You Can be a FiddleStar

I post things about fiddling. And how we can all be better at it.

<p>Just got in. #weiser17 is happening now. Plenty of room in the rental car to practice. And heads up, @kimberludiker has officially designated the #weiser17 hashtag so get on board or be left behind. #fiddle #fiddlecontest  (at Weiser High School)</p>

Just got in. #weiser17 is happening now. Plenty of room in the rental car to practice. And heads up, @kimberludiker has officially designated the #weiser17 hashtag so get on board or be left behind. #fiddle #fiddlecontest (at Weiser High School)

Posted 353 weeks ago
<p>This post is partly to remind you all that I’m going to be teaching a super fun, super educational jamming workshop tomorrow afternoon at Weiser High School from 3pm to 4:30 or thereabouts and that it’s only $20 and everyone is welcome. And I may very well be popping up on IG live with this workshop so keep an eye out! But it’s also a full on #90skids remember post regarding a love for Kinko’s (back before FedEx and back before they weren’t all open 24 hours) and the making of the band flyer. There is nothing more satisfying than cutting ironic pictures out of magazines and not caring if the scotch tape lines showed. #harvester #knapsack #caseforradio #chico #redding #3bands3bucks #plumbersunion #fiddle  (at FedEx Office Print & Ship Center)</p>

This post is partly to remind you all that I’m going to be teaching a super fun, super educational jamming workshop tomorrow afternoon at Weiser High School from 3pm to 4:30 or thereabouts and that it’s only $20 and everyone is welcome. And I may very well be popping up on IG live with this workshop so keep an eye out! But it’s also a full on #90skids remember post regarding a love for Kinko’s (back before FedEx and back before they weren’t all open 24 hours) and the making of the band flyer. There is nothing more satisfying than cutting ironic pictures out of magazines and not caring if the scotch tape lines showed. #harvester #knapsack #caseforradio #chico #redding #3bands3bucks #plumbersunion #fiddle (at FedEx Office Print & Ship Center)

Posted 353 weeks ago
<p>The best thing about fiddle contests is being with your people. These are some of my people. I love them, each and every one. Also, they’re super badasses and play fiddle and guitar like you can’t even believe. Unless you know them. And then you know what I’m saying is true. #fiddle #texasstyle #mypeople #fiddlecontest #idahoopen #dougmademeplaywildjohn #gibsonj45  (at Caldwell High School)</p>

The best thing about fiddle contests is being with your people. These are some of my people. I love them, each and every one. Also, they’re super badasses and play fiddle and guitar like you can’t even believe. Unless you know them. And then you know what I’m saying is true. #fiddle #texasstyle #mypeople #fiddlecontest #idahoopen #dougmademeplaywildjohn #gibsonj45 (at Caldwell High School)

Posted 353 weeks ago
<p>Well, sometimes you just meet up with some friends at the Deseret Industries. That’s a thing that happens when you’re all on your way to #Weiser and it turns out you forgot to pack some stuff. #fiddlefriends #fiddle #thriftstoreshopping  (at Deseret Industries)</p>

Well, sometimes you just meet up with some friends at the Deseret Industries. That’s a thing that happens when you’re all on your way to #Weiser and it turns out you forgot to pack some stuff. #fiddlefriends #fiddle #thriftstoreshopping (at Deseret Industries)

Posted 353 weeks ago
<p>For this week’s #tbt I figured we’d head back to the National Fiddler’s Contest in Weiser, ID since that’s where I’m headed this weekend. It was the year 1984 and this photo was snapped just after my final round on the big scary square stage. I was nine. And yes, I know, I still make this face. Break a leg next week, all you fine fiddlers. #fiddle #fiddlecontest #weiser #nationalfiddlecontest #shorthairtotallycared 📸: Larry Edwards (at Weiser High School)</p>

For this week’s #tbt I figured we’d head back to the National Fiddler’s Contest in Weiser, ID since that’s where I’m headed this weekend. It was the year 1984 and this photo was snapped just after my final round on the big scary square stage. I was nine. And yes, I know, I still make this face. Break a leg next week, all you fine fiddlers. #fiddle #fiddlecontest #weiser #nationalfiddlecontest #shorthairtotallycared 📸: Larry Edwards (at Weiser High School)

