Welcome to Austin Friends of Traditional Music
Founded in 1974, AFTM fosters and supports traditional music and dance from the many different cultures and communities found in Austin and its surrounding areas. We encourage playing, learning, dancing, and sharing our musical heritage in its many forms as they evolve with each new generation.
We sponsor the annual Austin String Band Festival and Mid-Winter activities. We regularly host house concerts, jam sessions, dances. AFTM serves as an educational and informative resource through its Reel Times newsletter,web page and workshops.
Join AFTM Today!
Reel Times Spring 2018
The Spring 2018 edition of the Reel Times newsletter is here. This issue has several great articles including "Black Fiddlers and Texas Fiddle Music" by Dan Foster. Don't miss this one! Well, actually, don't miss any of them. You can view current and past editions on the Newsletters Page.
News and Coming Events
Marla Fibish - Irish Mandolin, April 15
Workshop: 2pm to 4pm, Admission $35, Call 512-452-3900
Concert: 7:30, Admission $15
Fiddler's Green Music Shop
1809 West 35th Street, Austin
Marla Fibish, one of the prominent voices on the mandolin in Irish music, presents a workshop and concert in the barn behind Fiddlers Green Music Shop. The workshop will discuss the skills needed for playing Irish music on the mandolin and explore phrasing, ornamentation and variations.
April 15, 2-5pm
Texas Music Museaum
Stone Soup is the monthly jam and song circle featuring all kinds of traditional music featured in Reel Times Summer 2017 edition. The sessions are held third sundays, 2 to 5pm at:
Texas Music Museum
1009 E. 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Check the AFTM website for occasional changes of date or venue.
AFTM Meeting and Jam - June 10, 2018
The AFTM Monthy Meeting and Jam is held on every second Sunday at Sam's Town Point
Meeting at 12:30 pm – Jam to follow at 2:00 pm.
AFTM proudly sponsors
2018 Texas State Championships - Pearl Community Center - Pearl, Texas
Bluegrass contests and master classes will held this summer, June, July and August, in Pearl Texas. See details below
Map and more information: http://www.pearlbluegrass.com.
Contests
State contests for Mandolin, Guitar and Banjo are held during the free Pearl Bluegrass Jam and Stage Show Weekends at the Pearl Community Center in Pearl Texas.
Open to all Texas Residents.
Online Registration and Contest Rules, here...
Master Class Bluegrass Workshops
Instrument workshops with master instructors are presented on Fridays, 3:30pm to 8pm, before each Texas State Championship date. Cost - $25 - Includes supper.
June 1 - Mandolin with J.P. Shafer
Licks tips and tricks for building better solos.
Register here...
July 6 - Guitar with Gerald Jones
Tricks to train your ear and make you sound better than you really are!
Register here...
August 3 - Banjo with Rolf Seiker
From Earl Scruggs to Bobby Thompson, Rolf's personal approach
Register here...
Scholarship:
Swannanoa Old-Time Music and Dance Week - July 2018
AFTM offers an annual scholarship to a young musician, singer or dancer (30 years old or younger) to attend the Swannanoa Old-Time Music and Dance Week at Warren Wilson College, Asheville, North Carolina.
Watch for more information and think about applying for 2018.
Calendar
Click the button to show our Google calendar of AFTM events and other related traditional music and dance events. Click any event for more information.
More events:
