Big Fiddle Stuff in City of Big Shoulders

Leadway Jam Session       Big Shoulders Square Dance

Sunday, November 16:
Last jam session of the year at 7pm at the Leadway Bar & Grill (523 N. Damen).
(Click tune list above for running list of all 2014 jams.)

Friday, November 21 Big Shoulders Square Dance with White Mule.
8:30 Global Dance Party at the Old Town School of Folk Music (4545 N. Lincoln).
Hot fiddling by Genevieve Harrison Koester. Solid old-time backup by Smith Koester, Andy Gribble and Abby Ladin. Callin by Paul Tyler. Dancing by y’all. No experience necessary.
(Click photo above for more information. Tickets available here.)

Upcoming Fiddle Club Events

Sunday, October 17, 7pm
Fiddle Club jam
at the Leadway (5233 N. Damen)

Sunday, November 2, 7pm
Old-Time Barn Dance
Led by Judy Higgins, Calling by Eric Zorn

at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5046 N. Lincoln)
With Paul Tyler, Steve Rosen & Chris Walz
A culmination of an apprenticeship, sponsored by
the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and
the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sunday, November 9, 7pm
Maja Kjaer Jacobsen & David Boulanger
Concert and workshop/jam at Seman Violins (4447 W. Oakton in Skokie)
Fiddling from Denmark and Quebec

Friday, November 21, 8:30
White Mule* with calling by Paul Tyler
Big Shoulders Square Dance

in Szold Hall, Old Town School of Folk Music (4545 N. Lincoln)
Led by Fiddle Club guests (2010), Genevieve & Smith Koester

Sunday, November 30, 7pm
Pop Wagner & Bob Bovee
Concert and workshop/jam at Seman Violins (4447 W. Oakton in Skokie)
From Minnesota, old-time tunes and cowboy songs

Finnish murder men (don’t fiddle with them)

In their concert, Sunday (10/5) at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Arto & Antti Järvelä sang the song Tappelulaulu, about two murderous men who claimed many victims in a small district in central Finland in the first years of the 20th century. In 1909, they went on a killing spree at a wedding in Härmä. Nine bodies were found on the scene. Reportedly, the killings were result of the two men not being invited to the wedding.

Here is a link to a photo of Isontalon Antti and Rannanjarvi, the two murder men, in shackles.

Murder men in chains

Arto & Antti will conduct a peaceful workshop on Finnish fiddling on Monday, October 6 at Seman Violins in Skokie (4447 W. Oakton). A workshop for kids will begin at 5:30, with a regular Fiddle Club of the World workshop scheduled for 7pm. Admission is $15. Half price admission given to those who have a ticket stub or wrist band from the Sunday night concert.

Results of the 3rd Battle of the Bands

Held July 13, 2014 at the Square Roots Festival

For the 3rd year in a row, the Battle of the Bands ended in a draw. The objective was to fill the floor with dancers. Here is the report of the judges, as texted to the emcee.

“The Fantastic Toe Trippers Orchestra actually got the most dancers on the floor, as determined by counting feet and dividing by two. However, they were assessed penalties for having both a banjo and an accordion in the band. The Renato Anesi Trio did not attract as many feet. However, as Brazilian dancing requires moving more body parts, they were given bonus points. The Byzantine Time Machine was also given a bonus for the largest inchoate mass of moving humanity. An additional technology bonus brings them into a virtual tie with the other two bands.”

The following pictures illustrate the tie-clinching bonus.

Here are some recordings from the hotly contested battle of 2014.

Greek Syrtos by the Byzantine Time Machine

Brazilian Choro by the Renato Anesi Trio

Who could have imagined. Thanks to all particpated.

Paul Tyler – convenver

Results of 12th Midwest Fiddle Championship

July 12, 2014. Old Town School of Folk Music
Square Roots Festival. The judges made their decision.

Solo Fiddle
1st – Tim Macdonald
2nd – Jess McIntosh
3rd – Vince deBattista

Medley of Scottish Tunes (Johnny Cope-strathspey-2 reels) by Tim Macdonald

 

Team Fiddle
1st – Iron County Brass Ensemble (Evan McBrayer Collins & Heather Malyuk)
2nd – Vampire Bats (Jim Becker & Steve Rosen)
3rd – Three-Legged Chair (Clair Halpin & Aron Packer)

The Bonnie Lass’s Pladie-Old Aunt Jenny With Her Night Cap On
by Iron County Brass Ensemble

Youth Division
1st – Willa Arnold
2nd – Kalman Strauss
3rd – Peach & 43 Strings
4th – Diego

There were eight contestants in each of the three categories. Everyone played their hearts out. The music was glorious. Thanks to all particpated.

Paul Tyler – convenver

Come dance to some of Chicago’s best

The 3rd Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the Fiddle Club of the World, will unfold in Szold Hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music (4545 N. Lincoln) in Chicago on Sunday, July 13.

