Howdy Folks!

Well, I can't believe the summer is winding down. We hope everything is going well with you. I have traveled quite a bit this summer --- here and there. Bette and I spent a wonderful two weeks in England, visiting Wales, Yorkshire and county Fife in Scotland. We saw some amazing scenery and I played 4 terrific golf courses in and around St. Andrews.

John Hickman and I teamed up with our old band mates from the California group, and played at the Rocky Grass festival in Lyons, Colorado. We also taught at their week-long academy.

The Byron Berline Band is playing a lot around the state and are always working up new material. Greg Burgess is still on the mend from his bicep tear. We hope he will get back to his old self and rejoin us soon.

I'd like to mention that the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival is quickly approaching. We have an amazing lineup of talent again this year Check on the website for the list of artists and all the information you need to know: oibf.com.

As always, we continue with our Music Hall shows about every other Saturday. You will find a schedule for the upcoming 4 months a little further on this page. The discount tickets continue with 7 shows in this next session. We have had some great guests at our shows, most recently a fine young fiddler from the Czech Republic. We never know who might stop by to help us entertain you.

We now have the capability to put our shows on DVDs for anyone who requests them. If you have friends or family who enjoy our brand of music but live too far to come regularly, or if you are particularly fond of one of our shows and would enjoy seeing it over again, we would be happy to make DVD copies for you.

Jim Garling continues his student lessons, teaching beginning and intermediate fiddle and guitar. He can be reached at 405-306-4182. John Hickman works with banjo students and Greg Burgess teaches advanced fiddle students. Call the Fiddle Shop for information: 405-282-6646

DISCOUNT TICKETS

We are continuing the offer for bargain tickets, 7 shows for $56.00 ($112 per couple). That is $8.00 per show September through December, and the privilege of selecting your reserved seat. The schedule on the reverse lists these shows with an asterix. The tickets will be ready to buy by the time you read this. Remember it is first-come first-served for your seat selection, and we hold your seat for you only until show time.

OIBF

Of course, our big emphasis for the fall is the Okla. International Bluegrass Festival. This year's event should be another great one. We have another lineup of fantastic groups and artists that we are sure you will enjoy.

Mark O'Connor is appearing on Friday evening with his Appalachian trio; they blend classical and old-time music with perfection. Mark will also be doing a fiddle workshop Friday morning.

Alan Munde is bringing his fine band to our festival this year. Alan is originally from Norman and he and Byron have played together off and on since their days at O.U.

Chris Jones' band Night Drivers will make their first appearance this year. Chris and banjo picker Ned Luberecki have a Siris radio show, and they will also be broadcasting from our festival. We are excited to have them.

Richard Smith is coming from England for his first appearance with us. He is an amazing guitarist. If you've never seen or heard him you have missed a real treat. Be sure and catch his show.

Peter Feldman, Wayne Shrubshall and Bruce Thompson bring their style of old-time and bluegrass music. Pete is originally from Switzerland

We are pleased to have the Gibson Brothers back again; also Cajun Frenchie Burke who really got our crowds going last year.

Saturday evening we are staging a bluegrass Banjo Bash with Alan Munde, John Hickman, Ned Luberecki, Wayne Shrubshall and Eric Gibson. This should be a fantastic show as each of these players have written articles and books, and are great teachers and players of the 5 string banjo.

Don't forget our wonderful Oklahoma bands.and artists scheduled: Edgar Cruz, Rockin' Acoustic Circus, Red Dirt Rangers, Cedar Ridge, Brigade, Hunt Family, Mtn. Smoke, and Rick Morton-Mark Bruner-Shelby Icker from Tulsa. Oh, and there is also a group called the Byron Berline Band which will appear from time to time, usually with Barry “bones” Patton. You will surely not want to miss them.

The Young Family and the Alaska String Band (yes, from Alaska) will perform at the Children's Tent. As always, we will have a Youth Band contest and the winners plus the youth scholarship winners will play on the main stage Saturday afternoon. Don't forget the fun Random Band Jam Thursday evening; also check out the Cottonwood Creek Stage for late night jamming in the campground.


Upcoming Music Hall Shows:

Sept 11 (FRI)
Sept 26
Oct 24
Nov 6 (FRI)
Nov 21
Dec 12
Dec 19

OUT of TOWN SHOWS:

Sept 10 Banjo Museum Opening - Bricktown OKC. 5pm
Sept 25 McSwain Theatre - Ada 8pm - 580-332-8108
Oct 1-3 Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival - Guthrie, Ok.
Oct 9-10 Ruidoso, New Mexico (Byron)
Nov 17 Alva, Ok.


INSTRUMENTS AT THE SHOP

We ave lots of new and vintage instruments at the Fiddle Shop; new guitars, fiddles, mandolins and banjos. Now that school is beginning again, get your string instrument here --- we will make sure it is set up and ready to go.


GUITARS :
We have a very nice selection of acoustic and electric guitars, with several flatops to choose from such as: Collings, Martins, Gibson (a 1934LO songwriter), also Alvarez, Laribee, Bristol, Epiphone Texan, Revival, Johnson, etc. The electrics include a Fender Les Paul artist model, and two archtops: a Gibson Tal Farlow and a Gretch 7575.We also have an original 1980's Dobro.


VIOLINS, VIOLAS, BOWS :

We have the biggest and best selection of anyone around these parts, and now we are happy to show and sell the violins of Lucas Wronski. You must see and play his violins; he is making them better than ever. Check the website to see and hear them. I have some wonderful 18th and 19th century violas, cellos and basses. Just in: an old 1939 Kay bass – sounds great! Also bows, cases and other accessories.


MANDOLINS :

We have 3 Weber Yellowstones, they look great and sound great! You will want to check out the new Kentucky 1000, they copied the old Loar, color and all. In addition, we have Eastmans ( A & F models), Johnsons, Rover, Collings and a great Gibson F5 mandolin. For a great gift idea: a solid walnut mandolin clock!


BANJOS :

We still have a good selection of new and used banjos. I just picked up another old Gibson, late ‘20s or early ‘30s, TB-1 with a 5 string neck, really nice. Also have 2 old tenor Gibsons from the ‘20s or ‘30s, plus an RB-3 Gibson, a Recording King, Gold Tone, Danville and Kristufek banjos from the Czech Republic which are very, very nice. We can also get you started on some nice entry-level instruments.


MISC :

You can find all kinds of accessories at the shop: tuners, straps, picks, rosin, strings, capos, pick-ups, chin rests, shoulder rests, pitch pipes, books on how to play, DVDs and CDs of the band and solo CDs.

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