The Annual State
Convention of the Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers’ Association (OOTFA) is scheduled for
May 19-21, 2022 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg, Or. With several
hundred coming from throughout the region, it will be an ideal place to enjoy
stage shows, jamming, dancing, workshops, band scramble, raffle and more. After a Wednesday evening meet-and-greet for early arrivals (4 -
11 p.m.), activities are scheduled on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m.
- 11 p.m. Workshops will be Thursday 12:30 - 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.,
and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The public is welcome, and events will occur at
the Douglas County Fairgrounds off I-5 at Exit 123 in Roseburg.
Jude Stensland, the 2022 convention’s
co-chair (along with Chris Cormack), states, “Our goal for this year’s
convention is to have fun playing music we love with friends, old and new, and
to conduct OOTFA business as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
During the 1980s and 90s,
OOTFA’s state convention was held in Roseburg and attracted large crowds of
old-time musicians and music-lovers. During the past decade, the convention was
held in other parts of Oregon. “We are so happy it’s returning to Roseburg,”
offers Stensland. “The venue is really pretty cool. We’ll have an immense
amount of room for jamming and workshops to satisfy almost all musical
tastes. We’ll have guides to help you
find your group, your way around and favorite kind of music. Youth are very
much included, with dedicated spaces to help all ages feel welcome. The next generation will keep this music vibrant, relevant and alive.”
While many OOTFA events
are free of charge, donations will be accepted. A 501(c)3 nonprofit
organization, OOTFA is dedicated to the perpetuation and promotion of old-time
music, loosely defined as that played on traditional instruments dating from the
first half of the 20th century and earlier. Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers'
Association formed in 1964. They publish a monthly newsletter, The Hoedowner, which is distributed to
all members.
OOTFA’s ten districts each
have governing officers who schedule meetings, jams, and performances. The Hoedowner includes activity reports,
photos and features from each district, along with a “tune of the month.” Membership is open to all who enjoy old-time
music. You don't have to be old, live in Oregon or be a musician or singer.
Many folks just enjoy listening or dancing to the music. Annual membership is
$20-25 per household, depending on how you’d like The Hoedowner delivered (e-mail or postal mail). INFO: www.ootfa.org
For more information about
OOTFA or its 2022 State Convention, please contact Jude Stensland at 541-430-2080
or E-mail jude999s@gmail.com
Oregon's Sunny Sky Boys include guitarist Jerry
Ashford and mandolinist Joe Ross. They’re sometime joined by special guests on bass,
fiddle, resophonic guitar, banjo, drums or other instruments. Their name is a take-off
on The Blue Sky Boys, a North Carolina country music duo with brothers Earl and
Bill Bolick whose careers spanned over forty years.
The Sunny Sky Boys have appeared regularly at Kantu Brewing Co.,
Umpqua Valley Farmers Market, Canyonville Farmers Market, fairs festivals, pubs,
restaurants, wineries, receptions, parties and other venues in western Oregon.
Ashford & Ross enjoying playing music that dates back to
the 1920-50s or earlier. They move from Swingin’ Hillbilly Jazz to
Foot-Stompin’ Bluegrass, with flavors of Latin Hoedown, Old-Time
Fiddle, Western Swing and Classic Country thrown in for good measure.
Jerry Ashford is the 2008 Northern California Bluegrass
Society Guitarist of the Year. He was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award
by that organization in 2016. His bluegrass and music history includes long
stints with the Homegrown String Band, Side Saddle, Mountain Creatures and
Moonglow. Jerry now makes his home in Camas Valley where he operates his own
business, Lord and Lady Lavender, growing and producing a wide variety of lavender products. Jerry
has released several albums including his solo One Guitar, Where Could I Go
(with Jim Colvert and the Moonglow Gospel Quartet) as well as several with
Moonglow (Jerry Ashford & Beth McNamara) Live at Sam’s BBQ, The Red Album,
and Merry Christmas.
Joe Ross presents interactive “edu-taining” shows with many
instruments. Born in Virginia and raised a military brat in Japan, he started
on organ and guitar in sixties rock, soul and folk bands. He first heard bluegrass
on the Far East Network, then took up mandolin and banjo in the 1970s at
University of Oregon. Over the years, bands have ranged from Celtic to Country,
Latin to Bluegrass, and Gypsyjazz to Swing. Some have been the High MountainRamblers, Zephyr Quartet, Cold Thunder, Umpqua Valley Bluegrass
Together, The Sunny Sky Boys (Jerry Ashford and Joe Ross) have
played many gigs and uploaded videos to You Tube. For more info, please call
541-673-9759 or 670-9120. Or e-mail rossjoe@hotmail.com.
Enjoy Joe Ross’ jazzy holiday guitar music from 5 – 7 pm
on Friday, December 6 in the Conference Hall at the Douglas County Christmas Craft Fair. The Christmas Craft Fair takes place at the Douglas County Fairgrounds,
2110 SW Frear Street, Roseburg, OR. Friday evening only admission is free from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.Otherwise, Christmas Fair admission is $5 for Adults.
