The Glory-Beaming Banjo

Steady as she goes. That was the name of the game these past three months. I maintained my pace toward my yearly playing goals on fiddle and banjo. I learned "Mississippi Sawyer" on fiddle and "Sloop John B." on banjo. I attended two local festivals and arranged a one-on-one jam session to keep up with my "playing with others" goal. I posted twice a month on this blog, which is at least consistent if not up to last year's standard-bearer. All in all, it was a steady third quarter. On the fiddle, I played 50 hours this quarter and feel pretty happy with "Mississippi Sawyer." I've worked out a couple variations, and I even tried it out in a jam at one of the festivals I attended this year. I've also continued to work on "Possum on a Rail." Next up is the good old chestnut, "Old Joe Clark." I also had written down "June Apple" in my notes. Depending on how well "Old Joe Clark" comes along, I ma...

We're lucky in Northeast Ohio to have a handful of local festivals that feature plenty of old-time performances and open sessions. However, we're unlucky to have these events stacked on top of each other. I've written in the past about how the Raccoon County Music Festival in Burton, Ohio, is my favorite of the local events. Another well-regarded festival is Music Along the River (MATR) in Harpersfield, Ohio. Usually, these two events are a week apart, but this year they occur on the same weekend — i.e., this weekend. Raccoon County is Saturday, Aug. 18, while MATR runs Friday-Sunday, Aug. 17-19. Luckily, circumstances allow for someone to attend both events, if they were so inclined. However, there will no doubt be some people will only have time for one. It's a shame that two great events will likely experience reduced attendance because of this scheduling conflict, as these festivals attract the same crowd. To make matters worse, another strong festival...

Doug Unger and his work. Master banjo builder Doug Unger will be presenting a clawhammer banjo workshop Sept. 16 at the Blue Sky Folk Festival , in Kirtland, Ohio. Unger is a former Kent State University art professor and an Ohio Arts Council grants and fellowships recipient, as well as an accomplished banjo player in his own right. Unger will be leading a clawhammer banjo workshop with Paul Kovac under the "Small Tent" from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Established in 2010, the Blue Sky festival is hosted at the East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church on Chillicothe Road in Kirtland. The event features concerts , workshops , community jams , family crafts and other fun activities. Tickets are $15 at the gate or $12 if you purchase online . Get a $3 discount at the door if you bring and instrument to join in the various jam sessions. Youths age 12 and under are free. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. With multiple indoor and outdoor jam areas and an inside m...

Coming this Saturday, May 19, in Kirtland, Ohio, is the second annual Blue Sky Folk Festival . The event features performers, workshops, jam sessions and family activities from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. View the full schedule here . Banjo and old-time music fans should definitely check out performances by Hu$hmoney and Hickory , as well as a clogging workshop by Laura Lewis Kovac. For updates about the festival, check out the Blue Sky Folk Festival Facebook page . Enjoy and report back if you go.