Darol Anger & Friends
Darol Anger has spent the last 30 years opening connections between violin styles of the world. Exceptional among modern fiddlers for his versatility and depth, his style and his rhythmic innovations have changed fiddling all over the globe. Darol's career began in 1975 with the legendary David Grisman Quintet featuring guitarist Tony Rice. With these 2 players as Darol's first great musical mentors, the DGQ established the highest-ever standards of performance for a string band up till then. In the Quintet, Darol worked with musical giants such as Stephane Grappelli, Vassar Clements, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Dr. Billy Taylor, and Mark O'Connor, and met long-time musical partners multi-string wizard Mike Marshall, pianist/vocalist Barbara Higbie, and composer/violinist David Balakrishnan.
After leaving the DGQ, he recorded a string of successful albums for Windham Hill with Marshall, Higbie, and The Montreux Band, working closely with other musical luminaries such as innovative guitarist Michael Hedges, bassist Michael Manring, and steel pan genius Andy Narell. With composer/violinist David Balakrishnan he founded the Turtle Island String Quartet. Turtle Island blazed a new frontier for the venerable string quartet form, teaching and performing their original music, mind-boggling jazz arangements, and other contemporary music all over the world while teaching their breakthrough style and techniques along the way.
After 11 years with Turtle Island, Darol returned to new acoustic and world string band music, often working with other great fiddlers of the day, forming the bands Psychograss (with Marshall, banjo giant Tony Trischka, bluegrass guitar hero David Grier , and grammy-winning bassist Todd Phillips) the Grammy-nominated Fiddlers 4 (with reknowned cajun fiddler Michael Doucet, Appalachian revivalist Bruce Molsky, and cello phenomenon Rushad Eggleston), Newgrange (with grammy winner Tim O'Brien and Compass Records founder/banjo whiz Alison Brown), the 4 Generations Of Jazz Violin (with jazz violin giants Regina Carter, Johnny Frigo, Joe Kennedy Jr., Matt Glaser and others), and his much-loved long-running collaboration, the Anger-Marshall Duo. His latest collaboration has been with the phenomenally popular early music group the Anonymous 4. These collaborations have yielded a string of important recordings? spanning over 30 years? which define, develop and encompass an entire genre of music.
His latest group, The Republic Of Strings, is the latest step in this process, passing on the knowledge of his mentors' generation to a new generation of brilliant string musicians, with respected guitar innovator Scott Nygaard and a stream of amazing young talent, continuing in the musical tradition of bandleaders such as Bill Monroe, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and David Grisman.
An award-winning composer, Anger is also committed to string education and helped create the String Resource Board for the International Jazz Educators Association. He is a contributing editor with Strings Magazine, teaches at Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Camp, and continues to discover and expose new string talent.
Aaron Weinstein, Frank Vignola & Jim Cox
If you were at last year's Fiddlers' Gathering, you witnessed something explosive: Aaron Weinstein, Frank Vignola and Jim Cox in what we billed as a one-time only event - well...we lied... We had the unbelievable luck to have these three amazingly busy musicains again make time in their schedules to do it one more time!
Named a rising star by Downbeat Magazine, Aaron Weinstein is quickly earning a reputation as one of the finest jazz violinists of his generation. As a featured soloist, Aaron has performed at
A recent gradutate of the Berklee College of Music in
Frank Vignola is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Frank’s pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the planet.
Whether he is featured on a Donald Fagen recording, a jam with David Grisman, as Les Paul's right hand man or leading his own groups throughout the years, he has proved himself to be in the elite creating his own unique sound.
Born on suburban Long Island, Vignola was raised in the
Micheal Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Considered one of the premier bluegrass fiddlers of his generation, Mike picked up a fiddle at age four, and his talent was recognized early. In 1993 he was chosen to be part of the Bluegrass Youth All Stars at the IBMA's award show. Later that year Mike made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a guest of Alison Krauss. His list of guest apperances over the years is a who's who of bluegrass legends including Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Mac Wiseman, Doc Watson, Larry Sparks, Doyle Lawson, and J.D. Crowe. After high school Mike briefly toured with then-named Dale Ann Bradley and Coon Creek before joining Rhonda Vincent and The Rage in 2000. At the 2001 IBMA awards, Mike took his first Fiddle Player of the Year award, and shared the title of Entertainer of the Year with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. In 2002 Mike rejoined The Dale Ann Bradley Band. That year he won the Fiddle Player of the Year award and again in 2004. Mike's first project as a Rounder recording artist, "Flame Keeper," was released in February 2002 and was chosen the IBMA's Instrumental Album of the Year. In 2004, Mike shared the Instrumental Album of the Year award with Tom Adams for "Tom Adams and Michael Cleveland Live at the Ragged Edge," an album of fiddle and banjo duets. In September 2006 Mike took home his fourth Fiddle Player of the Year Award from the IBMA, and his second solo album on Rounder Records, "Let 'Er Go, Boys!," won Instrumental Album of the Year. A year later, in 2007, Mike won his fifth fiddle player award. In 2008 he won the award a sixth time. Today Mike is a sought-after guest and has performed with Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, The Mark Newton Band, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Melven Goins and Windy Mountain and The Wildwood Valley Boys. He is also an active studio musician, and his credits include the 2005 GRAMMY-nominated "A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass" and a 2003 GRAMMY winner, Jimmy Sturr's "Let's Polka 'Round." Mike lives in Charlestown, Indiana.
