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Fiddle workshop set for Golden

Li Jigeurs Mechif set to host a fiddle workshop in Golden.
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It will be a fiddlers delight in Golden with an upcoming workshop.

A different sound of fiddle playing is about to come to Golden for a special two day workshop put on by Li Jigeurs Mechif. Li Jigeurs Mechif is a local Metis  group which has been working together for the past seven years promoting cultural events. Davene Dunn and Caren Nagao have worked with other members in the group to try and bring interesting and diverse shows and workshops to the area. After going to a fiddle camp last year in Gavin Lake the organizers met Gordon Stobbe and JJ Guy. It wasn’t long before the idea was bouncing around to try and bring the players to Golden for a workshop.

The event will give local fiddle/violin musicians of all ages and levels the opportunity to work with two professionals.

“They will be able to learn some new fiddle tunes and techinique over the two days. They will also be able to showcase their skills at a concert and family dance on the Tuesday night,” Dunn said. As an extra bonus at the dance  people will also have the chance to learn some Metis and square dancing as well.

“The instructors will also be participating at the show with the students,” Nagao added. The music the instructors will be teaching will have an East Coast Flare as both Guy and Stobbe have lived in that area of Canada for a number of years.

Stobbe is originally from Saskatchewan but has made his home on the East Coast of Canada since 1977. His musical interests lie in the field of traditional music, especially as it is expressed in the wide variety of North American fiddle styles. He plays several instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and clawhammer banjo.  JJ started out by performing at a young age in many shows and dances across Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba with his two sisters in a family band. This award winning fiddler competed in and won many fiddling competitions around the prairies including the Saskatchewan Junior & Novice Fiddling Championship. In 1995 he joined the band Highway 49, and free-lanced with many other groups. His years of stage experience keeps him in demand and his busy schedule has allowed him to work with some of the biggest names in the fiddle and acoustic music world. In recent years JJ has played many shows and festivals with the Bluegrass & Old Time group “Lone Tree Road” which just released their debut album “First Mile”.

Both organizers explained the students at Gavin Lake loved what they were learning. “They would have their fiddle in their hands all day,” said Dunn. The workshop will be held at the Catholic Church of Sacred Heart 808-11th St. S. on March 19-20. For more information about the workshop call either 344-5508 or 344-6981.