Lots of fiddling on tap in Weiser this week

Published by admin on Wed, 06/19/2019 - 11:58am
Everyone at the National Oldtime
Fiddlers’ Contest on Monday
night had a good time.
It was the first night of competition.
The small fry kids, who are really serious
competitors, took the
stage at the high school auditorium.
The number of small
fry contestants was up this
year, which is a good thing.
The winners in the adult
and swing fiddling competitions
were also decided. Although
only one winner can
be selected, they all sounded
pretty good to me.
It was pushing 10 p.m.
and we waited for the judges
scores to come back. We
were treated to some wonderful
tunes by the Stickerville
Stompers, a collection of talented
musicians who compete at the NOTFC
and also give workshops at Stickerville
up at the Institute during fiddle week.
The ensemble played four or five
songs. They were old-time American
tunes that you would never hear anywhere
else. Each musician effortlessly
moved in and out of the solo spotlight.
It was nice to see some familiar faces
back in Weiser for the contest this year.
We’re all a year older but doing pretty
good from what I could tell.
Hughie Smith made the trip up from
California after skipping last
year. He’s won something
like 400 awards for fiddling
in his youthful 86 years.
He placed first in the senior
senior division in Weiser
a few years back. I had the
chance to chat with him for
a few minutes after he won.
I remember the fascinating
stories he told me about
his younger days as a fiddler.
The guy has been around
and gets credit for helping to
shape the Bakersfield Sound.
He played honky tonks
in the 1960s in and around Bakersfield,
Calif., where the style and sound got its
name. At one time or another, he played
on the same stage with Buck Owens and
Chet Atkins, two legends in the country
music business. You could write a book
on Hughie’s life.
You remember Buck Owens, don’t
you? He and Roy Clark, another excellent
musician, were on the TV show
“Hee Haw” every Saturday in the 1970s.
We watched it as kids in Idaho Falls.
Kudos to all the volunteers, both at
the concert site and around town, that are
helping out this week to make the 67th
annual installment of the fiddle contest a
success. You’ll see them. They’re wearing
shirts that say “volunteer.”
There is a lot of fiddling to be had
between now and Saturday night, when
they announce the 2019 National Grand
Champion. From junior to senior senior,
the fiddlers that come to Weiser are the
best. You’ll never hear an off note.
Attend the competition one or two
nights this week at the high school auditorium
and support some great American
music. The contest costs money to
put on each year and ticket sales and
sponsorships pay the bills.
Come by the Weiser Signal American
office in beautiful downtown Weiser and
pick up a free copy of this year’s “Fiddler.”
It’s got the contest schedules and
a few fun features that are sure to entertain.
I guarantee it.
Steve Lyon is the editor of the Weiser
Signal American. Contact him at

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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