Draggin' The Bow CD with Charlie Walden & John Stewart

All 31 tracks from my Draggin' The Bow CD. 


 Recorded in 1985. Download this track and the entire album from:

https://charliewaldenmusic.bandcamp.com/


When I was coming up as a fiddler in Central Missouri the older gentlemen I learned from played a wide variety of music. In addition to the standard hoe-downs and waltes, I heard lots of great rags, swing numbers, schottisches and 6/8 tunes. John and I have attempted to put together a program on this recording that includes some of that "other" music. 

One of the exponents of these other types of tunes was a fine player from Jefferson City named Jimmy Gilmore. We enjoyed hanging out with Jimmy because you never knew what he was going to play (or say) next. He was one of the few old-time fiddlers I ever met who would admit to being able to read music and was equally comfortable playing Sweet Georgia Brown as he was The Grey Eagle. Jimmy had a vibrato on waltzes you could drive a Mack truck though and a great sense of humor to boot.. This recording is dedicated to Jimmy Gilmore. --- Charlie Walden 


Thanks to my long-time musical collaborator John Stewart for providing the up-town and hillbilly guitar work on this recording.

Prairie Hill Contra Dance with Patt & Possum - March 3, 2016

Highlights from the Prairie Hill Contra dance at Pewaukee, Wisconsin, on March 3, 2016. Music by Charlie Walden - fiddle & Patt Plunkett - piano with Roger Diggle calling.

KDHX Folk School Fiddle Workshop - April 2016 with Patt & Possum

Highlights of a fiddle workshop given by Charlie Walden at the KDHX St. Louis Folk School on April 9, 2016. The taught included Red Fox Waltz, Kentucky Waltz and Valse Gisele. Go get the sheet music for these tunes at http://www.charliewalden.com/Dots.htm.

April 2016 Childgrove Contra Dance

Highlights of the April 10, 2016, Childgrove Contra Dance with Charlie Walden on fiddle and Patt Plunkett on piano. Ted Steels calling the figures.

Bethel Missouri 1989 Main Stage Performances (audio only)

Performances of traditional Midwestern fiddling and other music recorded on the main stage at the 1989 Mid-America Old Time Fiddlers Convention. June 8-11, 1989. At Bethel, Shelby County, Missouri.

Vesta Johnson - Missouri Fiddler

Video clips of veteran Missouri fiddler Vesta Johnson.

Bob Holt - Ozarks Fiddler

Various clips of Ozark fiddle great Bob Holt, of Ava, MO.

Chirps Smith Fiddle & Mandolin

Various clips of Chirps Smith playing at Bethel, MO in the 1980s and 90s.

1997 - Charlie Walden Raw Fiddle Cuts

Clips from a videotape I made for a friend in the late 90s. Just some old-time reels and hoe-downs.

1997 Bethel Fiddle Youth Fiddle Camp and Contest

Highlights of the annual Bethel Youth Fiddle Camp held in June each year in Bethel, Shelby County, MO.

Gryphon Strings - Palo Alto Fiddle Workshop 2015 with Patt & Possum

Excerpts from a Missouri-Style fiddle workshop held in Palo Alto, CA, on January 31, 2015, at Gryphon Strings. Tunes incles Norma Lou's Waltz, Lamplighter's Hornpipe, Harrington Valley Two-Step (by Calvin Vollrath), and Casey's Hornpipe. Presented by Charlie Walden - fiddle and Patt Plunkett - piano.

Valentine's Day Dance 2015 with Patt & Possum

Here's a little excerpt from the Valentine's Day Dance 2015 at Fizz in Chicago. The event was the brainchild of Old Lazarus Harp - Folk Collective.

San Diego Fiddle Workshop 2015 with Patt & Possum

Excerpts from a fiddle workshop held in San Diego, CA on January 24, 2015. Charlie Walden - fiddle & Patt Plunkett - piano. Several tunes were chawed on including Bear Creek Hop, Polk County Breakdown and Walking in My Sleep. A demonstration of "fancy" bowing tricks was also provided.

Palo Alto Contra Dance 2015 with Patt & Possum

Patt & Possum play the Palo Alto Contra Dance, January 31, 2015. With our pal Barb Rosner on bass.

Patt's Piano Workshop

Examples of piano accompaniment for Midwestern and Canadian fiddle tunes by Patt Plunkett.

Jam @ Dwight Lamb's (October 3, 2015)

Tunes from the Missouri Valley recorded at a weekend jam session in Western Iowa on October 3, 2015, with Dwight Lamb, Liz Amos & Charlie Walden on fiddle, Patt Plunkett on piano.

IOTFA Old-Time Fiddle Workshop - 2014

Excerpts from my IOTFA Fiddle Workshop held at Effingham, Illinois, on October 18, 2014.  I teach Tennesse Rag, Country Waltz and Johnny Con't Come Home Drunk.  -- Charlie Walden

Learn to Play Back in '89

From a workshop held in Effingham, IL, on October 17, 2015 and sponsored by the Illinois Old Time Fiddlers Association. The workshop focused on tunes from midwestern fiddler Lyman Enloe.  Tunes taught included Back in '89, Cowhide Boots and Lost Indian (or Lonesome Indian as Lyman called it).

2014 Missouri State Fair Fiddle Championship

Participants in the 2014 Missouri State Fair Fiddling Championship. The contest is held every year in August on the last day of the fair.

St. Louis Folk School Fiddle Workshop September 27, 2014

When I was growing up one of my biggest influences was Pete McMahan of Harrisburg, MO.  Pete was without question the top fiddler of his generation.  He could play more types of tunes, had more technical command of instrument, won more contests and arguably had more DRIVE than anyone else back in those days. I’ll show you some of the tunes and techniques I picked up from Pete and let you in on some great field recordings of Pete that I’ve had squirreled away.