age 71, Yokohama City, Kanaka, Japan
  4. Duane Stephens – age 75, Grangeville, ID
  5. Jim McMillan – age 75, Bozeman, MT

Oldest Fiddler Award

Marjorie McFaul – age 92, Spokane, WA

Twin Fiddling

  1. Macy Lynn Keller & Sawyer Porter
  2. Janet Shelby & Linda Everts
  3. Shira Ellisman & Karissa Nugent
  4. Noemi Turner & Ashley Dreyer
  5. Eliza Beck & Rachel Beck

Grand Champion

  1. Luke Price – 31, Portland, OR
  2. Tristan Clarridge – 30, Forks of Salmon, CA
  3. Tashina Clarridge – 35, Mt. Shasta, CA
  4. Katrina Nicolayeff – 34, Meridian, ID
  5. Katie Glassman – 36, Boulder, CO

Here is a taste of Luke Price’s playing from the 3rd round of competition:

Swing Fiddle 17 and Under

  1. Mackenzie Johnston – age 17, Littleton, Colorado
  2. Miles Quale – age 13, Alameda, California
  3. Sarah Stixrud – age 17, Sedro-Woolley, Washington
  4. Kierra Smith – age 15, Kuna, Idaho
  5. Lorelei Hein – age 8, Sherwood, Oregon

Swing Fiddle 18 and Over

  1. Katie Glassman – age 36, Boulder, CO
  2. Maddie Denton – age 23, Murfreesboro, TN
  3. Nancy Padilla – age 59, Bozeman, MT
  4. Jonah Shue – age 46, Boise, ID
  5. Celeste Johnson – age 18, Arvada, CO

Accompanists

  1. Matt Hartz – 97 times
  2. Drew Miller – 79 times
  3. Rod Anderson – 75 times
  4. Joey McKenzie – 74 times
  5. Tristan Clarridge – 51 times

Volunteer of the Year

Dale and Dottie Emert

Less serious and fun contests were also available on the main stage during the week.

“Certified” Category Winners

Monday night

  • Funniest Fiddler – Mabel Vogt
  • Best Male Entertainer – Jim Kuether
  • Best Costume – Marge McFaul
  • Best Female Entertainer – Camille Arnold-Mages

Tuesday Night

  • Best Female Entertainer – MacyLynn Keller
  • Best Costume – Ashley Dryer

Wednesday Night

  • Best Costume – Lorelei Hein Sherwood, OR
  • Fanciest Fiddler – Rachel Beck Melba, ID
  • Best Female Entertainer – Jetta Brooks Middleton, ID
  • Best Male Entertainer – Silas Phillips

Across the street in the campground area there were days of fun contests on a smaller stage, organized by Gary Eller of the National Old Time Fiddler’s Contest. He also organizes the Banjo Camp at Slocum Hall each May. Below are the award winners from those contests, some serious, with some novelty contests open to all and a good time with lots of laughing.

2018 Weiser Banjo Contest Winners

Intermediate Banjo

  1. Carol Gies – Idaho Falls, ID
  2. Barbara Bancroft – Boise, ID
  3. Trevor Bollwinkel – Meridian, ID

Advanced Banjo

  1. Jason Homey – Boise, ID
  2. Emily Emmons – Missoula, MT
  3. Carson Sass – Genesee, ID

Banjo & Fiddle

  1. (tie for 1st) Vince Crofts (fiddle, Firth, ID) & Rick McCracken (banjo, Pocatello, ID)
  2. (tie for 1st) Carson Sass (banjo, Genesee, ID) & Chloe Floch (fiddle, Boise, ID)
  3. Jason Young (banjo, Boise, ID) & Hannah Young (fiddle, Boise, ID)
  4. Matt Renner (fiddle, Coeur d’Alene, ID) & Gary Eller (banjo, Pickles Butte, ID)

Vegetable Throwing

  1. Tonia Dyke
  2. Mark Mosier
  3. Ethan Webb

Hog Calling 2017 Weiser Banjo Contest

  1. Ella Rose – Ames, IA
  2. Dina Blade – Seattle, WA
  3. Joe Baker – Weiser, ID

Air Banjo

  1. Tate Bollwinkle – Meridian, ID
  2. Rod Sloan – Weiser, ID
  3. Brett Carpenter – McCall, ID
  4. Rayne Redman – White Bird, ID

Here is a taste of a casual afternoon in the Stickerville campground as folks stay cool at the campsite “pool party.”

