Matt Evans

After all the excitement of the Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival last weekend, it all boiled down to a few modal tunes I got to share with Matt Evans at the old time jam last Monday.  After a weekend of wailing away on my dulcimer, we quieted down with “Texas” and “Falls of Richmond” all slow and groovy, and Matt pulled out this one, “White Face Reel”.  Quiet moments like these are rare at our session.  The voice you hear at the end is Shelley, my dulcimer friend from Chicago, one of half a dozen guests who stuck around for a free day after the festival was over.  Yes, there will be some dulcimer fest videos soon…. I was too busy to capture any of it myself, but Philip was on the scene working his magic.  Now he just needs to work his editing magic and get those puppies uploaded!  In due time… In the meantime, Fred, enjoy some fine banjo playing from my buddy Matt.

Matt Evans, White Face Reel, Market Street Tavern, June 23, 2008:

Clinch River Ramblers

Sometime late in 2007 I met little Ethan Ferguson at a campfire at the Cove Lake State Park in Campbell County, TN. He was playing fiddle, I was playing dulcimer, and we mutually became each other’s biggest fans that day. I was lucky to run into Ethan again this past weekend at the Louie Bluie Festival, also at the park, and I took this video of him and his band stealing the show. It’s hard to believe Ethan’s only 10 years old. He plays fiddle like a champ, runs that band like a CEO, and talks to the crowd like he’s a star on the Grand Ole Opry. It’s exciting to imagine the musical path this kid’s life will take. I hope our paths cross again!

Chief O’Neill’s Favorite Hornpipe

Last week was a great one.  Music all week… and yet, hardly any of it captured.  With Chattanooga all up in its Riverbend frenzy now, I’m happy to report that my week was full of traditional music and dulcimer lessons.  One happy surprise was a visit from George and Martha.  (Okay, I admit, it wouldn’t have been so much of a surprise if I had actually written it down on my calendar.)  They came and enjoyed our Monday night old time session, and then later in the week I had a two hour lesson with George in which we worked on Chief O’Neill’s Favorite Hornpipe.  (I wonder what it was called before the chief decided it was his favorite.)  I promised George I’d email him this video we took of me playing through the tune very slowly, but instead I’ve decided to post it here on the blog since it’s a tune I frequently teach.  It’s good for players who have mild bridge-crossing anxiety!

Jubilee of Acoustic Music, 2008

This past weekend, Butch and I performed at JAMFest in Lee’s Summit, MO. (near Kansas City) We put on the usual Butch and Christie show for them, complete with angry game and all. Angry game = When Butch and I know a tune perhaps a little too well, we’ll stare at each other and make ugly angry faces, just to keep things interesting.

Anyway, in this clip, it’s just a closeup of me playing Little Billy Wilson. Thanks to Scott for taking the video!!

And a closeup of my hammers as I back up Butch on Booth Shot Lincoln: