FiddleStar

A little piece of paradise - technically in the middle of Paradise. Did you know there was an unincorporated section of Las Vegas, right on the Strip, actually called Paradise? There are flamingos and koi and turtles and not nearly as many of those giant beaker slushee drinks. #vegasbaby #paradise #motherdaughterroadtrip #reluctantlasvegas #nofilterbecauseparadise (at Paradise, Nevada)

Last night was magical. Some of the reasons included meeting fabulous people and enjoying the Vegas night air and telling old stories to and about the the people who lived them with me. But mainly because, of course Adrienne (my former choir teacher but forever friend and musical mentor) conducted her own chorus of Happy Birthday. She is 80, you know, and rather used to being in charge… #80thbirthday #shetaughtmeeverythingiknow #vegasbaby (at Desert Rose Resort)

No need to reserve a spot - all are welcome. No need to be scared - all players can learn to improvise and jam. No need to read music - all music will be played by ear and from the heart. If you’re going to be in Weiser, ID on Monday of Fiddle Week, join me. No fiddler left behind. #fiddle #workshop #weiser #jamming #improv #improveyourimprov (at Weiser High School)

Last year was so fun and it turned out we didn’t even mind having 15 rolling banjos in our living room for three days. So we’re doing it again! Registration opens July 1 at 9am central and you know, our camps sell out pretty quickly so maybe you wanna mark your calendar. 😉Oh, and we’ve got the masterful Jeff Scroggins joining the already legendary Charlie Cushman and Greg Cahill. And Jens Koch is coming. All the way from Sweden. He is one of the best players and teachers in the world so that’s cool. www.nashvillebanjocamp.com #banjo #banjocamp #nashville #bluegrass (at Fiddlestar)

I’m not generally the solo selfie type. And I’m not generally the tee shirt with writing on it type, either. But I am most definitely the #bluegrasspride type and I got my new shirt in the mail today and had to share. You can get your own shirt (which comes with an adorable banjo rainbow flag, pictured here) by going to www.bluegrasspride.net and while you’re there, watch the incredible video of I Wanna Dance with Somebody, performed by @frontcountrysf plus @mrfiddler1 because the music and dancing are almost as good as the cause. #pride #bluegrass @bluegrasspride #lovewins #ally (at Fiddlestar)

Crying Waltz - for your Friday evening. I stole this waltz, straight up, from the beautiful Danita Gardner. She played it in a television interview and somehow I got a copy of the video of it and I did that thing I talked about last time where I immediately planted myself in front of the speaker and didn’t move until it was mine. I’ve heard it played without the position shifts and it’s great that way too. The good melodies hold up. Pro tip: this one sucks to play in a contest because it highlights all the involuntary shaking and excessive vibrato. 😳#fiddle #waltz #crying #involuntaryvibrato (at Fiddlestar)

A beautiful afternoon at the Goodlettsville Public Library sharing instruments with dozens of eager kids. I told these three they should be a band, so they decided to be one. This is their first rehearsal. #countrymusicisforeveryone #fiddle #mandolin #cmhof #wecanalljustgetalong @officialcmhof @adamollendorff (at Goodlettsville Public Library)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - every day should be #nationalpoetryday and today I’m feeling every bit of this EBB poem. Are these shortcomings? Does everyone feel this way about love? Love big and embrace your shortcomings, if they’re even shortcomings at all… #elizabethbarrettbrowning #whatislove #poetry (at Fiddlestar)

These beautiful and talented people make my life better. Friends are for telling you, “Hey, you’re not alone. I totally think that same weird thing, too”. Here we are at the Station Inn last night collectively freaking out over every Doug Jernigan steel solo. #nashville #friends #threefiddlersandamandolinplayer #seriouslythoughdougjernigan (at Station Inn)

My grandson rides in style. The family truck carries another generation through the back roads of middle Tennessee. Hug your family people today - big ones and little ones. #customdeluxe #countryboy #colerandall (at Greenbrier, Tennessee)