The Fiddle Club of the World is ready to start rolling again. But first this big news (with some fiddle content).

A documentary film I’ve been working on will premiere on WTTW, Channel 11, at 8pm on Thursday, September 15. I was music supervisor for
The Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance
and also wrote the lead article for the companion book of the same name. I’m excited.


And if you get excited too, you should check out the online video contest modeled after the National Barn Dance-sponsored Home Talent Shows. You could win fabulous prizes for playing old-time music. You should check it out. (Just click the ‘prizes’ link above.)

Fiddle Club Schedule for Fall 2011
All meetings on Sundays at 6:30pm at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln)

September 18: jam session with some teaching.
(I’ll share a Czech tune and a Métis tune I just learned.)

October 23: Fred Campeau, featured guest
(A Volo Bogtrotter and one of the best square dance fiddlers in Chicago)

November 20: dance band practice
(because we’re going to have another dance)

December 11: Michi Regier with Peasants Abroad
a musical trip to Ukraine

Details to follow.
Paul Tyler, convener

Support Your Local (& Global) Fiddler
Join the Chicago Chapter of the Fiddle Club of the World

Yearly subscription of $60 gives you admission to all Fiddle Club events. Meetings are usually held the 3rd Sunday at the Atlantic Bar & Grill (5062 Lincoln).

Fiddle Club card – partial view

Square & Ceilidh Dance workshop
Sunday, June 19, 6:30 – a dry run for Fiddle Club players,* dancers welcome
Check the tune list below.

9th Midwest Fiddle Championship
Youth/Family Division – July 1, 5:30 – 7:00 PM, in the concert hall at 909 W. Armitage Avenue
Open Division 1st Round & Youth/Family Semi-Finals – Thursday, July 7, 7:00 – 10:00 PM in the concert Hall at 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
Open Division Finals & Youth/Family Finals – Saturday, July 9 at 12:30 PM, Folk & Roots Festival main stage in Welles Park

You should enter.

Everyone is welcome to come listen and cheer. Free admission to 1st Round and Semi-Finals.
More info at Chicago Folk & Roots Festival

Square & Ceilidh Dance
Sunday, July 17, 6:30 – the real thing
Admission for dancers: $5

Visit and join the Fiddle Club of the World Facebook group.

If you missed Kim & Jim Lansford at Fiddle Club last night, you can still catch them in a house concert Sunday (July 18) . . .

. . . or at the Monday night dance sponsored by the Chicago Barn Dance Company

From the Department of Redundancy Department:

Let’s play our tunes together!
Sunday, June 15, 6:30-9:30
Leadway Bar and Gallery 5233 N. Damen, Chicago

It’s free. Just let me know you’re coming. (ptyler@oldtownschool.org)

Also, check out the Fiddler’s Picnic this Sunday, June 8th. It’s hosted by the Folklore Society at the University of Chicago. The whole event runs from 12 noon till 6 in the Hutchinson Commons Courtyard. Here’s a map. Jam sessions are open to all players. The featured guest is fiddler and banjoist extraordinaire, Dan Gellert. No time posted for his concert, but the best guess is sometime around 3 pm.

The small stuff (not to be sweated).

The 6th Annual Midwest Fiddle Championship is fast approaching, and the online entry form has not yet been linked. IT promises me it will be there by this Friday (June 6). Paper registration forms can also be found at the Old Town School of Folk Music or at Seman Violins. Register by July 1st.

And IT is also promising to set a link on Fiddle Club website that will enable you to subscribe to an RSS feed. I’m not yet clear how that works (I’m not even sure if that’ the right acronym), but it will notify you when something new goes up on this blog. Stay posted.

Paul Tyler, convener