Ottawa Bluegrass Workshops

[Velvet]

Hey all,

I'm a big fan of the Ottawa Folklore Centre - they have tons of great resources to help everybody improve their playing, including workshops pretty much every week. I've gone to several and gotten stuff out of all of them. Here's info on a couple coming up, if you want more info (like is it appropriate to bring your instrument, etc), call them at 730-2887.

Ray Legere & Dick Smith Bluegrass Workshop

Saturday May 8

Ray Legere is one of the most honored Bluegrass fiddlers active today. He is the 1996 East Coast Music Award Winner in the Bluegrass Category, a five-time winner of the Eastern Division Bluegrass Awards in the categories of Mandolin and Fiddle, winner of the 1983 Open Mandolin Championship in Woodstock Ontario, winner of the 1986 Open Mandolin Championship in Winfield, Kansas, and winner of the 1989 Old Time Fiddle Championship in Sackville, New Brunswick. He scored among the top ten in Nashville's Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in 1990 and in Napean, Ontario's 1990 and 1991 Grand Masters Fiddle Championships. On great stages like the Grand Ol' Opry and Carnegie Hall, Ray currently performs on his own as well as with Terry Kelly, John McDermott, Eamonn Dillon, Cape Bretons Brakin' Tradition, Rita McNeil and The Canadian Grass Unit (with Pickin' Partner Frank Doody). Respecting Ray's credits and television experience, CBC Television asked him to be musical director for a Country music television series out of Fredericton, New Brunswick, called Fiddlehead Country, which was aired in1997 and again in 1999. He has recorded on hundreds of sessions and presently has four projects of his own

Saturday May 22 Danny Bakan Banjo workshop

$15 members/$20 non-members

Follow the marvelous history of this multi cultural instrument from Africa to the southern USA to Greenwich Village to the British Isles to Bank Street. In this informal workshop Danny will unlock the secrets of the 5th string, show how the banjo puts the groove in an old time fiddle tune or as accompaniment for voice, teach you a few new licks, play a few songs, and elaborate on the art of frailing and clawhammer... all to show off why the banjo is one of the sweetest and most versatile instruments around and essential to a successful hootenanny! Danny will be appearing at Rasputin's in the evening after the workshop.

For More info www.dannybakan.com

[Booche]

Any idea what time the one on May 8th starts?

We are supposed to go to Kingston that day.

[Velvet]

$20 members, $30 non-members, 1pm. Still ten slots open (they limit the attendance).

If you've ever taken lessons there, you're a member. You can also become a member (for life) for $30.

I've been at workshops with lots of great players, including Don Ross. Lenny Breau even did some workshops there way back. They're definitely worth the money. If you are intimidated by the potential expected playing level, call and ask what playing level the workshop is suited for.

[Booche]

I take that as a personal insult.

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