Weiser 2016 report

Another great year has just concluded at the National Oldtime Fiddler’s Contest and Festival in Weiser, Idaho. New this year, folks all over the world could tune in on their computers and watch the main stage as it happens since the Festival has teamed up with Concert Window to live stream the main stage events. Folks can also sign up way in advance for their Concert Window streaming for next year by going to www.ConcertWindow.com.

But although the main stage is now available to folks from all over the planet through on line technologies, I still recommend going there in person. So much of the fun, magic, and the music at Weiser is not on the stage, but all over the grounds. It is one of the best festivals for live pickin’ and jammin’ in the country. As people stroll through the campgrounds they will find bluegrass, old time, Texas Swing, various styles of acoustic jazz, and contest style playing. They will also meet some of the nicest folks around as well.

There are a huge selection of workshops offered the week before the festival officially starts as well as the week of the festival in various locations and on all sorts of instruments and some folk arts as well. They also have the certified contests where previous winners from other festivals can come and be really fun and entertaining and less serious. There are also some bands of folks who perform between the contests that add to the musical experience.

The fiddle contests are divided to group fiddlers by age groups (there are plenty of hot pickers from very young to very old who come every year to try their luck). The contestants are also divided by styes like Swing and Twin Fiddlin’, which have their own categories, and the coveted Grand Champion category. There is an impressive amount of prize money involved in the contests and loads of folks making friends, networking, teaching and learning music, and having an all around great time for two weeks every year. I was told by many in attendance that the festival is always one of the highlights of their year.

Here are a few videos and photos to help you hear and see some of the fun.

Shelby Rae Murdock (and friends) in the Certified Division Tuesday night

 

10 year old CJ Neary playing Redwing in the contest.

 

Winners of the Twin Fiddling Contest.

 

9 year old Junior-Junior contestant Teo Quake

 

Junior Jammers entertain between contest rounds.

 

Tristan Clarridge here in Grand Champion contest round one. He ended up taking 2nd place.

 

Contest Results and photos on page 2…

Tara goes to Weiser 2015

Well, June is a month of great music festivals all over the country, but one of my favorites is definitely The National Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest and Festival in Weiser, Idaho. Top notch musicians from all over the country descend on the tiny little town and set up camp in the various campgrounds, and two weeks of hot amazing music on stages and off is the result. There are stage areas all around the town and schedules for performances and workshops in the Museums, down in city park (called The Bluegrass Village), in the campgrounds, and in the High School where the big contests take place. They also provide a “fiddle bus” to take people around to the various spots and to some other local fun spots.

A cool thing about Weiser is that the musicians camping there also take the initiative and set up their own workshops and some smaller contests and events in the campgrounds throughout the time they are there. The campgrounds are filled with bluegrass, old time, western swing, and acoustic swing music with some of the finest pickers around. There is a banjo contest now and the informal late-night fun-loving Fiddletown Twin Fiddling Contest. This year there was a acoustic swing jazz mandolin orchestra added to the line up at the Monday night dance at the Museum. Even the main stage has fun with Certified Contest winners doing showcase performances where they are going for funnest/most entertaining, best costumes, and fanciest fiddling categories.

The contestants range from 4 to 90 years old and are separated into categories by age, and then there are also categories of Twin Fiddlin’, Swing Fiddlin’, and the ultimate prize of the National Grand Champion with its prize of $1500, a trophy, and an embroidered jacket. Even the accompanists to the fiddlers can try for award money in the accompaniment category. The festival also prints the blank score sheets that the judges see and are judging on right in the program, which seems like a really cool and fair idea so people know what they are being scored on specifically, both those that are competing and those simplye watching the contests.

