I only know the music of Meredith Axelrod via YouTube. I know she lives out on the west coast, and I also know she sometimes plays with another performer I really admire, Frank Fairfield. I don’t know if she has any recorded material available (if… Read More
Some fiddle tunes go by different names in different places. One I play on clawhammer is Western Country, which is sometimes called Susananna Gal or Fly Around my Pretty Little Miss. Here’s another tune that goes by different names. In this first video, these guys… Read More
Since I was back at the hospital today I wondered if there were any tunes about going to the doctor, or tunes about doctors. The first one that came to my mind is Ramblin’ Jack’s performance of Arthritis Blues. I’m fortunate not to have arthritis,… Read More
Here are the Gillette Brothers performing Cowboy Annie…
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
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
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