Upper Midwest Collections Panel at the Twin Town Old-Time Music Festival

One of my favorite moments from the Twin Town Old-Time Music Festival in Saint Paul, MN. was this panel on Midwest and Upper-Midwest music collections.

Bill Peterson talked about his work with Dwight Lamb’s personal archive. Jim Nelson talked about a number of Missouri Valley archives. Micah Ling talked about Michigan archives and as we ran out of time I quickly tried to get in how archives are only as important as how they connect the past with the present and the future and also a little about Upper Midwest archives.

Thanks to Rina Rossi for setting up such an interesting workshop and thanks to Sarah Larsson for the only picture I know of the workshop.

Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Are Still Going Strong

I wanted to report that not only are there new chapters of UMFF in Fargo, ND and Duluth, MN, but our hometown chapter in Saint Paul, MN has been quite healthy lately! Our jam last night had 23 folks in attendance (see video below).

We also just played a fun dance at the first annual Twin Town Old-Time Music Festival here in Saint Paul,MN and I (Clawhammer Mike) participated in a panel discussion about using collections of Midwest and Upper Midwest music.

More Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Chapters

It has always been the dream to start other Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers jams throughout the Upper Midwest.  Our home jam in Saint Paul, Minnesota has been having weekly jams for the past many years. Now that the Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers Tunebook is in publication, it is time to spread the music.  Some wonderful folks in the Fargo, ND area have taken it on themselves to start a chapter of UMFF.  Their intention is to meet every 4th Monday of the month to play tunes from the book. Right now the location for this jam is Swing Barrel Brewing- 814 Center Ave A, Moorhead, MN 56560.

Finally- Printed tunebooks are available!

 

Order here

This book is the culmination of Clawhammer Mike’s years of research into the historical fiddle tunes of the Upper Midwest. The Upper Midwest Fiddlers Tunebook includes 137 tunes that were mostly played by Scandinavian immigrants who came to the Upper Midwest. Most of these tunes were passed down generationally over the past 150 years.

Highlandville, Iowa. The Music of Beth Hoven Rotto and Foot-Notes.

My new video explores a multi-generational dance tradition in northern Iowa. Fiddler, Beth Hoven Rotto,  kept this tradition going long after her mentor, Bill Sherburne, has passed away.  Here the dancers talk about the importance of this event to them in their own words.

Upper Midwest Old-Timey Listening Party- Episode 11

Here is an episode of the Upper Midwest Old-Timey Listening Party.  I put it on Youtube for those who don't have Facebook.

Upper Midwest Old Time Listening Party

I have been doing a Facebook show lately featuring tunes and interviews about Upper Midwest old-time music.  8 episodes so far.  Click on the link below.

Upper Midwest Old-Timey Listening Party