But talking about music is not nearly as helpful or fun as actually seeing and hearing some of what goes on for oneself, so I will throw a few clips in here for you to get a little taste.

Here is a clip of 12 year old Ridge Roberts who won the Junior-Junior division.

 

Here are a few of the Twin Fiddle contestants in action. The first clip has the women who ended up winning the Twin Fiddlin Contest.

 

 

 

Here is Katie Glassman who won the Swing Fiddle Contest.

 

For more information and details about the festival one may check out the official website at www.fiddlecontest.org.

Also loads of folks play bluegrass just like the rest of the country does, but there is also a sound and history of each regions traditional musics and the West and northwest are no exception. For folks who are interested in learning about the great traditions and history and hearing samples of fine traditional fiddle tune music of the Northwestern US, one can visit www.VoyagerRecords.com where they have around 320 tunes recorded from 110 different fiddlers from all over the northwest, available for free download along with histories, quotes etc.

For those specifically interested in Western Swing style music there is also www.nwwsms.com with histories, audio and video clips, instructional materials, upcoming events listings, publications, and a way to become a member and stay abreast of all sorts of things.

And here are the full lists of all the proud winners.

Nation Grand Champion Division

  1. Luke Price  (29) – Portland, OR
  2. Tristan Clarridge (28) – Kensington, CA
  3. Katrina Nicolayeff  (35) – Meridian, ID
  4. Jesse Maw  (23) – Kalispell, MT
  5. Tashina Clarridge  (33) – Mt. Shasta, CA
  6. Katie Glassman  (34) – Denver, CO
  7. Laura Waters  (19) – Idaho Falls, ID
  8. Harrison Schumann  (18) – San Antonio, TX

 

Adult Division

  1. Megan Lynch-Chowning  (40) – Goodlettsville, TN
  2. Vi Wickam  (39) – Fort Collins, CO
  3. Nancy Padilla  (57) – Bozeman, MT
  4. Gayla Bollinger  (39) – Boise, ID
  5.  Cody Stadelmaier  (43) – Fort Collins, CO

 

Young Adult Division

  1. Natalie Koob  (26) – Frisco, CO
  2. Tabitha Snell  (18) – Rigby, ID
  3. Josiah Nelson  (18) – Windsor, CO
  4. Shelby Rae Russell  (20) – Ammon, ID
  5. Kian Dye  (19) – Portland, OR

 

Junior Division

  1. Celeste Johnson  (16) – Arvada, CO
  2. Josh Partridge  (17) – Rigby, ID
  3. Andrew Lin  (16) – Lexington,, KY
  4. River Lee  (14) – The Woodlands, TX
  5. Vance Voetberg  (15) – Chehalis, WA

 

Junior-Junior Division

  1. Ridge Roberts  (12) – Greenburg, TX
  2. Annika Bennion  (12) – Sidney, MT
  3. Dylon Fehrs  (12) – Caldwell, ID
  4. Grace Partridge  (10) – Rigby, ID
  5. C.J. Neary  (9) – Bend, OR

 

Small Fry Division

  1. Logan Davis  (8) – Rigby, ID
  2. Matteo Quale  (8) – Alameda, CA
  3. Tarquin Bennion  (8) – Sidney, MT
  4. Leo High  (8) – Blackfoot, ID
  5. Eliza Beck  (8) – Boise, ID

 

Senior Division

  1. John Francis  (60) – Salt Lake City, UT
  2. B. Starr McMullen  (63) – Corvallis, OR
  3. Aaron Lowe  (60) – Spokane, WA
  4. Mike Oenbring  (62) – Granite Falls, WA
  5. Gene Banks  (65) – Athens, TX


Senior-Senior Division

  1. Hughie Smith  (82) – Bakersfield, CA
  2. Vivian Williams  (77) – Seattle, WA
  3. Duane Stephens  (73) – Grangeville, ID
  4. Mabel Vogt  (72) – Potlatch, ID
  5. Donna Foreman  (78) – Estacada, OR
  6. Marjorie McFaul  (90) – Spokane, WA

 

