I have attended just about every Fiddle Hell Massachusetts since its inception, and I don't even play the fiddle!
If you do, you can take workshops from some of the finest fiddlers in their genres in the world.
If you do not, come Saturday for the concert and contradance.

See you in (Fiddle) Hell!

Plan now for Fiddle Hell Weekend, Nov. 4-6, Westford, MA!

Bruce Molsky and Andrea Beaton (and our 50 other workshop and jam leaders) want to remind you that our fantastic musical weekend is just six weeks away!  We'll be back at the Westford Regency with lots of free parking. More infohere. I just posted the details of all 270 workshops and jams here,  Click on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday Schedule on the left.  This is an incredible set of workshops and jams; having to choose which ones to join is truly the "hellish" aspect of Fiddle Hell!  To see details on the leaders, click on Session Leaderson the left. Sign up for the weekend now: You can prepay here and save a little money. Or just pay when you arrive.  We have discounts for seniors, young adults, and kids, and a few scholarships if you can't afford the fee. Book your room now if you need one: The Westford Regency is sold out on Friday and Saturday nights (although it never hurts to check at 978-692-8200).  However, there are rooms available at the Residence Inn Boston Westford at 978-392-1407 (8 minutes walk, across the road) and at the Hampton Inn and Suites 978-392-1555 (a mile or so down the road). Take a look at our new common tune list:  For 2016, we've created a new list of 52 common tunes in addition to the original list, based on your suggestionson the Fiddle Hell survey over the last 3 years. Tell your friends about the Saturday night concert (Nov 5th, 7PM): Twenty fiddlers, followed by a contra dance (dance or sit in with the band). Free parking, doors open at 6:30PM.

New instructors for 2016 include Bruce Molsky (oldtime), Katie McNally(Scottish), Skip Gorman (bluegrass, cowboy), Ellery Klein (Irish), Autumn Rose Lester (New England), David Surette (mandolin), Rachel Maloney and Chris Turner (oldtime, blues, East European, harmonica, and the new Friday nightt Whomp!) and Gretchen Koehler (New England, Canadian).  Susie Burke and Emy Phelps will also help with a workshop or two. Returning instructors Alan Kaufman, Art Schatz, Andrea Beaton, Andy Reiner, Art Bryan, Becky Tracy, Bennett Hammond, Bethany Waickman, Bob Alessio, Cathy Mason, Clayton March, Darol Anger, Dave Reiner, David Kaynor, David Moultrup, Ed Pearlman, Ellen Carlson, Eric Eid-Reiner, Eric Favreau, Frank Ferrel, George Fowler, Jason Anick, Jenna Moynihan, Jerry Wile, John Chambers, John Robinson, Joy Adams (cello), Julie Metcalf, Laurel Martin, Lissa Schneckenburger, Lorraine Hammond, Mariel Vandersteel, Mark Simos, Marshall Racowsky, Michelle Kaminsky, Oliver Scanlon, Paul Harty, Pete Anick, Pete Sutherland, Rob Flax, Shana AIsenberg, Tim Rowell, and Tom Morley will be back again to teach tunes and techniques at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, and to lead jams in various styles. Click here and then click on Session Leaders 2016 on the left to see details about our 2016 instructors, who are great players and experienced, supportive teachers. In addition to fiddlers, mandolin players, violists and cellists are welcome. Other instrumentalists will need to check with me first.  We've added quite a few singing sessions and mandolin sessions in 2016, and there are alsooldtime banjo and guitar workshops.

Helpful Links Fiddle Hell logistics, lodging, and leaders  Fiddle Hell schedule (has daily schedules and details for 2016, overall grid coming in October)) New list of 52 common tunes and 2-CD set of original common tunes played fast and slow Join the Facebook Group for Fiddle Hell Massachusetts    Join the 2016 Fiddle Hell Facebook Event   Follow Fiddle Hell Massachusetts (@FiddleHell) on Twitter  Offer a ride or request one for Fiddle Hell 2016 at this free carpool site

Are you planning to join us at Fiddle Hell 2016? Here's the latest news...

