Missouri Fiddlers Gathering

[Charlie Possum]

Missouri Fiddlers Gathering at Bethel, MO
June 13 to 16, 1996

May 8, 1996

Dear Friends,

Have you ever yearned to learn tunes from bona fide veteran old-time fiddlers, play for and dance in a genuine
Ozarks-style square dance or get into a high energy fiddle jam that could last until the break of dawn---and do all this an
anachronistic rural setting far off the information superhighway (or any major highway for that matter)? Well I've got just the
thing for you. This veritable dream come true will take the form of the 1996 Missouri Fiddlers Gathering and Mid-America
Old Time Fiddling Championship.

The event will take place from June 13 to 16, 1996 at Bethel, Missouri. Bethel is a friendly town of a little over 100
people located in Shelby County in Northeast Missouri. Here's some of the events we have planned:

The registration for fee the entire weekend is only $50 dollars ($40 if you register by June 5, 1996---MSOTFA
members get an additional $5 off) and includes a Thursday night cookout and these other goodies: Official MSOTFA ballcap
and #2 lead pencils, special discount on MSOTFA recordings and books (good June 14 only) and a cassette tape set containing
100 essential Missouri fiddle tunes for further study at home (The tape set alone sells for $20).

Fill out the application form below and send with a check or money order by June 5, 1996, payable to "MSOTFA"
to:

Charlie Walden
2430 Hastings Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201

The Missouri Fiddler's Gathering and Mid-America Old Time Fiddling Championship is a program of the Bethel
Colony and The Missouri State Old Time Fiddlers Association. Funding has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a
state agency, and a major grant from the Fund for Folk Culture, Conferences and Gatherings Program, underwritten by the
Pew Charitable Trusts. For more information call Charlie Walden at 847-869-1630 or 7625...@compuserve.com for e-
mail.

See you there,

Charlie Walden

1996 Missouri Fiddlers Gathering
Schedule of Events
Thursday, June 13

2:00 PM Registration begins---take a stroll around town (see you back in 10 minutes)
6:00 PM Evening cookout (brats and burgers), social hour and get-acquainted session
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM Old-Time Ozarks Square Dance
10:00 PM to ??? Jam Session in Fest Hall

Friday, June 14

9:30 AM to Noon and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Informal small group sessions with some of the Midwest's Best Old-Time Fiddlers; also, Special sessions for beginning and
intermediate players to help you hone your skills, Ozarks Jig Dancing, Guitar and Piano Accompaniment workshops.
6:00 to 8:00 PM Jam Sessions
8:00 to 10:00 PM Old Time Dance
10:00 PM to ??? Jam Session in Fest Hall

Saturday, June 15

10:00 AM Contest Registration Begins. Contests include: Open Fiddle, Junior Fiddle, Senior Fiddle, Novelty Fiddle, Misc.
Acoustic Instruments (Miscellaneous category includes: banjo, accordion, guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, and other instruments
related to hillbilly or old-time music---no panpipes or saxophonesplease. Call ahead for a ruling if in doubt)
10:00 AM Bethel German Band will perform. Mini-concerts by master fiddlers, Ozarks jig-dancing workshop
1:00 PM Contests begin. More workshops and mini-concerts
8:00 PM or when contests end---Dance then Jam Session

Sunday, June 16

10:00 AM Sacred music fiddle jam session and teach-in
11:00 AM Dance
1:00 PM Concert
3:00 PM It's all over until next year

MISSOURI FIDDLERS GATHERING
REGISTRATION FORM

Today's Date: _____________

I am registering for: fiddle ___ guitar ___ (check one or both)

I am also interested in the piano accompaniment workshop: ___

Name: _____________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________

City: ______________________________________ State: ______

Zip Code: ____________ Date of Birth: _______________

Evening phone number with area code: ___________________________

Email (optional): ___________________________

I am enclosing a check for: _____ $35 (MSOTFA members)
_____ $40 (before June 5)

In the space below please describe your experience playing fiddle music or accompaniment on guitar or piano. Also, indicate
any other musical study you may have done. Please give sufficient detail to allow us to place you by instrument, level of
experience and ability, etc. Use additional sheets if you feel necessary.

1996 Missouri Fiddlers Gathering
Tentative Faculty List and Other Information

Fiddle:
Charlie Walden (director)
Chris German
Bill Shull
Nile Wilson
Bob Holt
Pete McMahan
Dwight Lamb

Guitar accompaniment
John Stewart
Kenny Applebee
Mike Soltys

Piano Accompaniment
Patt Plunkett

Dance
Edna Davis
Larry Schuyler
Ray Thebeau

And many, many others throughout the weekend!

WHEREINTHEHECKISBETHELMISSOURI
Where is Bethel, Missouri??? Bethel is located in Shelby County in Northeast Missouri approximately 15 miles north of US
Hwy. 36 (at Shelbina) on MO Hwy. 15.

Where to eat in Bethel, Missouri
Great German-American cuisine is served all day long in the Bethel Fest Hall and at prices that haven't been seen in years.
Short order items also available. The local bar has sandwiches and snacks. Of course, you can always bring a picnic or cook
at your campsite.

Where to stay in and around Bethel, Missouri
Accommodations: For camping in Bethel call 816-284-6515 (ask for Rodney) / Mabel's Inn in Bethel 573-633-2665 / motels--
-Shelbina (closest)--Penny May Motel 573-588-4178, Monroe City, Paris, Hannibal, Macon.

What to Bring to the Missouri Fiddlers Gathering
To get the most out the this musical experience bring your instrument, a tape recorder and blank tapes (extra batteries
available at the general store), and some dancing shoes if your so inclined.