Swing Fiddle 18 and over Division

  1. Katie Glassman  (34) – Denver, CO
  2. Luke Price  (29) – Portland, OR
  3. Karl Kummerle  (28) – New Orleans, LA
  4. Jesse Maw  (23) – Kalispell, MT
  5. Paul Anastasio  (62) – Shoreline, WA

 

Swing Fiddle 17 and under Division

  1. Justin Sherfey  (17) – Spokane, WA
  2. C.J. Neary  (9) – Bend, OR
  3. Ben Shu  (17) – Mesa, AZ
  4. Celeste Pena  (14) – Palo Cedro, CA
  5. Cara DiGiovanni  (16) – Greenbrier, TN

 

Twin Fiddle Division

  1. Nancy Padilla & Natalie Koob
  2. Tallon Sandoval & Johene McDonald
  3. Shawn Drake & Georgia Rae Mussared
  4. Vi Wickam & Justin Branum
  5. Josiah Nelson & Celeste Johnson
  6. Tabitha Gholi & Eileen Walter

 

Certified Winners – June 22, 2015 

  • Best Costume: Mary Lynn Keller – Nampa, ID
  • Fanciest Fiddler: Josh Partridge – Rigby, ID
  • Best Male Entertainer: Samuel Conklin – Bend, OR
  • Best Female Entertainer: Mabel Vogt – Potlatch, ID

Certified Winners – June 23, 2015 

  • Best Costume: Tabitha Gholi – West Linn, OR
  • Fanciest Fiddler: Vi Wickam – Fort Collins, CO
  • Best Male Entertainer: Justin Sherfey – Spokane, WA
  • Best Female Entertainer: Jeanine Orme – Beaverton, OR

Certified Winners – June 24, 2015 

  • Best Costume: Luke Allison – Bend, OR
  • Fanciest Fiddler: Tenaya Cooley – Eugene, OR
  • Best Male Entertainer: Dylon Fehrs – Caldwell, ID
  • Best Female Entertainer: Lanie Shippy – Caldwell, ID

Accompanist for 2015

  1. Matthew Hartz (backed up 95 people)
  2. Darin Meeks (backed up 86 people)
  3. Rod Anderson (backed up 76 people)
  4. John Frances (backed up 50 people)
  5. Drew Miller (backed up 47 people)

Weiser 2014 report

Last week Tara Linhardt traveled west for the The National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest & Festival in Weiser, Idaho. This year she has shared a wealth of photos and videos.

So once again Weiser was a highlight of the year for many folks including myself, pulling together a truly amazing number of wonderful musicians who make music on the contest stages, the stages in town and in the museum, and throughout the the Weiser campgrounds filling the days and evenings with all forms of sweet music. As has been a tradition since 1953 when the contest started it is a hot bed for Texas style fiddlin, but also has lots of folks who come to enjoy, listen to, play, and learn Bluegrass, Old Time, Swing Jazz styles.There are loads of workshops and a Kid’s Academy. They added a new banjo contest last year and this year they added a Swing Fiddlin Category on the main contest stage that was very popular and a real hit.

 

Weiser hosts “Certified Showcases” that one doesn’t see at most festivals. They have them Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the festival. To be in the contest a fiddler must win first place at one of the qualifying state or regional contest that at is “certified” by The National Old time Fiddler’s Contest and they are can win awards for “best costuming,” fanciest fiddling,” or “best entertainer.” This is where you get to see some funny crazy stuff and zany costumes along with the music. I included some photos so you can see for yourself.

There was also a hopping Swing Dance in the upstairs of the Museum with a fantastic line up of great musicians in attendance, both playing and dancing.

You can really sense the great respect these people have for their history and the folks who helped to make it. They have newspaper clippings and articles along the walls, a prominent display of Grand Champions up to present that one can hope to have their name added to, give an annual award to the oldest fiddler, and have annual induction into their Hall of Fame for fiddlers and accompanists.

See all of Tara’s Weiser 2014 photos on page 2… 

Below is a listing of the winners of the different categories of the official contests in the main building.

