I like to celebrate Canadian fiddle music from time to time here at 27th Street. Most people automatically associate “Old Time” music with Appalachia, but up here in Canada, we have a very well developed fiddle tradition. Calvin Vollrath is as good a fiddle player… Read More
John Henry has to be one of the most recorded songs ever. The story is basically an American tall tale. Like so many of these folk tales, I can’t remember not knowing it. I think I knew it before I understood the story. John Henry… Read More
Here’s some fantastic Canadian fiddle music featuring Graham and Eleanor Townsend…The Four String Polka
Head for the hills, it’s banjo practice time. Here’s me attempting to play a fiddle tune known as The Forky Deer, or Forked Deer (say fork-kid).
Shady Grove is a tune that has had a lot of play over the years. I always associate this one with Doc Watson. I learned to play a version of this tune when I started learning clawhammer, but stopped playing it for no real reason… Read More
The tune Shortnin’ Bread must be embedded deep in the genetic code of Canadians and Americans. I can’t remember not knowing that melody. Some people might call it a kid’s tune, but there are versions whose lyrics are a little more adult oriented. The melody… Read More
Here’s Joe Newberry performing his song, Missouri Borderlands. I had a chance to meet Joe Newberry in June of 2014 at the Midwest Banjo Camp. I took a class from him about a clawhammer banjo figure known as the “Galax Lick”. Let me say that… Read More
I could listen to Cathy Barton and Dave Para sing Down the River I go Uncle Joe all day. I like the tune so much I made a painting after it. That painting is on display at Yumart starting this afternoon as part of my… Read More
Here’s how Leadbelly did it… Check out these covers….. Pharis and Jason Romero…. Meredith Axelrod and Craig Ventresco
Here’s Chris Coole playing a tune from Henry Reed, known as Quince Dillion’s High D. He’s playing with Alan Jabbour who created field recordings of Henry Reed in the mid-60s when Reed was in his 80s. I particularly like this tune and I’ve been working… Read More
27th Street 