Learn to Play Boys Around The World

In this set of videos I'll show you how to play a classic Missouri Valley fiddle tune from Cyril Stinnett and Dwight Lamb call The Boys Around The World. Key of A in standard tuning. 

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.

University of Chicago Folk Festival 2015 with Patt & Possum

From the Sunday afternoon square dance at the 55th Annual University of Chicago Folk Festival. February 15, 2015. Music by Charlie Walden - fiddle & Patt Plunkett - piano (aka Patt & Possum) with calling by Bill Sudkamp. Here renditions of Buck Fever Rag, Lucky Trapper, Jimmy Walker Two-Step and Forked Deer. PnP are joined on Forked Deer by a whole gaggle on fine Midwestern fiddlers - Genevieve Koester, Cliff Harrison, Megan Greene and the inimitable Chirps Smith.

San Diego Contra Dance 2015 with Patt & Possum

At the San Diego Contra Dance on January 24, 2015. Charlie Walden - fiddle and Patt Plunkett - piano. The tunes are Sherbrook Reel and St. Anne's Reel. Martha Wild calling.

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.

San Francisco Workshop - 2015 with Charlie Walden & Patt Plunkett

Video excerpts from a workshop in San Francisco on January 30, 2015. We ran through four good ol' tunes including: Old Ladies Pickin' Chickens from Dwight Lamb, Pike's Peak, which originated with Sharp, Hinman &Sharp, Shoal Creek Breakdown from Casey Jones and Turkey in the Pea Patch from the repertoire of Buddy Thomas of Kentucky via Bob Holt of Ava in the Missouri Ozarks.

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.

September 2014 Child Grove Dance

Great fun at this Child Grove dance at the Monday Club on Sunday (Sept.28th, 2014) in St. Louis, MO. With Tres Buckhannonos (Emily, Dennis & Cuzzin Curt - piano, guitar and mandolin) and Andy Gribble on bass.

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.

St. Louis Folk School Fiddle Workshop (October 31, 2015)

From a workshop presented at the KDHX St. Louis Folk School on October 31, 2015. With Patt & Possum - Charlie Walden (fiddle) and Patt Plunkett (piano). The workshop focused on tunes that can be attributed to African American fiddle players of the early 20th Century from Callaway and surrounding Central Missouri counties.

Callaway County in Mid-Missouri, in addition to once being a hotbed of Civil War secessionists, is known for its many great old-time fiddlers.  Among these was legendary African-American Bill Katon of Tebbetts, the namesake of Katon’s Hornpipe. While I never knew Katon, as he passed away in 1934, I heard many stories about him and a lot of the old-timers could play his tunes or tunes referenced to other Black musicians in Callaway County. So we’ll explore this tradition with tunes I derived from Jake Hockemeyer, Taylor McBaine and Keith Orchard.

2014 St. Louis Folk & Roots Festival Square Dance

Square Dance in conjunction with the KDHX St. Louis Folk & Roots Festival held at the Stage at KDHX on September 26, 2014. With Charlie Walden - fiddle, Emily Buckhannon - piano and Dennis Buckhannon - guitar. Patt Plunkett calling.  Tunes in the list include Old Fort Smith, Jeff City, My Little Home in West Virginia and Country Waltz.

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

Patt & Possum St. Charles House Concert

From a house concert in St. Charles, MO, on January 26, 2014.  Patt  Plunkett - piano and Charlie Walden - fiddle.

2012 Missouri State Fair Fiddle Championship

Participants in the 2012 Missouri State Fair Fiddling Championship. The contest is held every year in August on the last day of the fair.

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.