Donate canned food for our local food banks and receive $1 off admission. Kids
12 & under are FREE.
This is the largest and most popular Christmas Fair in
Southern Oregon. Over 300 crafter booths, displaying a wide variety of hand
crafted items, such as clothing, home decor, baked goods, spices, lotions,
soaps, wood crafts, metal sculptures, art decor, other unique products and live
music!
Christmas Fair Hours
Friday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Christmas Fair ADMISSION Adults: $5.00Donate canned food tosupport our Local Food Banks and receive
$1.00 off Admission
There will be a variety ofentertainment throughout the weekend fair
including jazz guitar, accordions, caroling, violin and more. A full schedule follows:
Friday
11 am- 1 pmAccordion Club of Roseburg Douglas Hall Foyer
1 pm - 3 pm Violin Soloist Conference Hall Foyer
5 pm - 7 pmJoe
Ross - Jazzy ChristmasConference Hall
5 pm - 7 pmJeremy ThrelfallDouglas Hall Foyer
Saturday
10 am - 12 pm Accordion Club of Roseburg Douglas Hall
Foyer
1 pm - 3 pm Jeremy Threlfall Douglas Hall Foyer
2 pm - 4 pmUmpqua
Valley Youth Orchestra Exhibit Building
4 pm- 6pm Violin
Soloist Conference Hall Foyer
Sunday
11 am - 1 pm Old Time Fiddlers Conference Hall Foyer
11 am - 1 pm Accordion Club of Roseburg Douglas Hall
Foyer
Eugene Saturday Market's Holiday Market is coming to the
Lane Events Center where you can find handcrafted gifts, an International FoodCourt, and live music. It’s a great shopping experience, all in a festive and
relaxed atmosphere. The Lane Events Center is located at 13th and Jefferson in
Eugene.
Their artists are ready to greet you every weekend from
November 16th through Christmas Eve. It runs every Saturday and Sunday plus
Friday Nov. 29th. Hours are 10 am - 6 pm (closes at 4 pm on Dec. 24th).
They have live, local music all day in the Main Hall and
Holiday Hall. They offer a wide variety of gifts including exceptional
functional pottery, handmade jewelry, original and unique artwork, stunning
glass work, exquisite woodworking, and CDs from local and regional musicians.
Play their "I Spy Elves" game, Nov. 16-17 AND Dec.
23-24! Fun for the whole family!
They will be collecting donations for Food for Lane County.
Please bring your canned, non-perishable foods and put them into their barrels.
Admission and parking are free. This annual event is fun for the entire family.
Eugene Saturday Market's Holiday Market is coming to the Lane Events Center where you can find handcrafted gifts, an International Food Court, and live music. The Lane Events Center is located at 13th and Jefferson in Eugene.
Their artists are ready to greet you every weekend from November 17th through Christmas Eve. It runs every Saturday and Sunday plus Friday Nov. 23rd. Hours are 10 am - 6 pm (closes at 4 pm on Dec. 24th).
They have live, local music all day in the Main Hall and Holiday Hall. They offer a wide variety of gifts including exceptional functional pottery, handmade jewelry, original and unique artwork, stunning glass work, and exquisite woodworking. Womenspace will be wrapping gifts and accepting donations.
They will be collecting donations for Food for Lane County. Please bring your canned, non-perishable foods and put them into their barrels. Admission and parking are free. This annual event is fun for the entire family.
Umpqua Valley Bluegrass Band's mountain-styled "tight
& twangy" traditional bluegrass sound features banjo, mandolin,
fiddle, guitar, bass and vocals. The group formed in 2010 when they saw a
newspaper classified ad for a “Bluegrass Band Needed for Pig Roast BBQ.”The rest is history!
The band now keeps very busy playing at fairs, festivals,
pubs, restaurants, coffeehouses and special events. Connect with them on their
Facebook Page to stay current on where they're appearing. Band members are Liz Crain, Gene Hodson, Jerry
Zumwalt, Francis Stephenson and Joe Ross. Special Guest Jerry Ashford often
joins the band. They have many decades of experience playing bluegrass, classic
country, western, Celtic, old-time, western swing and other styles of music. Let's meet each member of the band.
At age 12, Liz Crain recorded her first bluegrass song
(“Sweet Little Miss Blue Eyes”) on a 78-rpm vinyl record paid for by grandma. While
a bluegrass multi-instrumentalist, she sticks to playing fiddle with Umpqua
Valley Bluegrass Band. She is the chairperson of the Oregon Bluegrass
Association Roseburg Chapter that hosts a monthly jam at Sutherlin Senior
Center from 1 – 4:30 p.m. on the third Sunday each month. She also plays guitar,
mandolin, bass and banjo. In the 1990s, she performed and recorded with the “Girls
Can Jam” Bluegrass Band. The all-woman group released two albums, “Cookin’” and
“Wild Oregon Jam.” She also played with folk group ERIDOR in the mid-90s. Today,
Liz also performs regularly with The Slow Ponies, Shasta Ray’s Downhome Band, Rolling
Waves, Accordion Club of Roseburg and Soromundi. Liz is a rancher who spends
her time with her four horses when she isn’t working up a new song to add to
her extensive repertoire of music.
