Swingin’ Fiddles & Bows fundraiser to benefit Fiddle Fest
JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF
LLANO — Llano Fiddle Fest organizer John Caballero knew just who to call to put together a star-studded concert that would benefit the annual contest.
Dick Gimble, the son of legendary fiddler Johnny Gimble, has played with Bob Wills, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.
“I said, ‘Can you get together three or four other musicians and just put on on show?’” Caballero said. “Dick was the one who contacted which fiddlers and musicians were available and was able to get four awesome musicians.”
On Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m., Gimble and the other musicians will put on the Swingin’ Fiddles & Bows concert at the LanTex Theater, 113 Main St.
The show also features Gimble’s daughter, Emily, a current member of Asleep at the Wheel, performing vocals and keyboard, and fiddlers Dennis Ludiker, winner of numerous fiddle championships and a member of the band MilkDrive, Jason Roberts, a two-time Grammy award-winning musician formerly with Asleep at the Wheel and now of the Jason Roberts Band, and Ricky Turpin, another two-time Grammy winner who has recorded with some of the biggest names in the industry.
Fiddle Fest weekend, which is April 3-5, 2015, is free to attend. A grant has helped pay musicians for coming to play the festival, but will soon run out.
“(We thought), let’s go ahead and do a standalone concert and build the concert around fiddles and try to raise funds for next year’s Fiddle Fest,” Caballero said.
The benefit concert Nov. 29 will be by donation at the door, which means seats are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
“I heard from (the musicians) that they’re really excited about coming and playing with all of their other musician friends and having a good show,” he said.
Before the show, in conjunction with the concert, is a violin clinic for intermediate to advanced fiddlers from noon to 4 p.m. at Fuel Coffee House, 106 E. Main St.
A $50 donation is suggested for the class and also benefits the Llano Fiddle Fest weekend.
Taught by local musician Keenan Fletcher, the clinic will focus on classical technique for those looking to improve their skill set. Those interested can meet at Fuel at 11:30 a.m. Fletcher said the ability to read music is not mandatory but does help.
“It’s to bring awareness not only to people who have grown up with this art form but also who are interested or want to take it to the next level,” Fletcher said. “We really believe strongly that music should not just be enjoyed by our generation but for generations to come.”
For more information on the concert or Fiddle Fest weekend, call (325) 247-5354 or visit www.llanofiddlefest.com.
jared@thepicayune.com