Coming UP…
Scroll down to see all the great musical events coming!
VFS MONTHLY FIDDLE JAM – Friday, May 2nd, 2025!
We are happy to have Cohan Lyne back to lead the May Jam!
– 7:00 – 9:00 pm; Doors open at 6:45 pm. Wheeley Hall in the Esquimalt United Church Building (500 Admirals Road). Enter off Lyall Street. Members no charge; Drop In $5.
Send in your tune requests to: vfsinfo@gmail.com
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Woodbox Records
Celebrating FIDDLE Music in & from British Columbia & beyond!
“Value, Legacy & Inspiration”
Subscribe to Woodbox Records at www.woodboxrecords.com for news on upcoming book & record releases and events!
Woodbox Records began in 2024 in Victoria, British Columbia to release and promote the 150 year Fiddle tradition of BC, Canada’s most westerly province. It was started by Daniel Lapp who was born in the Cariboo in central BC and has spent 4 decades touring as a musician and teaching the BC fiddle tradition to hundreds of folks all over the world. Since 1989 Daniel has collected over 3000 original BC fiddle compositions by over 300 composers. “Put’er in the woodbox” is an old expression from the Canadian prairies as told to Daniel by the late, 7 time BC Fiddle Champion, Bob Montgomery. There was a time when everyone had a ‘woodbox’ on their back porch and in there you might keep milk, eggs, firewood, meat, etc. But also, a violin has been known to be called an ‘old wooden box’.
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Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival – Fiddle Sessions!
Mark May 3rd on your calendar and come out and support your fellow musicians!
Where: Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, University of Victoria, MacLaurin Building, 3800 Finnerty Road
Starts at 9:00am and runs all day – check the Program https://www.gvpaf.org/fiddle for all the sessions.
Adjudicator: Michael Burnyeat is a Vancouver-based fiddler specializing in Celtic and North American fiddle styles. He is a two-time BC fiddle champion, six-time finalist at the Canadian Grandmasters, and two-time Traditional Grand North American fiddle champion. Additional information about Michael can be found at https://www.gvpaf.org/fiddle.
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BC FIDDLE FEST & CONTEST June 6 & 7, 2025 Kelowna, BC
It’s time to pick your waltz, jig and reel and start getting them into shape for competition. Start planning your schedule to take in this wonderful weekend of jamming, old time dance, featured entertainment, and of course wonderful musicians of all levels of play in two days of friendly family events.
The ‘Provincial’ fiddle contest takes in Kelowna on June 7th this year, at Rutland Centennial Hall, with concerts by Michael Burnyeat, Kai Gronberg, and the Kelowna Fiddlers, and a Dance and Dinner on Friday, June 6th. Then workshops and the Fiddle Contest on Saturday, June 7th.
For information & registration:
https://bcfiddlers.com/branches/kelowna/kelowna-special-events/ , or call: 250-717-8432. Don’t forget to see if you qualify for the Clark Hiles Bursary!!
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Cowichan Valley Bluegrass – Workshop
June 13, 2025 Noon – 2:00pm The Cowichan Valley Bluegrass is offering a two-hour intensive workshop on the music of John Hartford. Take advantage of this special opportunity to book your space before registration opens up to the general public!
This workshop will teach previously unrecorded tunes from the recently discovered collection of John Hartford’s original music and offer a deep study of John Hartford’s songwriting style and an exploration of his famous Windows Exercise, a method of learning to get creative and improvise.
Participants will receive a discount code for weekend passes to the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival June 13-15 at Laketown Ranch, Lake Cowichan. And maybe join the trio on main stage!
The instructors are:
Fiddle – Megan Lynch Chowning
Clawhammer banjo and guitar – Rachel Baiman
Mandolin and bass – Sharon Gilchrist
Level: Progressing intermediate and advanced
Where: 70 W Cowichan Ave, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 (Parish Hall, St. Christopher & St. Aidan Anglican)
Tickets: $50 available at: https://cowichanbluegrasscamping.tickit.ca/events/28479
Info: https://cowichanbluegrass.com/performers/the-john-hartford-fiddle-tune-project/
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The Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival
June 13-15, 2025
Laketown Ranch Music Park, 5km west of Lake Cowichan.
Info & tickets: https://cowichanbluegrass.com/
In addition to the accomplished members of the John Hartford Project, we have an amazing lineup of fiddle players including three-time Grammy winner Jason Carter; Galax 2024 old-time fiddle champion Anissa Burnett; the jazz-inspired Lucy Khadder of the California youth band sensation Sweet Sally; award-winning go-to Nashville player George Jackson; classically trained Mary Rachel Norris of The Kody Norris Show; top old-time fiddler Max Evans of Vancouver Island’s The Black Rabbit Rounders; and a host of other quality players in organized and spontaneous workshops and jam sessions all weekend.
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Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition
August 22 & 23, 2025
Competitors from across Canada!
For more information or tickets:
https://www.cgm2025kamloops.com/schedule-of-events
Don’t be disappointed, tickets for Friday night’s dance are limited and sell out quickly.
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VIctoria Fiddle Society and on Facebook Suggestions? Email us at: vfsinfo@gmail.com
