Jim McMillan sent me a photo of Dick Barrett at the Montana fiddlers picnic last weekend. Just turned 93 years old! Reminded me of all the experiences I have had with Dick over the years and what a huge influence he was on my fiddle playing.In my opinion Dick was one of the all time great contest fiddlers! He was the fiddler that for the most part introduced Texas style fiddle playing to the rest of the country. He traveled extensively across the United States to fiddle contest, and you never new where he might show up. He has a unique style of breakdown fiddling patterned after the legendary fiddler Major Franklin(who Dick introduced me to back in the 70's) Happy birthday to you Dick and thank you for all the years of Great Fiddling and Friendship.

Trying to finish up on the house remodel in Rigby! Violin shop remodel going at a turtles pace! and trying to get ready for and promote Mark O'Connors visit to Idaho Falls. We are starting to get a good flow of new students  at Sites Violin Shoppe. Lots of folks still real busy with late summer activities. Jacie, as always is to busy with all the stuff she is constantly working on! more music books!! We do our own curriculum because she cant find anything out there that will do what she need

Just spent a great day with Jacie!! Had lunch in west Yellowstone then on to big sky up in the boonies for a wedding, back home and up in a few hours headed to Jackson for the fiddle contest.

We will be in Big Sky Montana tomorrow helping out my sons band WHITE WATER RAMBLE with a wedding. These boys have a real good Jam band and seem to stay real busy!! Then, we are off to Jackson Hole for there annual fiddle contest held in conjunction with the fair. Jacie has won this event the last 2 years, but we always make it a habit to take enough money to get home on.

Mark will be conducting a free workshop Sept. 3rd at 10:00 am at the colonial theater in Idaho falls. If you know of and string players(any level) who may be able to attend this free workshop please let the know. This will be a great opportunity to listen and watch one of the greatest fiddle players of our time.Please don't miss this event. And don't forget about the concert that evening!! Tickets available at the Idaho falls arts council website.

Hey y'all  don't forget about Mark coming to Idaho falls September 3rd !! he will be offering a free work shop at the Colonial theater Sat. 10:00 am. That evening  a concert along with guest Jacie Sites!! Mark will be doing fiddle standards the second half along with Jacie, Rick Youngblood, Jesse Maw and yours truly. Don't miss this ounce in a life time show to watch Mark turn the clock back and rip old school breakdowns and Beautiful waltzes, the kind of tunes that put him on the map! BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!!!