John Hardy is a tune that has been around the block a few times. To say it is well recorded is an understatement. Here’s Cedric Watson and the Mad Minstrels with an unique version featuring gourd banjo, fiddle and stand-up bass. I know Watson’s work… Read More
My experience at the Mid-west Banjo camp kick-started my learning and since I returned home I’ve wanted to play and play and play. With that kind of immersion experience you get exposed to a lot of ideas, but most of them require plenty of practice… Read More
I was introduced to the tune Bonaparte’s March at the Midwest Banjo Camp last weekend, by Cathy Barton Para in a class on Midwest fiddle tunes. I haven’t been playing modal tunes much, but I love this one and I’ve been working on getting it… Read More
I’ve been writing a bit about banjo camp – let’s go back a bit. You see the Detroit skyline from the Windsor side – I took that shot Wednesday night. Thursday morning, I proceeded through the tunnel to America. Not so fast. First I had… Read More
I started my day with a class about fills. Adam Hurt taught us several and then we applied them, creating a version of Cripple Creek that incorporated a variety of ornaments. My second class, taught by Joe Newberry, was all about applications of a technique… Read More
Banjo camp continues… I attended an excellent demo on playing in a string band this morning, led by Cathy Barton Para followed by another on creating breaks and variations, led by Michael Miles. In the afternoon, I participated in two workshops. The first was an… Read More
Camp started with dinner. Attended a fiddle tune demo then my first jam. Great confidence builder! Exhausted. Looking forward to a long day of banjo madness tomorrow.
Emily Spencer again with Thornton Spencer
Here are Emily and Martha Spencer from the Whitetop Mountain Band playing the Carter Family tune, Distant Land to Roam. Very nice performance. Stumbled upon this one on the YouTube machine.
Very Be Careful is an excellent Vallenato outfit from LA. I love the triumphant celebration of the button accordion in this. I bet they’d be great fun to see live.
27th Street 