I learned this tune at Midwest Banjo Camp at the beginning of June this year, from Cathy Barton Para. It was in a class about tunes played by Ramona Jones, but I think she got this one from Jimmy Driftwood. This tune is played in… Read More
This is me trying to play two ‘A’ tunes strung together: Lady (or is it Ladies) on the Green and Devilish Mary. I learned them both recently at Midwest Banjo Camp from Cathy Barton Para. One of the things that happens after banjo camp is… Read More
This is the group photo from the 2017 Midwest Banjo Camp. I’m in there somewhere.
Here are Joe Newberry and Brad Leftwich performing Backstep Cindy. I was at this concert. This performance was at one of the two faculty concerts at the 2016 Midwest Banjo Camp. MBC is quite an event. Banjo freaks abound, along with various fiddle players, guitar… Read More
Wish I was a June apple hanging on a tree. Every time my true love pass, take a bite of me. Take a bite of me, my love, take a bite of me, Every time my true love pass, take a little bite of me.… Read More
Here’s a tune that is called Buckin’ Dun in some places and Bob-tailed Mule in others. Take your pick. I learned it at the last Midwest Banjo Camp from Cathy Barton Para. Cathy knows an amazing variety of tunes and she’s a wonderful teacher. This… Read More
It’s been drizzling all morning here in the southwest corner of Toronto. Further north, periods of freezing rain have been causing grief for motorists. It seems like the kind of day for a weird, melancholy minor key banjo tune, doesn’t it? This tune is called… Read More
Back when I was playing a lot of button accordion, I knew this tune as Le Reel de Ste-Anne. These days I play mostly clawhammer banjo and in the banjo world, the tune is more generally known as The St. Anne’s Reel. Either way, it’s… Read More
Check out this performance by Joe Newberry. It pretty much sums it up. I’ve been privileged to have met Joe Newberry and taken classes he taught at Midwest Banjo Camp. Joe is a wonderful musician and a really good guy, who is very generous with… Read More
My friend Chris, the sax player (etc. etc.) across the street, gave me a John Deere cap, an accoutrement which I figure ought to instantly make me a better banjo player. I say this because any old fool knows that old time banjo players need… Read More
