In bluegrass and traditional music, few instruments complement one another as well as the banjo and the fiddle. Together they provide a spare and percussive sound that can be raucous or sweet depending on the tune and the players. This workshop will illustrate the symbiotic nature of the banjo and fiddle, will discuss when the duet works and why, and will teach a couple of banjo-fiddle tunes. Banjo players will be encouraged to sit next to fiddle players.

Learn how to play this simple but versatile rhythm instrument. Bones can be played with almost any genre of folk music and fit nicely in your back pocket. A limited supply of bones will be available for use during the workshop. Otherwise, bring your own or buy yourself a pair for an affordable price from our vendors.

This is your chance to experience being wrapped up in harmonies - tenor, alto, baratone, gospel or folk, home is where the harmonies are.

Holy Water & Whiskey has been playing in Albuquerque for 7 years. Scott, Maggie, and Bruce - with Maria on sound - lift people up with their gospel, leave 'em on the range with their cowboy music, and lay 'em on the bar with their Irish, folk, and traditional music - covers and originals. Dancing and humming along are sweet with their harmonies. Their 3 CDs are available on CD Baby.

We'll take a quick hands-on look at the Irish fiddle ornaments and spend the rest of the time working on Hornpipe and Jig styling. We'll use the Harvest Home Hornpipe (D major) to look at the hornpipe rhythm, and Eileen O'Riordan's Slide (A minor) to practice Jig bowing. Sheet music will be available, but the Slide will be taught by ear if there's time.

Harmonic singing, originating with Tuvan throat singing, is a way of singing and listening with acute attention to the overtone spectrum of the voice, producing a sound at once otherworldly and deeply human. Harmonic singing deepens and enhances the natural voice, giving singers a direct experience of the physical laws of sound, powerful insight into the nature of harmony and a glimpse at the roots of human language and song.

Lauded as "sparkling" and "exhilarating" Notorious musicians Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger present a thrilling musical experience in genres that span many continents. With Eden on fiddle and vocals and Larry on guitar and banjo, their music lights up the hall with rhythm and sonority. Their performances are always new and exciting, featuring traditional American, Celtic, and Eastern-European tunes and songs, swing, blues, classical music and the group's original compositions. Notorious has been a featured ensemble at such festivals as Falcon Ridge, Wheatland, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Eastbourne International Festival, the Savannah Folk Festival, Pinewoods, and the Augusta Music Festival. Notorious has also performed at the Kennedy Center of Washington D.C., on the Evening Under the Stars Concert Series at Southshore Conservatory of Hingham, Massachusetts, and for the Multi-educational Cultural Center for the Arts of Houston, Texas, and frequently dedicates time to performances and educational programs in schools. The band has also toured extensively, across the entire East and West coasts of the United States, to Alaska, and England.

At home in the worlds of both classical and popular music, Eden MacAdam-Somer is one of the most exciting and versatile young violinists and singers performing today. She has been a featured soloist with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, bluegrass, DAWG and American folk groups. Eden is also well-versed in the music of other cultures, including Irish music, Eastern-European music, and European music from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. She has been an artist at the Aspen and Beijing International Music festivals, soloist at Texas and Wimberly jazz festivals, performer at Texas and St. Louis Renaissance fairs, and has appeared on numerous recordings in folk, rock, jazz, and classical genres.

Larry Unger has been a full-time musician since 1984 and has presented a diverse range of musical performances across the United States, Europe, and Scandinavia. Titled "master guitarist" by Dirty Linen, Unger has played with many top contra dance bands and has accompanied such fiddlers as Judy Hyman, Matt Glaser, and Lissa Schneckenburger. Larry's original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musicians around the world and can also be heard in the Ken Burns documentary, Our National Parks. Initially studying blues guitar with Etta Baker and John Jackson and later taking up the banjo and bass, Unger has become one of the most sought-after rhythm players in the country.

