The Seventh Annual Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival was an unforgettable weekend. THANK YOU to everyone who came: musicians, vendors, audience, volunteers, sponsors . . . We couldn't have done it without you!

2009 Musicians:

The Fiddling Thomsons are a father and son team that performs lively music on many different folk instruments.  Brennish plays fiddle, wooden spoons, cajun/zydeco rubboard, and rhythm bones; Ryan plays fiddle, banjo, accordion, flute, foot percussion, and pennywhistle. Ryan Thomson ("Captain Fiddle") has been a faithful supporter of the Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival since its beginning in 2003. Performing for us every other year ('03, '05, '07, '09), Ryan is now joined by his son (who seems to learn several new instruments each time we see him!). 

 

 

 

Spirit Fiddle, featuring Champion Fiddler Robin Warren and Guitarist Brian Clancey, performs a wide variety of energetic music, ranging from bouncy Southern and Texas swing tunes to sweet waltzes, old popular songs, bluegrass numbers, French Canadian and Celtic jigs and reels, and Parisian musette.

From The Boston Museum of Fine Arts to the renowned Fiddler's Grove Festival in Union Grove, North Carolina, from the shores of Lake Michigan to the oldest bluegrass festival in Canada, from sidewalk cafes to coffee houses and formal concerts, audiences delight in the eclectic mix of music Spirit Fiddle performs, and in their natural sense of humor on stage. Since its first appearance twelve years ago, Spirit Fiddle has given over seven hundred performances, produced more than twenty TV shows, and recorded six full-length albums. Visit spiritfiddle.com for sound clips and more information.

After studying classical violin as a child, and giving solo violin recitals in Boston's Brown Hall and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Master Fiddler Robin Warren took first place prizes in numerous fiddle contests in North Carolina and New England. She was the first fiddler ever to win the coveted Fiddler of the Festival title during three different years at Fiddler's Grove in North Carolina. For this, she was granted the title of Master Fiddler. She is also one of several fiddlers featured in the 1994 PBS Special entitled "Fiddler's Grove, a Celebration of Old-Time Music". She has appeared on more than two-dozen albums and collections.

Brian Clancey brings a lifetime of experience (from Renaissance lute to bluegrass) to his sensitive guitar arrangements of Spirit Fiddle tunes. Brian is known throughout the Boston area as an outstanding rhythm player, and he is a popular backup guitar player at contests and festivals throughout New England

 

The Blueberry Jammers performed several times during the festival. The group is composed of the more advanced fiddling elementary and high school students of Immaculate Heart of Mary School (Richmond, NH). IHM is a very small school and all the students from fifth grade through high school learn to play an instrument.  Whether they have just started the once-a-week group lessons this year or have been playing for five or six years, these students will sing, dance, and play a variety of old-time American music for your entertainment. For a couple of the performances, they will join forces with The Future Famous Fiddlers (the elementary school choir - grades 1-4 - and beginning fiddlers). The littlest ones always steal the show!

 

 

The Well-Tuned Trio is growing into a larger group with the young Smarts joining in. From Fitzwilliam and Troy, they specialize in Irish and old-time music, but, then again, you never know when a little bluegrass or blues will creep in. Guitars, mandolins, tin whistles, fiddle, bodhran, and concertina combined with classic lyrics for a delightful show. The Well-Tuned Trio will open the festival both days: Friday at 2pm, and Saturday at 9am.