NOTE: If you we're previously subscribed to The Patt & Possum Picayune you've been ported over to my other subsstack Possum's Big Fiddle & Internet Culture Bulletin. The Picayune is now archive only. I hope you enjoy the more in-depth experience.
Since my first livestream on March 18, 2018, I’ve invaded your digital space a minimum of 557 times including:
160 Big Fiddle Shows
105 Camp Possum Lesson
212 Tunes@Noon
80 Other Misc. Content
Folks, I’m not done yet. I’m launching Possum’s Woodshed as an barely scheduled weekly+ feature. I decided at the beginning of the year to operate spontaneously as much as possible, accepting few performance invitations and only scheduling things a week or so in advance, so hence the “barely scheduled” bit.
The best way to not miss any episodes is the subscribe to the YouTube channel and accept notifications. Just go to youtube.com/@charliewalden. You can expect to learn a new a tune and jam with me on some Camp Possum classics.
We had a great visit in Philadelphia a week or so again with Chris Germain, my favorite fiddle-maker and Heidi, his better half. Lots of our amazing musician friends from the area were on-hand.
Over this past weekend we attended a square dance on Chicago’s northside. It was very well-attended and we sincerely hope it happens again soon. And speaking of square dances, Patt & I will be playing for the Elkins Square Dance Collective with Mike “Wichita” Miller calling on September 18.
While were on the topic of West Virginia - Gerry Milnes of Elkins has been named a NEA National Heritage Fellow. Gerry is a fiddler/multi-instrumentalist, collector/folklorist and lifelong documentarian of West Virginia culture and heritage. Congrats for this well-deserved honor Gerry! Read more at nea-national-heritage-fellows.
Our friend Tom Faux with Community Center for the Arts in Urbana sent us this announcement concerning an upcoming banjo workshop and performance:
C4A is proud to present a Clawhammer banjo immersion with banjo maestro Mark Olitsky. Mark O. tours and records with the celebrated Earl White Stringband, and is a well-known and highly respected jammer at old-time festivals everywhere. Banjo players will recognize his virtuosic up-the-neck “popcorn” technique, a driving melodic style of playing that has influenced legions of festival banjo players in recent years.
Mark will be in residence at the Community Center for the Arts, on Saturday, May 16. He will offer an immersion “master class” from 10AM-3PM (with an hour lunch break at noon.) The cost for participating is $25. There will also be a limited number of $5 seats (for beginners only) who would like to audit the session without actively participating.
At 6PM Mark will perform a short set at the 25 O’Clock Brew Pub, 208 W. Griggs St. in Urbana, to be followed by an open old-time music jam. Performance and jam participation are free of charge.
To reserve your spot or for more information email info@c-4a.org or leave a message at (217) 550-9647.
The time for the Bethel (MO) Youth Fiddle Camp is fast upon us. The dates this year are June 14 to 18. More info at https://www.facebook.com/BethelFiddleCamp
I’ve been slowly getting rid of my old dust collectors and decided to share them with you as many represent some fond memories.
The first year we went the contest at Pembroke, ONT, I was glad to get 3rd place because the prize was the Ward Allen Memorial Trophy. It was donated by Allen’s widow who we got to meet after the contest. Ward Allen was one of the giants of Canadian fiddling in the 50s and 60s. He composed many tunes and issued a slew of albums. It’s a nice souvenir and one of the few trophies I’m keeping after the great cull.
Petronella - Mandolin Lesson - FREE!
Footage from the Pembroke ONT Fiddle & Step Dancing Competition from 1984.
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