Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships bringing musical community to South Park
Although she’s counting on a large crowd for Sunday’s 36th Annual Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships at South Park, Gayle Sigurdson hopes it will be filled with participants, not spectators.
Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships event schedule
Friday
6 to 9 p.m., pre-party at The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St., featuring Uncle Baccy Juice, Knobtown Skiffle Band and Maw.
9 p.m. to midnight, pre-party at Fasto’s, 1016 Massachusetts St., featuring Signal Ridge and KC Hustle.
Saturday
Kickoff event at Americana Music Academy, 1419 Massachusetts St.
2 p.m., harmony singing workshop
3 to 5 p.m., jam session
6 p.m. to dusk, concerts and jam sessions
Sunday
South Park
North Stage, starting at noon
Miscellaneous instruments championship
Ensemble folk championship
The Rhythmia concert
Youth fiddling championship
Open fiddling championship
Konza Swamp Band concert
South Stage, starting at noon
Banjo championship
Flatpicking championship
Mandolin championship
The Route concert
Fingerpicking championship
Youth Award
Activities
Noon to 5 p.m., jamming in the park
Noon to 5 p.m., Silly Hats with KT Walsh
Noon to 5 p.m., Kids camp with Dave Barton and Cathy Para
1 to 4 p.m. Sunflower acoustic stage
1:30 to 3:30 p.m, Shape note singing
By participants, event coordinator Sigurdson doesn’t mean just those performing concerts or those entered in the competitions for fiddling, folk singing, guitar, banjo and other instruments. She is referring to those creating a musical community by adding to the music on the instruments they bring or simply being moved to dance.
The event is an invitation for musicians and the less musically inclined to share in the spirit through jam sessions, open-microphone stage and workshops and games, Sigurdson said.
“We don’t think music or any part of our culture should be a spectator sport,” Sigurdson said. “Anybody can sing, and anybody can dance. That’s the whole point of the weekend.”
The attitude starts early with two “pre-parties” Friday evening. The early musical gathering will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St., and at Fatso’s, 1016 Massachusetts St. The Americana Music Academy, 1419 Massachusetts St., will be the home of Saturday’s activities, which start at 2 p.m. and continue until dusk.
The main event starts at noon Sunday at South Park. Activities include the competitions that give the event its name, plus concerts and an afternoon-long open jam session. Sigurdson said vendors will offer handcrafted musical instruments, crafts, and food and drink.
Dave Barton and Cathy Para, of Booneville, Mo., will return to the children’s area with workshops in homemade toys and found instruments.
“It can be as basic as a blade of grass you use to whistle,” Sigurdson said of found instruments. “The jaw bone of a mule is an official instrument in Arkansas. People find ways to make music; it can be as simple as drumming along on the table top or playing the spoons.”
In the event of heavy rain, the contests will be moved to the Lawrence Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., but the other events will be canceled.