(Sept. 21, 2017) The 25th annual Berlin Fiddler’s Convention is set to take over downtown this Friday through Sunday, with three days of bluegrass-inspired live music presented by the Berlin Chamber of Commerce.
The event will start 7 p.m. Friday with local group The Country Grass. The Last Minute Men, winners of the 2016 Fiddler’s Convention “band” competition, will perform second.
Husband-and-wife duo Tim and Savannah Finch with The Eastman String Band, from Stevensville, will headline the Friday night entertainment.
Registration for the 2017 Fiddler’s Convention competitions will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, downtown near the stage on Main Street. Youth and adult competitions for fiddle, mandolin, banjo and band will start at noon.
For the first time, the contest will also include the Maryland State Flatpicking Guitar Championship. Rules are as follows:
1. Contestants must be prepared to play two instrumental numbers in traditional fiddle tune or bluegrass style.
2. All contestants must play with a flat pick. No fingerpicking is allowed.
3. Songs must be played in standard tuning: E A D G B E. The only alteration from standard tuning allowed will be the low E (6th) string, which can be tuned to any desired pitch.
4. Only a single, standard-style capo may be used. Capos that allow the alteration of individual strings or partial capos depressing some, but not all strings, will not be allowed. Capos, if used, must be applied across all strings on the same fret of the instrument.
Fiddler’s Convention organizer Nate Clendenen helped bring the contest to Berlin. The winner will earn $200 in prize money, the official title of Maryland State Flatpicking Guitar Champion, and an Eastman guitar and hard-shell case, valued at $1,000.
Additionally, several food and craft vendors will be set up downtown. A free parking shuttle service will be available from Berlin Intermediate School on 309 Franklin Avenue all day, Saturday.
The weekend will conclude Sunday with the annual Gospel Bluegrass Jam hosted by The Country Grass on the lawn of the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on 208 North Main Street, starting at noon.
Berlin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larnet St. Amant said the scope of the event will be greater this year in honor of its 25th anniversary.
“It’s just a free, fun, family event with great music all weekend long,” St. Amant said. “There’s a great sense of community, good food, vendors and lots of things to do for kids and family members of all ages.”
For contestant registration, vendor applications and more information, visit www.BerlinFiddlers.com, www.BerlinChamber.org or www.facebook.com/BerlinFiddlers Convention.
The event will start 7 p.m. Friday with local group The Country Grass. The Last Minute Men, winners of the 2016 Fiddler’s Convention “band” competition, will perform second.
Husband-and-wife duo Tim and Savannah Finch with The Eastman String Band, from Stevensville, will headline the Friday night entertainment.
Registration for the 2017 Fiddler’s Convention competitions will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, downtown near the stage on Main Street. Youth and adult competitions for fiddle, mandolin, banjo and band will start at noon.
For the first time, the contest will also include the Maryland State Flatpicking Guitar Championship. Rules are as follows:
1. Contestants must be prepared to play two instrumental numbers in traditional fiddle tune or bluegrass style.
2. All contestants must play with a flat pick. No fingerpicking is allowed.
3. Songs must be played in standard tuning: E A D G B E. The only alteration from standard tuning allowed will be the low E (6th) string, which can be tuned to any desired pitch.
4. Only a single, standard-style capo may be used. Capos that allow the alteration of individual strings or partial capos depressing some, but not all strings, will not be allowed. Capos, if used, must be applied across all strings on the same fret of the instrument.
Fiddler’s Convention organizer Nate Clendenen helped bring the contest to Berlin. The winner will earn $200 in prize money, the official title of Maryland State Flatpicking Guitar Champion, and an Eastman guitar and hard-shell case, valued at $1,000.
Additionally, several food and craft vendors will be set up downtown. A free parking shuttle service will be available from Berlin Intermediate School on 309 Franklin Avenue all day, Saturday.
The weekend will conclude Sunday with the annual Gospel Bluegrass Jam hosted by The Country Grass on the lawn of the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum on 208 North Main Street, starting at noon.
Berlin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Larnet St. Amant said the scope of the event will be greater this year in honor of its 25th anniversary.
“It’s just a free, fun, family event with great music all weekend long,” St. Amant said. “There’s a great sense of community, good food, vendors and lots of things to do for kids and family members of all ages.”
For contestant registration, vendor applications and more information, visit www.BerlinFiddlers.com, www.BerlinChamber.org or www.facebook.com/BerlinFiddlers Convention.