Fiddle and Folk Band Contests to be held at Heritage Center
The American West Heritage Center invites fiddlers and folk musicians of all ages to participate in the 8th annual Heritage Old-Time Fiddle Contest, to take place during the Heritage Center’s Fall Harvest Festival, Sept. 20, 2008. Prizes will be awarded to all winners in each division. Participants must pre-register for this competition by September 15, 2008.
Categories for fiddlers will include (1) Pee Wee Division (under age 8), (2) Small Fry Division (8 – 11), (3) Junior Division (12-16), (4) Adult Division.
Participants will each be given a prearranged time slot of four minutes in which to perform that they will know before the event. Each will play three songs: (1) a hoedown, (2) a waltz, and (3) a tune of the contestant’s choice. Participants will have four minutes each. Entrance fees are $8 for Pee Wee, Small Fry and Junior Divisions and $11 for all other divisions.
The Fall Harvest Festival, in which the competition will take place, will also feature a carnival and other family-friendly, living history, and demonstration events. The Heritage Center’s annual Corn Maze will also open as part of the Festival.
On Sept. 27, the second half of the Fall Harvest Festival will take place. It will feature the 2nd annual Folk Band Battle, for which folks bands of all kinds are invited to participate. The Intermountain Region is one of the richest areas in the country for folk music of all kinds, and the best of the best will be performing for top honors at this event. Sassafras Folk String Band, based in Cache Valley, Utah, won the Battle in 2007.
Participating bands will get a total of 20-30 minutes to set up, play, and take down for the next group (time depends on how many bands participate). Bands should feel free to come and explore the sound set-up before hand, if desired. The American West Heritage Center will provide basic sound equipment such as microphones, cords, an amplifier, speakers, etc. A complete list will be given to groups as they register. Bands may also use their own equipment, if desired.
There is no entrance fee for any of the bands. To register as a fiddler or to register your folk band battle, visit the American West Heritage Center’s website for registration forms: www.awhc.org or contact David Sidwell, Program Director, at dsidwell@awhc.org .