Gene Hodson has been playing music
in the Sutherlin/Roseburg area for ten years. He started his bluegrass interest
when he hooked up with the Colliding Rivers Band.Currently, Gene plays bass for the Umpqua
Valley Bluegrass Band and also plays bass for Mountain Creek, an acoustic
variety show. Gene has also been playing the doghouse for Oregon Oldtime
Fiddlers of Roseburg for a number of years. Gene’s interest in bluegrass music
has evolved over the years from childhood. He was born in Modesto, California
and moved to the San Francisco Bay area where he lived most of his life. There
he started his own “Country Fever Band.” They played a variety of music from
country standards and bluegrass to 50, 60, 70 & 80’s light rock. They were
the same members for 25 years.
Jerry Zumwalt began
his musical career playing guitar at age 16. Begin self-taught, he played a
variety of bluegrass and country/western music. He built his own mandolin and taught
himself to play that instrument. Within the last several years, he decided to
take up the 5-string banjo. He drives a road grader for Lone Rock Timber but
plans to retire in 2018. In 201y, Jerry began playing banjo for the Umpqua
Valley Bluegrass Band, and his hard-driving traditional style fits right in
with the band’s sound. He also plays regularly in his church and with his own
gospel bluegrass band, Grassy Creek. As a musician, Jerry loves good vocal
harmonies and appreciates the warm, family type comradeship and highly professional
talents of all his band members. Jerry belongs to the Oregon Bluegrass Assn.
and Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers’ Assn.
Francis
Stephenson was born in 1932 in New Brunswick, Canada, 100 miles
north of the Maine border. He loved listening to Wilf Carter and Hank Snow on
the radio, Canada's two country heroes during the early 40s. Around 1941, he
started pulling in a radio station hundreds of miles to the south, known as
WWVA, Wheeling, W.V. On their Saturday night jamboree, they had great old-time
artists like Hawkshaw Hawkins, Little Jimmie Dickens and Cowboy Copas. But,
husband/wife duo Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (and esp. Wilma Lee's voice) was
the one that compelled Francis to sing and play guitar. So, in 1946, at age 14,
Francis got his first guitar, and started to play and sing. Francis knew at
that time that Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper's sound would be the closest sound
to bluegrass this world would ever hear, until Bill Monroe announced in 1946,
that he had invented a unique music and named it bluegrass. In 1955, at age 23,
Francis moved to Ventura, Ca. and then heard real authentic bluegrass for the
first time. It was the Stanley Brothers' first Columbia LP. Before it finished
playing, Francis' heart switched from country to bluegrass, forever. Even
though Francis now has many favorite bluegrass artists, Ralph Stanley is at the
top of the list.
No one can resist Joe Ross’
invitation to have fun while he’s performing his interactive “edu-taining”
shows with many instruments. Born in Virginia and raised a “military brat” in
Japan, his music career started on electronic organ player in sixties rock/soul
bands. He heard his first strains of bluegrass on the Far East Network. He
began playing bluegrass and Celtic music in the 1970s at University of Oregon.
Ross has played in many bands over the years, from Celtic to Country, Latin to
Hawaiian, and Gypsyjazz to Swing. Joe’s albums (available at Amazon) span
various genres and have original, eclectic influences and award-winning
accompaniment.Besides UVBB and in
various duos and trios, he currently performs with Celtic Tradition, Keynotes
Polka Band, Alamojo Western Swing Band, Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers, and Accordion
Club of Roseburg. Joe also presents a storytelling program (Folk Tales of Old
Japan), gives lessons at Absolute Music in Roseburg, and writes regularly for
music magazines, blogs and websites. Now retired after 34 years working for BLM
and Marine Corps, he works full-time to share the “enjoyment, fun and
camaraderie of making music together.”
The band frequently includes a special guest artist, Jerry
Ashford, who is the 2008 Northern California Bluegrass Society Guitarist of the
Year. He was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award by that organization in
2016. His bluegrass and music history includes long stints with the Homegrown
String Band, Side Saddle, Mountain Creatures and Moonglow. He now makes his
home in Camas Valley where he operates his own business, Lord and Lady
Lavender.
Together, the Umpqua Valley Bluegrass Band has released two
albums. In 2012, they put out "Live at the Siskiyou Bluegrass
Festival." In 2014, "Old Growth Bluegrass" hit the streets with
many fan favorites. When they perform live, you might be surprised by their
attire. If not in their formal and traditional dress of black and white, they
might be donning an old-time pioneer or some other look.
For more info, please visit their webpage or
Umpqua Valley Bluegrass Band Facebook Page. Or call 541-673-9759 or 670-9120.
Or e-mail rossjoe@hotmail.com. You can also watch many videos on You Tube of
the band in full traditional bluegrass and bluegrass gospel action.