3 bands, 2 hours of dancing, intermittent dance lessons, big fun

The winning band is the one that best fills the floor with dancers. Vote with your feet.

Renato Anesi Trio
Brazilan Choro

This was Renato visiting an Old Town School class.
Check out some of the many concert videos on his YouTube channel.

Byzantine Time Machine
Scientronic* Greek and Balkan syrtos and kolos.
Check out some samples on their sound cloud.

* Santur, sax, horns and drums processed through a flux capacitor.

Fantastic Toe Trippers Orchestra
Polkas, waltzes and barn dances from 3 continents

On to the Finals

The 12th Midwest Fiddle Championship is underway

The Final Round is Saturday, July 12th at 1:30pm at the Old Town School of Folk Music (4544 N. Lincoln) as part of the Square Roots Festival. The Open Division Finalists are . . .

 

Solo Fiddle

Vince deBattista

Tim Macdonald

Jess McIntosh

 

Team Fiddle
Iron County Brass Ensemble
(Evan McBrayer Collins & Heather Malyuk)

Three-Legged Chair
(Clair Halpin & Aron Packer)

Vampire Bats
(Jim Becker & Steve Rosen)

Honorable Mention
Blue Eagle String Band (Tyler Wilson & Fred Campeau)
The Lantern Kickers (Steve Hinds & Sara Legisky)

The Youth Division winner, Willa Arnold, will perform at the Open Division Finals on Saturday, July 12.

The Youth Division round was held on Sunday, July 6, the finals on Thursday, July 10.

Youth Division winners for 2014
1st – Willa Arnold
2nd – Kalman Strauss
3rd – Peach & 43 Strings
4th – Diego

3rd annual Battle of the Bands

at the Square Roots Festival
Festival info here.
Presented by the Chicago Chapter of the Fiddle Club of the World

Sunday, July 13, 7-9pm, Szold Hall
Old Town School of Folk Music East (4545 Lincoln)

Three bands (by invitation only).
The band that gets the most folks dancing wins!
Dancers wanted and encouraged for three different styles of music.
Quick dance lessons will be given intermittently throughout the event.

Byzantine Time Machine

 

Byzantine Time Machine
Scientronic Greek & Balkan dance music.

 

Renato Anesi Trio

 

 

Renato Anesi Trio
Choro music from Brazil.

Fantastic Toe Trippers Orchestra

 

 

 

 

Fantastic Toe Trippers Orchestra
Polkas, Waltzes & Barn Dance from 3 continents.

 

 

 

Put on your dancing shoes!

Paul Tyler, convener
Fiddle Club of the World

12th Midwest Fiddle Championship

Presented by the Chicago Chapter of
the Fiddle Club of the World

Part of the Old Town School of Folk Music’s 3rd Square Roots Festival.

Once again, prizes will be given for the top 3 contestants in each of 3 categories: Open Division Solo, Open Division Team, and Youth Division. There are a limited number of openings for this years contest. Contestants must register by July 5, 2012.

Youth Division First Round
Sunday, July 6, 11am, Szold Hall in Old Town School East (4545 Lincoln)
Youth under 16 compete as teams or solo

Open Division First Round & Youth Finals
Thursday, July 10, 6:30pm, Maurer Hall in Old Town School West (4544 Lincoln)
Separate Fiddle Team and Fiddle Solo categories

Open Division Finals
Saturday, July 12, 1:30pm, Maurer Hall
Plus winner of the Youth Division

Prizes, Rules and online Registration form can be found at http://www.squareroots.org/fiddle/

Come back on Sunday for the 3rd annual

Battle of the Bands
Sunday, July 13, 7-9pm, Szold Hall featuring

The band that gets the most folks dancing wins!
Dancers wanted and encouraged for three different styles of music.
Quick dance lessons will be given intermittently throughout the event.
Three bands (by invitation only).

Renato Anesi Trio
Brazilian Choro.

Byzantine Time Machine
Scientronic Greek and Balkan dance music.

Fantastic Toe Trippers
Polkas, Waltzes and Barn Dances from 3 continents.

Paul Tyler, convener

Make Music Chicago schedule

The Chicago Chapter of the Fiddle Club of the World

will perform at Make Music Chicago on Saturday, June 21, 2014

with three performances

  • 11-11:45am at Indian Boundary Park (2500 W Lunt Ave), east side of the Field House
  • 1:30-2pm at Poetry Foundation (61 W. Superior)
  • 4:15-5pm at Joan’s Studio (1438 East 57th Street, 2d floor)

Anyone who has participated in a past Fiddle Club of the World jam session may join us. Please contact me at fiddleclub@drdosido.net to ask for further instructions.

Here’s a working play list. Some standards will be added.

Scroll down or click here for a list, with links to recordings, of tunes on this list.

Paul Tyler, convener