Fiddle Hell is a mind-blowing experience!
Copied and pasted in its entirety. Hope Dave Reiner does not mind!

"Come to Fiddle Hell Weekend!" Are you planning to join us for a fantastic fiddling weekend with your friends? Andy Reiner, Katie McNally, Eric Favreau, Becky Tracy, and Andrea Beaton (in photos above) all hope to see you there, and I do, too! Plan on Fiddle Hell Massachusetts, Nov. 4-6, 2016 in Westford, MA:  We'll be back at the Westford Regency with free parking and improved food options. More info here. Check out our 2016 workshop and jam session leaders: The list is nearly final - just click on Session Leaders 2016. Take a look at our new common tune list:  For 2016, we've created a new list of 52 common tunes in addition to the original list, based on your suggestionson the Fiddle Hell survey over the last 3 years. Sign up for the weekend now: You can prepay here and save a little money. Or just pay when you arrive.  We have discounts for seniors, young adults, and kids, and a few scholarships if you can't afford the fee. Book your room at the Westford Regency: The Fiddle Hell discount (code HEL114) gets you a room with two beds for $99/night plus tax.  More info here - just click on Overall Logistics 2016. Or commute if you're local. Tell your friends about the Saturday night concert (Nov 5th, 7PM): Twenty fiddlers, followed by a contra dance (dance or sit in with the band). New instructors for 2016 include Bruce Molsky (oldtime), Katie McNally(Scottish), Skip Gorman (bluegrass, folk, cowboy), Ellery Klein (Irish),Autumn Rose Lester (New England), and Gretchen Koehler (New England, Canadian). Returning instructors Andrea Beaton, Andy Reiner, Becky Tracy, Darol Anger, David Kaynor, Eric Favreau, Joy Adams (cello), Frank Ferrel, Laurel Martin, Laurie Hart, Lissa Schneckenberger, Mark Simos, Pete Sutherland, Tom Morley, and many others will be back again to teach tunes and techniques at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels, and to lead jams in various styles. Click here and then click on Session Leaders 2016 on the left to see details about our 2016 instructors, who are great players and experienced, supportive teachers. In addition to fiddlers, mandolin players, violists and cellists are welcome. Other instrumentalists will need to check with me first.  Did you know that the top 6 fiddle styles played by Fiddle Hell attendees (from the 2015 survey) are: New England, Irish, Scottish & Cape Breton, Southern Oldtime, French Canadian, and Bluegrass? 2016 workshops and jams will cover these traditional styles in amazing depth, plus Swedish, Cajun, Klezmer, Blues, World, Canadian, Jazz, and Western Swing. We'll also have singing & kids' workshops. Half the attendees in 2015 were from MA, with the other half from NH, NY, VT, CT, RI, ME, and 12 other states (plus a few from Canada & Scotland). Please invite your musical friends to join us in 2016! Since it's a while until November, think about these great camps, too: Guitar and Mandolin Camp North,April 15-17, 2016, in Charlton, MA.  I've taught there in the past, and will be attending to learn and jam.  Includes some fiddle classes, too. Rustic Roots Music Camp, August 11-15, 2016, in CT.  Andy Reiner runs this small camp, featuring communal workshops (and cooking), singing, campfire jams & multiple instruments (especially fiddle).  Ages 18+.  I'll be there again! Maine Fiddle Camp, several fun weekends and  weeks in June and August, 2016. Traditional dance music on many instruments. Several MFC instructors also teach at Fiddle Hell. Helpful Links Fiddle Hell logistics, lodging, and leaders  Fiddle Hell schedule (from 2015, will be updated in July of 2016) New list of 52 common tunes and 2-CD set of original common tunes played fast and slow Join the Facebook Group for Fiddle Hell Massachusetts    Join the 2016 Fiddle Hell Facebook Event   Follow Fiddle Hell Massachusetts (@FiddleHell) on Twitter   Offer a ride or request one for Fiddle Hell 2016 at this free carpool site

SPEND A WEEKEND IN (fiddle) HELL

"Fiddle Hell Massachusetts is a yearly gathering of fiddlers to meet, jam, learn, and have fun. It's both friendly and diverse, crossing all ages and including many traditional fiddle styles. Typically, there are about 1/3 beginners, 1/3 intermediates, and 1/3 advanced players, with many workshop and jam session choices at each level.

