For some toe-tapping and knee-slapping music this weekend, check out the 45th annual fiddle contest, presented by the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers' Association Saturday at the Blackburn Community Centre.
There's also a concert tonight featuring Mark Sullivan, six-time Canadian fiddling champion, who will be accompanied by Mike Sanyshyn and Keith Hill.
Sullivan has performed and taught in Prince George many times.
"He's an exceptional teacher," said Doug Borden, vice president of the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers' Association. "His teaching has gotten us new members here in Prince George and really made fiddling exciting for us."
Right now there's 158 members in the fiddlers' association.
Members of the group play for dances and the atmosphere is very welcoming.
"We welcome anyone to come and see what we do and we'll get you started," said Borden. "We have about five dances a year and our club plays for fundraisers and we many visit old folks' homes. We're always very well received and we always put on a good show."
The club encourages players at any level to jam with them.
"After a couple of years, you're a good player because you've had all this practice, playing with other fiddlers," said Borden. "That is the key and Mark Sullivan has pushed that one on us. He always says keep playing. You'll never get better if you don't show up."
During the contest there's categories for beginners, intermediates, open, championships and seniors. Depending on the skill level most have to play a waltz, a jig and a reel. Beginners only play two songs while those entering the championship level add a song of choice to their repertoire.
"We always have a lot of fun and even if you don't think you're a big fan of old time fiddle music, people always seem to really enjoy themselves while they're here," said Borden.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and the preliminaries start at 11 a.m. with finals at 2 p.m. Following the presentation of awards there's a spaghetti dinner and the evening ends with a dance, featuring fiddle music, of course.
Tickets for the Friday night concert at the Blackburn Community Centre, 2451 South Blackburn Rd., are $20 each at Northern Hardware, the Violin Shop or at the door. Admission to the contest is $5, dinner is $7 and the pancake breakfast Sunday morning at 8 a.m. is $5 all held at the Blackburn Community Centre.
