This Museum is not the only thing that Connecticut's Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club does.  They have a full schedule of approximately 150 play dates per year.  Please visit their web site at http://www.cbotfc.org

Connecticut's Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club

1972-2004   32 Years of Fiddling!

        Our Founder and President, Gerry Lagace, was impelled, as a member of the Old Fiddlers Club of Rhode Island, to start a fiddlers club in Connecticut.  And so, on December 10, 1972, Gerry invited twelve local musicians to his folk’s home in Bristol to tell them how the Rhode Island fiddlers were active in playing their fiddles and promoting the “art” of “old tyme fiddling”.  After hearing Gerry’s idea, these musicians wanted to persuade other fiddlers in the area, to take their fiddles out of their cases, rosin up their bows, and make them useful again.  Thus was the beginning of the Connecticut’s Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club!

         Our purpose is to preserve and promote the art of the old tyme fiddlin'. The art of old time fiddling has been passed down from generation to generation and learned by ear.  Each fiddler has his own style of playing a particular tune. Group playing of old tyme tunes by ear is what makes our Club unique. This is the old New England Fiddle Band style of playing.          

            Our first appearance was in the 1973 Bristol Mum’s Parade.  We’ve performed in Rockwell and Page Parks for the City of Bristol and for the Bristol Boys Club O. M. Show. We did performances for: COUNTRY FAIRS (Goshen, Woodbury, Harwinton, Terryville, Bethlehem, Riverton and Milford Oyster Festival: GAZEBOS on the TOWN GREEN (Woodbury, Southbury, Avon, Unionville, Naugatuck, Thomaston and Fairfield and at LODGES (American Legion, Elks, VFW, Knights of Columbus and Masonic).  We’ve entertained at: Senior Centers and Retirement Complexes.  Medical and Alzheimer Centers, Nursing and Health Care Centers, Specials Olympic activities, church functions, private parties and outings.  We’ve performed in New York for the Rhinebeck Duchess County Fair and the Schenectady Niskayuna Folk Festival.  And, our furthest concert performance was Madawaska, Maine.



            We are over 100 members, whose age ranges from 9 to 92.  Most of our members play the fiddle.  However, to accompany the fiddlers and add variety, we have musicians who play: mandolins, guitars, bass, banjos, spoons, washtub, piano, button-boxes, harmonicas, accordions, bone-sticks, jaw’s harp and percussion instruments with wood block.

Our performances of one to three hours long include “group playing” as well as “solos”.

Recordings of “Group Playing” are available on LP’s, Tape Cassettes & CD’s. “HAPPY FIDDLIN”!  THE FIDDLERS

Please visit our web site by clicking on the above link, or visiting http://www.cbotfc.org       

Our Playing Schedule 2005

The Connecticut's Bristol Old Tyme Fiddler's Club has many public performances that you are welcome to attend. We perform about 150 concerts each year for private and public events. Most of the public events are held from May through October. We will be listing the public events on this page as soon as the schedule becomes available.

Interested in having us perform at your next event?
  Our performances are one to three hours long and include “group playing” as well as “solos”.

 

CARE TO JOIN US?
We are always looking for fiddlers. For more information: Click here to e-mail 

or call Gerry @860-582-1542

 

SATURDAY FEB 12th, 2005  - South Windsor Library 7:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Here are some of our regular public events:
June:
Franco-American Club, Waterbury
Strawberry Festival, Cheshire
Southington Green
Plantsville Strawberry Festival
Manchester Band Shell at MCC

July:
Bridgewater Historical Society
Village of East Farms, Waterbury
Chesterfield Health Care, Chester
Village at Kensington, Meriden
Elim Park, Cheshire
Town of Woodbury, Hollow Park
CT Agricultural Fair, Goshen August:
Norton Park, Plainville
Baldwin Park, Terryville
Goshen Fair, Goshen
Oxford Grange
Harwinton Fair September:
Prospect Renaissance Fair in Cheshire
South Britain Congregational Apple Festival
Terryville Fair

October:
Harwinton Fair
Roberts Orchards, Bristol
Riverton Fair
Hillstead Museum, Farmington

CONTACT INFORMATION
 President Gerry Lagace (860) 582-1542 Gerry@cbotfc.org
Vice President Char Hoppe (860) 673-3369  
Treasurer Grant Day (203) 272-5910  
Secretary Sue Hill (860) 583-9067 Susan@cbotfc.org

Interested in having us perform at your next event?
  Our performances are one to three hours long and include “group playing” as well as “solos”.

CARE TO JOIN US?
We are always looking for fiddlers. For more information: Send an e-mail or contact any of the above persons