Fiddle Contest and ShowcasE aug 24, 2024

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The MSFA held a one-day outdoor event on Saturday, August 24th, 2024 at Lands Lutheran Church, 16640 Hwy 60 Blvd, Zumbrota.   The day began with a Fiddle Contest; registration at 9:00 AM and contest starts at 10AM.  For complete details, including the rules and registration form, click HERE.  New to contests or want to improve your skills?  Click HERE to get contest tunes and access to training videos. 

The Contest and Showcase was livestreamed on the Lands Lutheran Facebook Page, and is currently available for viewing.   Walter Sigtermans wrote a blog about the event - you can read it HERE. 

 Introduction to Traditional Music workshop was offered following the contest to anyone new to the traditional music community but with a basic familiarity with an acoustic stringed instrument. Taught by Mary Pat Kleven, president of the Minnesota State Fiddlers Association.  Click HERE for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation and the tunes that were taught. 

From 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.  we hosted a fiddle showcase where people can learn more about different kinds of fiddle music from four different traditional performing string bands.  Want to see an encore performance?  See link above for the livestream on the Lands Lutheran Facebook page. 

 American Swedish Institute Spelmanslag is a Swedish folk music ensemble based at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Started in 1985 by Paul Dahlin, their repertoire consists of old and new traditional tunes, such as polkas waltzes and schottisches. The tells the stories of the immigrants from Sweden who came to Minnesota with their fiddles, dances and tunes.

   The Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Based out of St. Paul, the UMFF learns and plays the fiddle music of the early immigrants of the Upper Midwest.  This music is based on years of research by Minnesota State Arts Board grant recipient and professional musician Michael Sawyer. The group meets weekly plays from Sawyer’s Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Tune Book, which features 137 tunes transcribed from early fiddlers in the region. They have performed their music at the Tapestry Dance Center in Minneapolis and the Minnesota State Fair. 

   Farmers Market Ramblers 

This string band out of Rochester features fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar and double bass and plays a variety of old time, bluegrass, and general Americana tunes. Within each set, they highlight each of the instruments, as well as voice, in a variety of fiddle tunes and catchy songs.  They are a busy group that can be found performing in many venues in and around Rochester including the Squash Blossom farm, the Hootenanny at the Olmsted History Center, the Village Farmers Market and the Rochester Farmers Market. 

  The Gritpickers

The members of this old-time string band made up of fiddle, guitar and banjo are some of the most respected old-time players in the Twin Cities. They are a mainstay at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association festivals, are the house band for the Hopkins Farmers Market, and they host a weekly jam in Maple Plain that rarely has an empty chair. They are very knowledgeable not only about the tunes but about the stories and rich histories of the music that they play. 

This activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.

Want to give a "tip" to help with this event? Go to our GiveMN site HERE and scroll down to the "tip" section. 

The contest is supported, in part, by the members of the Minnesota State Fiddlers Association.

We'd appreciate your evaluation of this event!  Click HERE to get to the short survey.