One of the most accomplished instrumentalists and gifted composers of his generation, Peter Ostoushko was influenced originally by the mandolin, balalaika and bandura tunes played by his father and family friends while he was growing up in the Ukrainian community of Northeast Minneapolis. He has since made his unique mark as a sideman, session player, headliner and composer of everything from folk to jazz to classical, having mastered both mandolin and violin. He has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal , Norman Blake, Willie Nelson Emmylou Harris, and Chet Atkins, but he is perhaps best known as a frequent performer and one time Music Director on the popular radio show, Prairie Home Companion. He has also appeared on Austin City Limits, Late Night with David Letterman, and even Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and has provided music for the Ken Burns documentaries, Lewis & Clarke, and Mark Twain, as well as other nationally distributed programs such as The Dakota Conflict and Grant Wood's America.

As a solo performer, Peter has produced a number of recordings, including Down the Streets of My Old Neighborhood, Slüz Düz Music, and the three albums that make up his Heartland Trilogy: Heart of the Heartland, Pilgrims of the Heartroad and Sacred Heart, as well as a collaboration with longtime friend Norman Blake, Meeting on Southern Soil. His latest work, The Mando Chronicles, may go down in history as one of the greatest CD compilation albums ever, certainly for fans of mandolin music. Peter himself tells us that "Finally after 3 years in the making my new CD recording The Mando Chronicles is out. It is a 3 CD set of you guessed it, mandolin music. It was a labor of love that I'm very proud of. It's kind of a history of the mandolin as it relates to my own journey of playing the instrument. It has Classical, American Old Time, Brazilian, Irish, Ragtime, my own Ukrainian Roots music and much, much more. Even at 3½ hours of music it is but a "drop in the bucket" in terms of all the mandolin music I have played over the years, but at some point I had to say enough is enough. As it is, I couldn't fit all the music I recorded on to 3 CDs. Perhaps some time down the road I will make a Mando Chronicles 2."

Peter Ostroushko is one of the amazing musical talents of our time and he never seems to run out of creative gems to share with his many fans throughout the world.

Peter Ostroushko will be appearing with guitarist Dean MaGraw:

Composer/Guitarist Dean Magraw's musical passion transcends all boundaries, yet the vital essence of his distinctive style remains, while performing and recording solo, with numerous regional ensembles, and on projects with international notables as diverse as Japanese shamisen prodigy Nitta Masahiro, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, South Indian virtuoso Nirmala Rajasheker, epic songstress Ruth MacKenzie, Irish supergroup Altan, radio personality Garrison Keillor, jazz bassist Anthony Cox, and many others.

"Dean Magraw… so liquid, lyrical and effortless it's like listening to a dancer." -Steve Tibbetts

"Dean Magraw unveils soulful melodic grooves intricately designed to heal the broken dancer, confuse the boldest mathematician, and eradicate ennui in our lifetime." -Nick Lethert

The music of Jack Williams, rooted in his native South Carolina, was shaped by a 54-year career of playing folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Counted among the most dynamic performers on today's "folk" circuit, Jack is considered a "musician's musician", an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar.

Avoiding the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50+-year professional career, Jack prefers touring under the radar, playing concerts, large and small, week in and week out, from the sheer love of music and performing. Playing for more than 50 house concerts each year, Jack enjoys the intimacy of that venue most of all, with a more personal connection to his listeners. Jack is a sought-after artist on all contemporary acoustic music stages, from coffeehouses and festivals to music halls and city arts stages. From acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, New Bedford SummerFest Folk Festivals, his musicianship, songs, stories and commanding presence have established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.

In addition to his successful solo career, Jack's credits include guitar work with legendary singer/songwriters Mickey Newbury, Harry Nilsson, Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, and Steve Gillette, among others. He currently has a DVD ("High Cotton") and seven CDs of original songs on Wind River / Folk Era Records: "Bound for Glory – Live", "Laughing in the Face of the Blues", "Walkin' Dreams", "Live & In Good Company", "Eternity & Main", "Across the Winterline", and "Dreams of the Song Dog". His CD "Don't Let Go" is a collection of cover songs reflecting the major influences on his musical development.

Williams' music is born at the meeting ground of the traditional and the contemporary - original Southern-American songwriting and performance at its best, drawing deeply from the eclectic well of our musical heritage. Jack's fusion of guitar, voice and songs - which are loaded with delightful influences from his career in jazz, classical, rock, blues, country and folk - should not be missed.