Posted 354 weeks ago
<p>#fiddlechicks lunch happens too rarely but when it happens, it’s full of laughs and memories and road stories and reminders that this town ain’t nothin’ but love and support going both ways. #fiddle #nashville #wegotsmartandgotofftheroad #wellatleasttwoofusdid 😉 #ironsinthefire #wedonthavehobbies  (at Epice)</p>

#fiddlechicks lunch happens too rarely but when it happens, it’s full of laughs and memories and road stories and reminders that this town ain’t nothin’ but love and support going both ways. #fiddle #nashville #wegotsmartandgotofftheroad #wellatleasttwoofusdid 😉 #ironsinthefire #wedonthavehobbies (at Epice)

Posted 354 weeks ago

I’m deviating a bit from the usual waltz routine here, but it’s for a good cause. Many of you may not be aware of this, but last week we lost a great fiddler. Smokey Butler was a relatively unknown but tremendous player from East Texas and my dear friend Bryan Jimmerson gave me a lot of recordings of him over the years and made sure I was aware of his fine fiddling. This is a tune that only Smokey played, called Henry’s Dream. Henry Goodman, whom Smokey played rhythm for over the years, dreamt the melody one night, woke up and worked it out on his fiddle, then taught it to Smokey. Throughout the recording I have of Smokey playing this tune, he sometimes waits an extra beat between phrases and sections, but not all the times, leaving me to believe that, in the style of Jimmy Martin’s singing, it’s basically up to you how you wanna make it do what it does. Just swing it. #henrysdream #fiddle #smokeybutler #texasstyle #gonebutnotforgotten #texasswing #fiddletunes

Posted 354 weeks ago

I’m deviating a bit from the usual waltz routine here, but it’s for a good cause. Many of you may not be aware of this, but last week we lost a great fiddler. Smokey Butler was a relatively unknown but tremendous player from East Texas and my dear friend Bryan Jimmerson gave me a lot of recordings of him over the years and made sure I was aware of his fine fiddling. This is a tune that only Smokey played, called Henry’s Dream. Henry Goodman, whom Smokey played rhythm for over the years, dreamt the melody one night, woke up and worked it out on his fiddle, then taught it to Smokey. Throughout the recording I have of Smokey playing this tune, he sometimes waits an extra beat between phrases and sections, but not all the times, leaving me to believe that, in the style of Jimmy Martin’s singing, it’s basically up to you how you wanna make it do what it does. Just swing it. #henrysdream #fiddle #smokeybutler #texasstyle #gonebutnotforgotten #texasswing

Posted 354 weeks ago
<p>We stumbled across this #quinceañera and the kid on the right will always be my #currentmood Also, I love this picture. #motherdaughterroadtrip #vegasbaby  (at Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino)</p>

We stumbled across this #quinceañera and the kid on the right will always be my #currentmood Also, I love this picture. #motherdaughterroadtrip #vegasbaby (at Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino)

Posted 354 weeks ago
<p>We went to the #muhammadali exhibit at the Bellagio. I cried because I’ve always been fascinated by Sonny Liston and every time I think about that fight I get really emotional. My mom cried, but she cries at everything. It was a very moving experience. #vegasbaby #motherdaughterroadtrip #floatlikeabutterflystinglikeabee  (at Gallery Of Fine Art At Bellagio)</p>

We went to the #muhammadali exhibit at the Bellagio. I cried because I’ve always been fascinated by Sonny Liston and every time I think about that fight I get really emotional. My mom cried, but she cries at everything. It was a very moving experience. #vegasbaby #motherdaughterroadtrip #floatlikeabutterflystinglikeabee (at Gallery Of Fine Art At Bellagio)

Posted 354 weeks ago

 1/25/13
I am excited to embark on a new chapter of my working life - I recently gave my notice to the Pam Tillis organization and will no longer be touring with her or Lorrie Morgan (on their awesome Grits and Glamour Tour). I must admit, I'm sad to be leaving. It's been an incredible four years and I have learned so much. Thanks to Pam, her amazing husband/manager Matt Spicher, and my bandmates, especially the lovely and talented Mary Sue Englund, with whom I spent more time over the last few years than I did with my husband. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it...