Fiddle Me This

Descended from a family that brought their square dance fiddlin from Colorado to the Spokane, WA area for logging jobs, today’s guest continues a family tradition that goes back at least 3 generations. She plays a lot of tunes familiar to me, including ones my Grandpa played like Snow Deer and Roxanna Waltz. Her longtime friend from just across the river, Dianne Allen provides some piano backup rarely heard anymore.. It is kinda like stepping back into time..just coming off the boat in the Columbia Gorge, stopping at Hood River for a night cap and catching some music at the local pub. This is my friend, Donna Reuter.

Fiddle contests can be a strange world to navigate to the average listener. Young hot shot fiddlers come and go, making their mark and disappearing for other pursuits once they win the titles they were after. Years of lessons from top fiddle teachers and the application of said lessons can give a person a track to stardom..at some contests.. Then, there are the ones who learn from the recordings, hunt down their heroes, who may or may not offer lessons and absorb all they can. This path is not the direct path to win the title, but over time, and to a dedicated listener of fiddle music, the difference is pure gold. Forged from deep dedication, studying the music until they get as close as their ear tells them, or until they find the person who made it up. This is how gold is formed, and this is the story of why a California fiddler keeps going back for that Texas gold.

Remember a few episodes back when we heard about a couple fiddlers from a-cross the country who changed the fiddle scene in the Pacific Northwest? Today, we come full circle and hear from an old friend who has been fiddling in Oregon since he was a kid and learned from his Mom, who was inspired and got to learn directly from one of those fiddlers when he was here all those years ago. Many of the tunes in today’s episode come from that source, Big Wheel is keeping that tradition alive and adding his own voice to it, which is why I love him so much! Yup, every tune in this episode is in cross..Enjoy!

Reminiscing on midwest tunes became a theme as we hear the story of a Kirkwood, Missouri fiddle icon from a local who moved half-way across the country before she learned of her accomplished neighbour.. We also hear a little bit about Minnesota fiddle music and how it could have ties to Norway and the Metis tradition as well. Tune in for some fun tunes and tales from my friends, Steph Noll and Kate Sheie!

This week, Vi Wickam joins us from his home in Colorado..yea, they got Squatch sightings in Colorado.. Anyway, Vi is a Colorado fiddler who has been entertaining for years and music runs deep in his family. We also hear a couple gems from other episodes that did not get released, so tune in and get up!

Back by popular demand...another porch session! The weather in Portland has been too amazing to pass up the opportunity and y’all seem to love the vibe as much as we do, so here is another porch jam. This time it is two of JTs oldest friends in Portland, Doug Fleener and Luke Price. Mostly we played breakdowns, but we also answered one of your questions..what is the difference between a breakdown and a rag? Tune in and find out…

What is Oregon fiddle tradition? This guy grew up immersed in the diverse fiddle scene available in the Pacific Northwest. A standout talent, Kian Dye has performed with local legends from Chick Rose to Larry Wilder and everyone in between. Tune in as Kian shares great stories from the PNW fiddle scene and hear some really strong and rooted fiddling. 

Who knew Rod Stewart had a whole room for model trains? I guess if you worked for him, you would know.. Her music is known up and down the West Coast, but she lives right here in Portland. You may already know her from her every Thursday livestream with her partner John, but if not, join us right now on her porch for some tunes and tales. Maybe she’ll even sing one for us..This is Annie Staninec.

This fiddlin’ lawyer from Spokane reveals all from the early days of the National Fiddle Championships in Weiser, Idaho. At 7, he won the accompanist division. In his 20’s, he saved a handful of farm workers from drowning after missing the cut. Also, how did a couple fiddlers from Texas and Oklahoma change the whole fiddle scene in the Pacific Northwest? Tune up and listen in to find out.

United by Fiddling these two fiddlers grew up on completely opposite ends of the United States. Lilly is from Sarasota, Florida on the Gulf Coast while Andy was born in Salem, Oregon, grew up in Pendleton, Oregon and now lives in Portland, Oregon. Just how different is the fiddling coast to coast? Listen in as these two discuss fiddle heroes and influences and bravely play tunes they may have never heard before..or have they..