The invention of the late, great fiddler Dale Hopkins from Missouri, Fiddle Hell occurs periodically in fun locations worldwide. Prior Fiddle Hells have occurred in the US, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. Dale used the term "Fiddle Hell" to refer to the unique sound of many fiddlers playing a tune together. While Dale's two Fiddle Hell gatherings involved performances for the public as well as some informal sharing of tunes and techniques, Dave Reiner extended the concept to make Fiddle Hell Massachusetts more of a fiddle camp for all ages, with scheduled workshops and jam sessions led by a wonderful group of experienced and supportive instructors.

Last year (2014), we had 300+ musicians, mostly fiddlers, at the tenth Massachusetts Fiddle Hell. There is very limited space for musicians other than fiddlers. However, mandolin players, violists, and cellists are welcome! Other instrumentalists, please contact Dave first to ask. We request that any accompanying instruments only play styles and tunes they are familiar with, and ask the fiddlers before joining jam sessions...."

If you are not a fiddler, come for the Saturday night concert and contra dance.

Web: http://www.reinerfamilyband.com/introduction.html
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/922129041138286/

Be sure to drop by the merch room and register for a chance to win a pair of tickets to "Darol Anger and The Furies: On A Winter's Night", Saturday, December 4 at Unity Somerville -https://www.facebook.com/events/720714501363398/

We also recommend the Reiner Family's "Fiddle Hell", November 6-8 in Westford

Earlier today we recommended Skip Gorman's upcoming camp - see Two thumbs up for Skip Gorman's CAMP BACKUP!
In fairness, we have been tangentially involved with the Reiner Family's "Fiddle Hell" from practically the beginning, some ten years ago. So in all fairness we must also recommend it, which, unfortunately if you wanted to attend both, run the same weekend.

There are two parts, for hard core fiddlers and for the general public.

Traditional Fiddle Concert at Fiddle Hell Gathering, Westford Regency Inn, 219 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA. This epic concert is followed by an easy contradance (stay to listen or dance).  Tickets are $15 at the door.  Free parking.

Concert fiddlers and their styles:
Alan Jabbour (oldtime Appalachian)
Andrea Beaton (Cape Breton)
Andy Reiner (world, bluegrass) 
Christian Howes (jazz)
Dave Reiner (bluegrass, swing)
Eric Favreau (French Canadian)
Frank Ferrel (New England)
Lissa Schneckenburger (Scottish, New England)
Laurel Martin (Irish) 
Pete Sutherland (oldtime Appalachian)

Andrea Beaton

The 11th Annual Fiddle Hell event itself has 235 workshops and jams for fiddlers from Nov 6-8.   It’s fun, friendly, inexpensive, and a great way to meet new fiddling friends.  For an intro to Fiddle Hell, which Dave Reiner’s family sponsors and runs, go to http://reinerfamilyband.com/introduction.html and click on What Is Fiddle Hell?  This is Fiddle Hell’s 11th year. There’s a list of all of the fiddlers who are teaching at the weekend Fiddle Hell event at http://reinerfamilyband.com/schedule.html - just click on 2015 Workshop and Jam Leaders.  Many are very well known as performers, and all are excellent teachers!

2015 Workshop & Jam Leaders

For 2015, our leaders include an incredible range of wonderful fiddlers and accompanists, covering many styles.

Click on leaders' names to look at their websites. Those new to Fiddle Hell in 2015 are marked with a '+' sign; they are most welcome!