Swing Division 17 and Under:

  1. Justin Sherfey, 15, Spokane, WA
  2. C.J. Neary, 8, Bend, OR
  3. Cara DiGiovanni, 15, Greenbrier, TN
  4. Celeste Pena,13, Palo Cedro, CA
  5. Sophie Pena, 11, Palo Cedro, CA

 

Swing Adult Division:

  1. James Mason, 55, Vancouver, WA
  2. Katie Glassman, 33, Denver, CO
  3. Paul Anastasio, 61, Shoreline, WA
  4. Katrina Nicolayeff, 31, Meridian, ID
  5. Maddie Denton, 20, Murfreesboro, TN

 

 

 

Small Fry:

  1. Christopher (C.J.) Neary, 8, Bend, OR
  2. Luke Allison, 8, Bend, OR
  3. Logan Davis, 7, Rigby, ID
  4. David Lin, 8, Lexington, KY
  5. Cadence Fehrs, 8, Nampa, ID

 

Junior-Junior:

  1. Regina Scott, 12, Tulsa, OK
  2. Grace Elaine Christensen, 12, Shelley, ID
  3. Elliott Dean, 12, Buda, TX
  4. Dylon Fehrs, 11, Nampa, ID
  5. Grace Partridge, 9, Rigby, ID

 

Junior:

  1. Justin Sherfey, 15 Spokane, WA
  2. Celeste Johnson, 15, Arvada, CO
  3. Harrison Schumann, 17, San Antonio, TX
  4. Tabitha Snell, 17, Rigby, ID
  5. Josh Partridge, 16, Rigby, ID

 

Young Adult:

  1. Hannah Grace King, 18, Bridger, MT
  2. Seth Mattison, 27, Nampa, ID
  3. Lilly Brogger, 19, Three Forks, MT
  4. Miya Saito-Beckman, 19, Bend, OR
  5. Shelby Rae Russell, 18, Ammon, ID

 

Adult:

  1. Gary Schuh, 40, Gresham, OR
  2. Cody Stadelmaier, 42, Fort Collins, CO
  3. Andy Emert, 43, Portland, OR
  4. Grant Wheeler, 46, Los Angeles, CA
  5. Kimberly Meeks, 43, Post Falls, ID

 

Senior:

  1. B. Starr McMullen, 62, Corvallis, OR
  2. Mike Oenbring, 61, Granite Falls, WA
  3. Gene Banks, 64, Athens, TX
  4. Eileen Walter, 62, Portland, OR
  5. Daniel Touchstone, 64, San Diego, CA

 

Senior-Senior:

  1. Vivian Williams, 76, Seattle, WA
  2. Mabel Vogt, 71, Potlatch, ID
  3. Mary Ellen Weathers, 76, Yuma, AZ
  4. Duane Stephens, 72, Grangeville, ID
  5. Hughie Smith, 81, Bakersfield, CA

 

National Grand Champion

  1. Luke Price, 28, Portland, OR
  2. Katrina Nicolayeff, 34, Meridian, ID
  3. Tristan Clarridge, 27, Kensington, CA
  4. Tashina Clarridge, 32, Bainbridge Island, WA
  5. Laura Waters, 18, Idaho Falls, ID
  6. Sedra Bistodeau, 19, Princeton, MN
  7. Megan Lynch-Chowning, 39, Goodlettsville, TN
  8. Katie Glassman, 33, Denver, CO

 

See all of Tara’s Weiser 2014 photos on page 2… 

Championship Contest Fiddling from Mel Bay

Mel Bay has released Championship Contest Fiddling, a book/CD set with transcriptions from 44 fiddle tunes as they were played by winning fiddlers at the National Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest in Weiser, ID.

13 champions are profiled, not only with transcriptions by Nate Olson, but also with extensive interviews and audio from the contest itself. Tunes include competition favorites like Blackberry Blossom, Clarinet Polka and Dusty Miller along with lesser known classics like Hotfoot and Cotton Patch Rag.

The set sells for $24.95, and you can see samples pages and the complete table of contents on the Mel Bay site.

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