Greetings, friends! It’s time to “save the date” for the 41st annual Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest which happens once again on the first Saturday after Labor Day, 12 Noon, at Boarding House Park. This long-storied, FREE event has musicians coming from all over to compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. We’d love to have you come and participate in the contest, or bring your lawn chairs, snacks, and friends for a fun day at Boarding House Park. This is the final event in the Lowell Summer Music series, and it won’t cost you a penny!

Contestants can compete in a variety of traditional styles: Old Time Music, Bluegrass, Celtic, New England, Canadian, and more! There are cash prizes in every category, please see https://lowellsummermusic.org/banjo-and-fiddle-contest/ for more details.

You can request great (again, free) backup guitar from Sarah Nelson… you’ll find yourself playing your best with her accompaniment.
This year’s judges are Jim Bollman, a banjo player and collector of international renown, and Alan Kaufman, fiddler extraordinaire.

Free workshops begin at 10AM and will shift into Jam Sessions at 11AM. Jim Bollman will offer the workshop in Old Time Banjo, New Hampshire native Gordon Berry will provide an old-time fiddle workshop, and Adrienne Howard will host an “ethnic” fiddle workshop, which is always super fun and well attended. Last, but surely not least, the great Rich Stillman will give a Bluegrass Banjo workshop. Nobody plays or teaches “Scruggs” better than Rich!

Spontaneous jams happen throughout the day. The contest itself begins at high noon.

Have I tempted you yet? Please plan to pack up your lawn chairs, snacks, and friends for a lovely day at Lowell. We’ve had practically 41 years of great weather on that date, and while we do have a nearby rain location, we rarely seem to use it.

Please share!

Sincerely,

~ Jon Gersh, your Emcee
(from WUMB Radio’s Dixie Bee Line program, Saturdays from 9pm – midnight.)