Instrument Codes: F=Fiddle, B=Banjo, M=Mandolin, A=Accordion, D=Dulcimer, H=Harp, BASS=Bass, CELLO=Cello, BODH=Bodhrán, CLAR=Clarinet, U=Ukulele

Style Codes: BALK=Balkan, BG=Bluegrass, BLUE=Blues, BRET=Breton, CAJ=Cajun,CAN=Canadian, CB=Cape Breton, CJ=Chili Judge, CL=Classical, CTRY=Country, FOLK=Folk,GYP=Gypsy, IR=Irish, JAZZ=Jazz, KLEZ=Klezmer, MARI=Maritime, MW=Midwest, NE=New England, OT=Oldtime (Southern), QB=Québecois, SCAN=Scandinavian, SCOT=Scottish,SWNG=Swing, TX=Texas, VOC=Vocals (at Fiddle Hell), WO=World, WS=Western Swing

Musician	Instruments	Primary traditional styles
Adrianna Ciccone	F	CAN, QB, CB, IR, OT
+ Alan Jabbour	F	OT, fiddling researcher
Alan Kaufman	F, M, G	OT, BG
+ Andrea Beaton	F, P	CB
Andy Reiner	F, M	OT, IR, BG, CB, SCOT, SCAN, WO
Art Bryan	B, G, M	NE, OT, IR
Art Schatz	F	WS, BG, CTRY
August Watters	M	CL, JAZZ, CTRY, FOLK, BG, WS
Barbara McOwen	F	SCOT
+ Becky Tracy	F	IR, QB, NE (back after 3 years away)
+ Bennett Hammond	G, B	OT, IR, FOLK
Bethany Waickman	G, P	NE, IR, SCOT
Bob Alessio	F, G	NE, OT
Cathy Mason	F	OT, CAJ
+ Christian Howes	F	JAZZ
Cindy Eid	BODH, B	IR, OT, BG, SWNG, BLUE, WS, KLEZ
Clayton March	F, CLAR	IR, NE, KLEZ
Dave Reiner	F, M	BG, OT, IR, NE, WS, TX, MW, CAJ, SWNG
David Kaynor	F, G, M	NE, SWED, CTRY
David Moultrup	G, M	SWNG, BG, VOC
Ed Pearlman	F	SCOT, CB
Ellen Carlson	F	BG, CAN, SWNG, IR, CTRY, BLUE
Eric Eid-Reiner	P	NE, CB, SCOT, IR, OT, SWNG, WS, BLUE
Eric Favreau	F	QB, CAN
+ Frank Ferrel	F	NE, IR, QB, MARI, CB
George Fowler	F	NE, IR
+ Jane Rothfield	F, B	OT, NE, SCOT
Jason Anick	F, M	JAZZ, GYP, SWNG, BOP, BG
Jenna Moynihan	F	SCOT
Jerry Wile	G	BG, OT, WS, BLUE
John Chambers	A, F	SCAN, KLEZ, NE, BALK, SCOT, IR
John Robinson	G	BG, IR, OT, NE, SWNG, BLUE, CTRY, CAJ
+ Joy Adams	CELLO, B	OT, WO, FOLK, VOC, CL
Julie Metcalf	F	NE, OT, BG, SCOT, TX
+ Laurel Martin	F	IR (esp. Clare & East Galway)
Laurie Hart	F	QB, NE, IR, SCAN
Lissa Schneckenburger	F	VOC, NE, SCOT
+ Lorraine Hammond	D, M, H	VOC, FOLK (old and new), OT
+ Lukas Pool	B	OT
Mark Simos	F, G	OT, IR, NE, QB, KLEZ, VO, New Trad
Marshall Racowsky	G	TX, SWNG, WS, OT, CJ
Michelle Kaminsky	F	CAJ, OT
Paul Harty	G, F	BG, IR, NE, WS, CAJ, OT, BLUE, SWNG
Pete Anick	F, M, G	SWNG, BG, GYP, WO, OT, BRET
+ Pete Sutherland	F, G, ...	VOC, OT, NE, much more
Rob Flax	F, M, BASS	JAZZ, BG
Shana Aisenberg	F, M, G	OT, IR, SCOT, NE, KLEZ, BALK, SCAN, BLUE
+ Shona Carr	G, F, B	OT, SCOT, FOLK, VOC
Terri Lukačko	F	OT
Tim Rowell	B, D, U	OT
Tom Morley	F	CL, IR, OT

notloB alumni are in red.

Good luck deciding which to attend!