I’ve been messing around trying to learn a tune called Westfork Gals on the banjo and damned if that melody isn’t stuck in my ever-so-small brain (I think of Pooh, saying “big words bother me”)…and it won’t go away. In times like these, the only… Read More
It’s time for a Daily Dose of Old Time banjo music. Today, let’s listen to John Brown’s Dream. I’d like to start with a video featuring Guy Wolff. Listen to him take off…fantastic! Here’s a version with a bit of a different flavour featuring Riley… Read More
Regular visitors to this joint know I’ve been trying to learn clawhammer banjo on my home-made oilcan banjos. Well, in a moment of madness I recently purchased an honest to god store-bought banjo. I bought it at the 12th Fret here in Toronto. I was… Read More
Let’s celebrate Canada Day by listening to a selection of Canadian folk music. I’d like to start with a tune I’ve posted before (not this again, I’m sure you’re thinking). It’s Ward Allen from the Ottawa Valley performing his masterpiece, Maple Sugar. Don’t worry, just… Read More
I’ve got the old time tune Coo Coo on my brain so let’s listen to a couple versions. I think Clarence Ashley is the performer most closely associated with this tune, but today I’d like to hear how some other players approach it. To start… Read More
A Steel-driving man is not the same as a man of steel. This song is about THE steel-driving man, John Henry. He was going to beat that steam drill through the mountain if it killed him, which it did….Great tune. Here’s an instrumental version played… Read More
I may have shared this before, I’m not sure. This is the kind of thing I like to have around for those days when people say, hey why do you listen to all that traditional music anyway? This is just right, just perfect.
Standin’ on the corner with the low down blues, great big hole in the bottom of my shoes…..honey let me be your salty dog. Here’s your Daily Dose….
Let’s take a little trip off the beaten path this morning with some pipe music. The first video is called 100 Каба гайди, Сос ма караш, майчинко, 100 Kaba Gaidi For those of you interested in a little more information, Орк. 100 Каба гайди, Сюита:… Read More
Here’s another Canadian old time gem, featuring two of our great fiddlers, Graham and Eleanor Townsend.. I’m amazed at how much fantastic music we have immediate access to these days…
27th Street 