Richmond Blueberry Fiddle Festival » Festival Musicians 2005

Friday & Saturday
August 8-9, 2008

Musicians for 2005 RBFF

Our first set (at ten o'clock in the morning) was provided by the Blueberry Jammers. This group of young musicians was formed in 2004 and comprises the older students and alumni of IHM. With a large repertoire of popular old-time fiddle tunes, they were a great opening act!

The Well-Tuned Trio is a new light on the musical scene. A local trio from Richmond, Winchester, and Fitzwilliam, they specialize in Irish and old-time music, but, then again, you never know when a little bluegrass or blues will creep in. Guitars, mandolin, concertina, and the tin whistle combined with classic lyrics for a delightful, hand-clapping show.

The Future Famous Fiddlers will performed at noon. Their third year, these students of Immaculate Heart of Mary School sang, danced, and played for your entertainment. Billy Boy, Clementine, Boil the Cabbage, Red River Valley. . . The littlest ones always steal the show!

At one o'clock there was a break in the music for the Blueberry Bake-off Awards and Auction. A special thanks to our auctioneers for supplying professional auctioneering services as a benefit for IHM.

The music started back up again at 2pm with the Heritage String Band. Coming to the RBFF all the way from Rhode Island, these long-suffering gentlemen specialize in music from the 1800's. Songs from the soldier's point of view (both Union and Confederate) are combined by the Heritage String Band with civilian songs and dance melodies from the 19th Century. Band historians shared brief narrations on the background of each piece, which took the audience on a "musical history tour," enabling the audience to gain a rich perspective on this vibrant Americana music from the camp fires of long, long ago.

At three o'clock the Bryan Family took the stage. Originally from Northern California, this talented family performed together throughout the 1990’s at every imaginable community event: fairs, cafes, campgrounds, medical facilities, historic train rides, etc.

This performance was an historic event: for the first time ever, all ten Bryan children were performing together.

Four o'clock brought a real treat with The Hobohemians. Although this father-daughter team is no longer performing together on a regular basis, April and Bruce agreed to play a special set just for us! Those of you who have heard the Hobohemians before (perhaps on our 2003 Music Highlights CD?) know what an amazing sound these two produce. Once you've heard them, they'll be among your favorites, too!

Five o'clock: the end of the day and time for a dance! The Neal Hill Caravan Band is primarily a New England Barn Dance Band. Each dance, including Contras, Whole Set, Square and Circle dances, is taught by the caller before it is danced. Coming all the way from the New Hampshire Lakes Region, they gave us a real treat: a two hour, called "barn dance". (Perhaps for us it should be called a "pavilion dance"?) They actually played much longer than two hours and our festival closed with couples dancing the evening away.

The music from this year was recorded and is has been edited to become our RBFF 2006 Music Highlights CD. Please visit our store to order your copies today!