ASBF 2016 Workshops

Bring your chairs, your instruments, your cameras, and your recording devices 

11:00 am sessions

Area A: Three Fingers of Old Time Jay Marvin of Carolina Rowdies, Wolf Cartuciello
3 finger banjo in oldtime music

Area B: Shape Note Singing J.T. Harechmak and friends
Join local Sacred Harp singers for a workshop on the tradition of shape-note singing. Developed during the time of the American Colonies, shape note singing was a way to teach people to not just sight read notes but to sing in multi-part harmony. Come learn the shapes -- no singing experience necessary!

Area C: Contra Dance Workshop Marc Airhart pavilion
Marc Airhart, who has danced and called contra dances in Austin for over 15 years, will lead a fun and lively introduction to this unique American folk dance. By the end, you will have the confidence and basic skills to join in a typical dance. Live music by Chris Peterson and Nathan Quiring of Lost and Nameless. No partner or experience required. Full-on contra dance immediately following this workshop!

Area D: YOU,TOO CAN USE EFFECTS on your acoustic instrument Lindsey Verrill Learn about different effects and what they do when fearlessly applied to banjo and cello

Area E: Last Free Exit: The songs of John Clay Dan and Christy Foster From West Texas to Austin, songs of Austin legend John Clay, in the Tradition of Blind Alfred Reed, Woody Guthrie, and Ezra Pound.

Area F: Tunes from Thomas Jefferson (Duck) Wootan Tim Wooten, Angie Wooten Thomas Jefferson (Duck) Wootan, (born 1882, died 1964) an old time Texas fiddler from Kimble County. The workshop will include stories that provide a historical setting. These tunes will give you a feel for a fiddling style that was common in Texas (and likely a large part of the Southern U.S.) in the very early part of the 20th century. They are mostly unique variants on common fiddle tunes but include some tunes that have no other source.

12:15 sessions

Area A: Alaskan Favorites Carter Bancroft of Carolina Rowdies Old time Fiddle I'll teach one tune and reference a few others. Specifically I'd teach Lowe Stokes version of Swamp Cat Rag, which is in GDAD tuning. It's an intermediate tune but anyone could play it slow. Call Swamp Cat Rag tune at the Alaska Folk Fest in Juneau, play it fast and sing the simple words and you'll make friends in a hurry. Even if you don't make it to Alaska it's a great jam and dance tune wherever you are. I'll also throw in a few honorable mentions that people should work on on their own if their interested.

Area C: 12:15 -1:30 Contra Dance pavilion Whether the workshop was your first time trying contra dance or you've been dancing for years, you will enjoy moving to live music by Chris Peterson and Nathan Quiring of Lost and Nameless, led by caller Marc Airhart of Austin. No partner required. Rousing music, and lively dancing with workshop participants and welcoming members of the local contra dance community will make this a great way to kick off your day at the festiva

Area D: Popular Styles of the Five String Banjo Josh Moore, Devon Canady Josh and Devon will be giving a beginner workshop introducing two styles of the five string banjo: Scruggs-style and clawhammer. They will be discussing the differences in the types of banjos played, picking techniques, and roles of the instrument in an ensemble. Participants are encouraged to bring their instrument as there will be some techniques introduced to get them started as well as discussions about everyone's preference in banjo style. They will also discuss learning sources and artists to research to get any prospective banjo player on their way to playing!

Area E: Fingerpicking Blues Guitar Peter Keane This old-time country blues fingerpicking workshop will present tips and techniques on playing in the style of Mississippi John Hurt and Furry Lewis, with an emphasis on right hand "alternating thumb" style. We will break down a couple of songs, looking a common chord structures and rhythmic feels while giving some pointers on how to move from basic pattern-picking to truly independent-thumb picking that serves as the basis of a a huge repertoire of tunes.

Area F: Mountain Music Memories Eddie Bond, Josh Ellis Stories and music of my early influences; a day in the life of a ten year old mountain boy from the southern Appalachian mountains. (A sweet treat for this festival, wonderful story-telling, great tunes

3:00 pm sessions

Area F:Children's Puppet Making Workshop Puppet Making with Natasha LaGuitana