A fiddler’s feast of fun will be served up with bluegrass, Celtic, old-time stringband, and Americana music on the menu. The TrueGrass Trio will host special guests Randy Sabien, Molly Otis, Kevin McMullin, Joel Glickman, and Kathy Brihn. Plus The NorthWoods Strings, Carol McDowall & Second Wind Stringband, Beth Allison & The Celtic Connection, Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band, and John Sonofmel & The Slideman. Stage performances, old-time dances (with dances taught and called), jam sessions, workshops, and storytelling in three stage areas, plus food and beverage are all expected to be part of this all day and evening event at the Sawmill Saloon in Seeley WI (13505 N U.S. Highway 63). $10 adult admission (students 1/2 price, kids free).
FiddleFest Tentative Schedule
Theater Stage
2:15 The NorthWoods Strings
3:30 Beth Allison & Celtic Connection
4:45 John Sonofmel
6:00 TrueGrass Trio
7:30 Molly Otis & Randy Sabien with The TrueGrass Trio
Upstairs Dance Room
3:00 Dance with Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band
4:15 Dance with Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band
5:30 Dance with Second Wind Stringband
6:45 Dance with Second Wind Stringband
CoffeeShop Acoustic
2:45 TBA
3:45 Fiddle Workshop with Randy Sabien
4:45 Beth Allison & Celtic Connection
5:45 John Sonofmel
6:45 Kevin McMullin/One Man Show
Theater Stage
2:15 The NorthWoods Strings
3:30 Beth Allison & Celtic Connection
4:45 John Sonofmel
6:00 TrueGrass Trio
7:30 Molly Otis & Randy Sabien with The TrueGrass Trio
Upstairs Dance Room
3:00 Dance with Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band
4:15 Dance with Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band
5:30 Dance with Second Wind Stringband
6:45 Dance with Second Wind Stringband
CoffeeShop Acoustic
2:45 TBA
3:45 Fiddle Workshop with Randy Sabien
4:45 Beth Allison & Celtic Connection
5:45 John Sonofmel
6:45 Kevin McMullin/One Man Show
FIDDLER ON THE MEND BECOMES FIDDLE FEST 2020
“Those of you who were there can attest to the staggering rumpus of relentless talent that flaunted three stages for nine solid hours.” So wrote musician and storyteller Kevin McMullin about a wintertime musical event held three years ago on a Saturday afternoon at The Sawmill Saloon in Seeley, Wisconsin. “Living legends walked the corridors; jamming, playing for dances, leading workshops and in general filling the establishment with so much music that the seams between the logs began to bulge and separate. Many people had to scrape notes off of their windshields before they could drive home.”
That 2016 event, so richly recalled by McMullin, was called “Fiddler On The Mend.” It was a great success, with hundreds of people attending, “listening and dancing across the groaning wood floors.” Everyone who attended remembers that day as a magical, epic gathering celebrating music, dance, stories, and community. Some of the original organizers want to give the northwoods community an opportunity to celebrate again. Their festival is returning to The Sawmill Saloon in Seeley, this time as “Fiddle Fest,” on Saturday January 4th, 2020. It could become an annual celebration of the rich, diverse musical talent we have here in Northwest Wisconsin.
“We’re going to serve up a fiddler’s feast of fun with bluegrass, Celtic, old-time stringband, and Americana music on the menu,” says Jed Malischke, event organizer and member of The TrueGrass Trio, a bluegrass music group from the region and hosts of Fiddle Fest. They will be performing along with special guests Randy Sabien, Molly Otis, Kevin McMullin, Joel Glickman, and Kathy Brihn. Also on the bill are The NorthWoods Strings, Carol McDowall & Second Wind Stringband, Beth Allison & The Celtic Connection, Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band, and John Sonofmel & The Slideman.
“The really exciting thing about an event like this,” explains Malischke, who has produced hundreds of music festivals and concerts throughout the Upper Midwest, “is the interplay that can happen between the musicians. With some two dozen musicians and entertainers in the building, we can expect to see some cross over and collaboration between groups, resulting in some one-time entertainment experiences you’ll never see again.” Stage performances, old-time dances (with dances taught and called), jam sessions, workshops, and storytelling in three stage areas, plus food and beverage are all expected to be part of this all day and evening event at the Sawmill Saloon in Seeley WI.
The admission price of $10 (students 1/2 and kids free) includes all the shows and activities from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm. A detailed schedule of the day's activities will be posted here soon.
That 2016 event, so richly recalled by McMullin, was called “Fiddler On The Mend.” It was a great success, with hundreds of people attending, “listening and dancing across the groaning wood floors.” Everyone who attended remembers that day as a magical, epic gathering celebrating music, dance, stories, and community. Some of the original organizers want to give the northwoods community an opportunity to celebrate again. Their festival is returning to The Sawmill Saloon in Seeley, this time as “Fiddle Fest,” on Saturday January 4th, 2020. It could become an annual celebration of the rich, diverse musical talent we have here in Northwest Wisconsin.
“We’re going to serve up a fiddler’s feast of fun with bluegrass, Celtic, old-time stringband, and Americana music on the menu,” says Jed Malischke, event organizer and member of The TrueGrass Trio, a bluegrass music group from the region and hosts of Fiddle Fest. They will be performing along with special guests Randy Sabien, Molly Otis, Kevin McMullin, Joel Glickman, and Kathy Brihn. Also on the bill are The NorthWoods Strings, Carol McDowall & Second Wind Stringband, Beth Allison & The Celtic Connection, Annie & The Oakleys Dance Band, and John Sonofmel & The Slideman.
“The really exciting thing about an event like this,” explains Malischke, who has produced hundreds of music festivals and concerts throughout the Upper Midwest, “is the interplay that can happen between the musicians. With some two dozen musicians and entertainers in the building, we can expect to see some cross over and collaboration between groups, resulting in some one-time entertainment experiences you’ll never see again.” Stage performances, old-time dances (with dances taught and called), jam sessions, workshops, and storytelling in three stage areas, plus food and beverage are all expected to be part of this all day and evening event at the Sawmill Saloon in Seeley WI.
The admission price of $10 (students 1/2 and kids free) includes all the shows and activities from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm. A detailed schedule of the day's activities will be posted here soon.