If you’re among the many people out there who think there’s not enough fiddle in this world, we found the solution for you: the first ever Fall Fiddle Festival at Concord Community Music School (23 Wall St.).
As its name implies, this festival – to be held Saturday – is a celebration of all things fiddle. There will be a set of workshops running throughout the day for fiddlers of all skill levels and styles, in which participants (it’s mostly for teens and adults, but younger fiddlers can contact Liz Faiella at lizanddanmusic@gmail.com to inquire) will work on a wide range of activities.
Even if you’re a traditional violin player – fiddle is just playing a violin like it’s a guitar – you can attend the workshops and learn a whole new side of your instrument.
After the workshops, there will be an evening concert at 7:30 featuring the music of Pascal Gemme, Mariel Vandersteel and Faiella, publicity manager at the music school.
Gemme specializes in Quebecois fiddle, Vandersteel in Scandinavian and old-time fiddle, and Faiella focuses on Irish and New England contra dance fiddle. We have a feeling that, like us, you know little to nothing about all of these styles, so it should be worth checking out.
The workshops go from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it’s a package deal: you either do the whole day’s worth or you don’t go at all (but you should go). Registration cost is $75, and that includes a ticket to the evening concert. If you don’t attend the workshops, tickets for the concert are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. Here’s a tentative schedule:
9:30-10 – Welcome
10-11:15 – Workshop session 1
11:30-12:45 – Workshop session 2
12:45-1:45 – Lunch break (sandwiches provided)
2-2:30 – Jamming
2:45-4 – Workshop session 3
4-5 – Open jamming/socializing
5-7:30 – Dinner break
7:30 – Concert
To register for the workshops or get tickets for the concert, go to ccmusicschool.org, call 228-1196 or go by the music school in person.
No matter what, it’s bound to be quite the experience.
“There’s a lot of energy about this, which is really exciting,” Faiella said. “This is the first one!”
