Groundhog Day 2013

Groundhog Day 2013 will be here soon!


Make your plans soon to come to the SD Old TIme Fiddlers Groundhog Day celebration at the Royal Fork in Sioux Falls, SD on February 2nd.  No, we won't have Phil of Gobbler's Knob in attendance ( unless he's on the buffet menu ). What we will have are some mighty fine musicians fiddling, picking and singing many of your favorite Old Time Tunes.  As always, it promises to be a gala affair. Grab your ACOUSTIC instruments, bring some friends and join in the fun.  Suit, tie and top hat are optional.

While Punxsutawney Phil will leave his burrow at 7:20am Eastern Time, we won't be getting together quite that early.  We plan on gathering about noon to eat, and eat, and..., but we should be jamming by 1:00.

Broken String Band

Kneeling - Dave Mogkan, Reeves Petroff

Gerry Bishop, Hallie Rugheimer, Nancy Padilla, Phil Schladweiler, Mary Petroff 

Just received an email about some friends playing at the Wilsall Montana Dance Hall.

Phil was out to visit last summer (2012).  He plays an excellent old time banjo style.  We sat out on the deck and had a great time picking tunes.
Gerry is the ONLY drummer that was actually invited and encouraged to come to our jams when we were in Montana.
Hallie (on keyboard) has kept the Broken String Band of Bozeman, MT rolling for over 25 years.
Nancy - Fiddler - none better and a great instructor as well.
Revees plays guitar and is a master of the Resonator guitar (Dobro).
Mary will keep the band in time on that bass
Dave calls Contra Dances and everyone definitely has fun when he is in the room.

We will have to get some fiddlers and friends together and do a contra dance sometime.  It is a great time.

On the Wilsall Montana Dance Hall website, there are photos of a lot of musical friends including some of my old band - The Pretty Good String Band as well.

Snow Mobile Musicians

What do snowmobilers and fiddlers have in common?
Both like to play.
Both like their instruments properly tuned up.

Jerry Anderson was kind enough to invite Stan Nelson down to his place to do a little riding on Sunday.  The only catch was that Stan had to bring along his dad Ken and everyone would have to play a little music afterwards.  That was a no-brainer.  After a fine time of ripping around in the snow, Stan brought out the bass, Ken broke out his mandolin and fiddle, Jerry tuned up his fiddle and another fine time was had by all. 

Saturday Afternoon Music

Good time, good group of musicians and friends and wonderful music.  That starts to sum up Saturday afternoon at the Golden Corral in Sioux Falls, SD where the South Dakota Old Time Fiddlers gathered to do some jamming.  The sound of fiddles and other instruments filled the air for almost 4 hours as good friends got together to reminisce about last season and make plans for the 2013 season.  Arnold and Helen Johnson even got to meet up with their niece while they were in town. 

Make plans now to listen to this group during their 2013 tour of South Dakota,Minnesota and Nebraska.  They are working on new tunes and polishing up old favorites - should be fun.

Rumor has it that they will be back at the Golden Corral the first Saturday in February.  Dust off your guitar, fiddle or mandolin and come join in.

Christmas Eve Music

I have to give a thank you to the musicians who helped out with the Christmas Eve music at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in South Shore, SD.  Ken, Penny, Isabelle, and Stan Nelson along with Harold Tribitt worked out nice arrangements of some of the congregation's favorite Christmas Carols.  This little group put in lots of practice time during December and it really showed on Christmas Eve.  Penny was on piano, Isabelle and Ken played fiddle, Stan did the honors on bass and Harold rounded it out on his 12 string guitar.  Lots of good comments on the sound.  If you want some simple arrangements of some Christmas favorites, let me know.  For right now I just have notation and the chords - in fiddle friendly keys.