The Freight Hoppers
Those “patient fans” who had the pleasure to see the fabled Freight Hoppers perform from 1992 to the band’s lay-up will certainly know what a sight and sound it is to witness the infectious groove of fiddle and banjo combination driven by David Bass and Frank Lee. These guys set a new benchmark on the circuit back in the mid 90s. When the band took a rest, in 2002 when they last performed together, many wondered if that hallmark sound would be heard again
Now, Lee and Bass are back and have brought in Isaac Deal on guitar and vocals and Bradley Adams on upright bass. With the two original members reunited and joined by Deal, whose ardent high lead and tenor voice holds the line and traverses the music’s authentic spirit and Adams on powerhouse bass, a string band has been created to rival the best that ever kicked up dust. During the 1990s, The Freight Hoppers became the most popular modern day old time music string band in the world. The Freight Hoppers recorded two critically acclaimed albums that climbed into the Top 20 of Billboard’s Americana music charts: “Where’d You Come From, Where’d You Go?” (1996) and “Waiting on the Gravy Train” (1998). They toured extensively in the U.S., Canada and Europe, appeared on Garrison Keillor's " A Prairie Home Companion,” and elevated the popularity of old time music all over the world. With performances at concerts and festivals and radio airplay, they shook up the music landscape and created a new audience of traditional music fans.
Their music turned people on and trail blazed the way for other successful string bands to follow their lead. The reshaped band will elaborate on their trademark sound by drawing upon their personal musical rapport to make a sonic hue that refracts their inspirations and love of Southern American, gospel, blues, punk and, folk music. A new album on Rounder Records is already in production and eagerly awaited. And so a new chapter begins and The Freight Hoppers ride again....
The Prairie Acre
This Lawrence, Kansas-based band plays a mixture of old-time music and traditional bluegrass. With first rate musicianship and a squeky-clean image, The Prairie Acre makes no aplogies for being a band you can bring home to mom and dad. The Prairie Acre's unique sound comes from the jaw-dropping fiddle skills of Tricia Spencer, from banjo player Noah Musser's unorthodox hybrid style, and from the strong rhythmic backbone provided by bassist Virginia Musser and blues-influences guitarist Greg Yother. Their reperatoire includes a mixture of fast-paced instrumental tunes and singing numbers executed with tight vocal harmonies.
The Woodstove Flapjacks are Matt Scherger, guitar and lead vocals; Christopher Johnson, banjo and lead and backing vocals; James Morrow- slide guitar and backing vocals; and ‘B’ Washington, washtub bass and backing vocals. The Woodstove Flapjacks coalesced over a few years in the Lafayette area and have since become a local favorite keeping a fairly busy performing schedule. They call their style of old-time music “beardgrass.” In 2006 they released their debut CD with a follow up in 2009.
The Bum Ditty Barn Dance Band
Based in Lafayette, Indiana, the Bum Ditty Barn Dance Band is Jesse Danner on guitar, Robert Freeman on banjo and Megan Greene on fiddle. The old time fiddle tunes they play harken back to the hoedowns and Saturday night dances that took place in town halls, country stores, living rooms and barns before the days of radio and television. Megan and Robert spent many years in St. Louis, Missouri, playing for dances. Jesse is from Charleston, Illinois, a hotbed of old time music. They will be making their Battle Ground debut.
The Bahler Graber Band hails from Bennett's Switch, Indiana. A favorite of the Fiddlers' Gathering, they perform a variety of "roots" styles ranging from rural string band and gospel to "midwestern swing," blending various vocal harmonies and instrumental styling. Led by Brad Bahler - a multi-instrumentalist and instructor - and Lynn Graber who fires up the arch-top guitar, the band is rounded out by Karen Bahler on dog-house bass and John Bahler on guitar and banjo.
If you need to prepare or want to learn more about Sacred Harp singing, follow the links below:
The Kokomo Area Sacred Harp Singers
The Kountry Kernals are a Battle Ground institution. They traditionally open the Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering on Friday evening. Comprised of local musicians, their styles reflect Indiana country music as it was heard in the 1930s. Some members have performed at every Fiddlers' Gathering since the first in 1973.