Peach Bottom Farm Fiddle & Strings Camp

02/13/2016

beautiful!

The Crystal Violin.
http://goo.gl/aDGZIA

01/20/2016

Hello everyone!

After earnest and thoughtful consideration, I regret to inform everyone that Peach Bottom Farm Fiddle & Strings will not occur this (2016) summer.

I am deeply grateful for all your interest and will keep you informed when there are updates.

Thank you immensely,

I hope you have a meaningful year full of your favorite music and friends!

Blessings,
Patti

12/19/2015

I hope everyone had a deLIGHTful Chanukah and has a wonderful Christmas! May His Peace which passes all understanding be born anew in your heart the coming year! .. Patti

06/26/2015

Well, Thursday is kind of a culmination of several things during the week.
Our "International Peach Bottom Band Competition and Awards" occurs with BIG prizes like pop-cycles for everyone!

That evening is the long anticipated Big-BBQ & Teachers Showcase Concert; and what a concert it was! It's hard to find this much talent on one stage anywhere, let alone here on little ol' Peach Bottom Farm.
What a line up and even some surprise visitors including Scott Coney from Alan Jackson Band. Claire brought the audience to tears with her beautiful "Dear Sister".
Larry delighted us with one of the oldest instruments in the world, the Jew's or Jaw harp. He also played a wonderful blues tune while Samantha answered in dance.
Of course I have to brag a little on "my" Marlon, back this week from Colorado to work Camp. He joined Shane, Brandon, & Bryan on stage for a little Sally Good'n & did a superb job as recognized by the audience! (Love ya Marlon)

There's really too much to mention of the amazing artists weaving their way through a personally orchestrated night of sheer fun and extraordinary talent. Thanks to all the musicians for their dedication and zeal!
Thanks for all those yummy side dishes brought by friends and neighbors!
Jams continued through the night until the early hours of morning... why Breakfast is an hour later on Friday morning, our last day!
We look forward to seeing ya'all next year!
Happy music making and Blessings!
Patti

06/26/2015

Well, Thursday is kind of a culmination of several things during the week.
Our "International Peach Bottom Band Competition and Awards" occurs with BIG prizes like pop-cycles for everyone!

That evening is the long anticipated Big-BBQ & Teachers Showcase Concert; and what a concert it was! It's hard to find this much talent on one stage anywhere, let alone here on little ol' Peach Bottom Farm.
What a line up and even some surprise visitors including Scott Coney from Alan Jackson Band. Claire brought the audience to tears with her beautiful "Dear Sister".
Larry delighted us with one of the oldest instruments in the world, the Jew's or Jaw harp. He also played a wonderful blues tune while Samantha answered in dance.
Of course I have to brag a little on "my" Marlon, back this week from Colorado to work Camp. He joined Shane, Brandon, & Bryan on stage for a little Sally Good'n & did a superb job as recognized by the audience! (Love ya Marlon)

There's really too much to mention of the amazing artists weaving their way through a personally orchestrated night of sheer fun and extraordinary talent. Thanks to all the musicians for their dedication and zeal!
Thanks for all those yummy side dishes brought by friends and neighbors!
Jams continued through the night until the early hours of morning... why Breakfast is an hour later on Friday morning, our last day!
We look forward to seeing ya'all next year!
Happy music making and Blessings!
Patti

06/25/2015

Wednesday was yet another day of classes & workshops…. even a Hambone workshop given by the distinctive Mark Schatz! After a hardy vegetarian lasagna dinner it was off to the 1908 Historic Court House in Independence for more jamming with locals and others passing through these Crooked Road destinations.

06/24/2015

06/16/2015

What a wonderful surprise for us at Peach Bottom for Wayne Henderson to drop in and join us for a bite of our incredible chicken BBQ night and pick a few tunes with some of the kids here. Your kindness and graciousness for all that you do for kids will live on and be remembered for many generations! Each year we have kids who are able to be at PeachBottom because of your generosity. We also look forward to your amazing WAYNE C. HENDERSON FESTIVAL this Saturday and to seeing one of our favorite friends perform there; April Verch & her band! Great end to a first day here at Peach Bottom!

06/12/2015

Just 2 more days! ..We're ready to give inspiring Instruction and
having a fantastic week with you at PeachBottomFiddle&Strings!
SHANE COOK, BRANDON DAVIS, SCOTT FREEMAN, CLAIRE LYNCH, BRYAN McDOWELL, MARK SCHATZ, LARRY UNGER, SAMANTHA WILHELMI

06/06/2015

Wow! We are just days away from all the fun & music at Peach Bottom! I think the Instructors are just as excited as the students to be coming here. I hope everyone has safe travels. We can hardly wait to see old friends and welcome new ones for this, our 12th Peach Bottom Farm Fiddle & Strings Camp!!

05/14/2015

News Flash! Peach Bottom has the absolute pleasure of welcoming SCOTT FREEMAN this year as Mandolin & Fiddle teacher. Scott is an amazing multi-instrumentalist in various genres from progressive Bluegrass, Old-time, to Jazz. Scott has sung, written & composed several National recordings, is a full time Instructor and just one heck of a nice guy!
Peach Bottom F&S welcomes you Scott!

05/03/2015

I hope everyone is getting those fingers loosened up, toughened up and ready for some good fun and lots of learning at Peach Bottom Fiddle & Strings Camp! Just a little more than a month away.

04/18/2015

WE ARE FULL! Thank you everyone for your support and enthusiastic response. We are looking forward to having each of you join us this year at Peach Bottom for another fantastic year!

03/18/2015

The Hills are alive with the sound of music…. The Appalachian hills…. at "The Peach" every summer. Hope to see you then!

03/02/2015

No snow in this picture!
Just three short months before the fun and learning begin!

02/18/2015

What a talented group of Instructors we have for you this year at Peach Bottom! Do you know who each of them are? If not, why not? We have one more Instructor to announce. Stay tuned!

02/07/2015

We are tickled Peach to include this year, a first for us, voice Instruction. We welcome the amazing Claire Lynch to fulfill this roll!
Claire has long been recognized and praised as a pioneer and creative force in acoustic music. Her career has been decorated with many accolades including two GRAMMY nominations and two IBMA Female Vocalist

SOME of Claire's accomplishments include:

-- United States Artists Walker Fellowship award 2012.
--Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album of 1997
--Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album of 1995
--International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Female Vocalist of the Year, 2013, 2010, 1997
--(IBMA) Song of the Year, 2014
--(IBMA) Recorded Event of the Year 2014

Here are just a few of the albums Claire has appeared on:
Linda Ronstadt ~ Emmylou Harris ~ Alison Brown ~ Sara Watkins ~ Donna the Buffalo ~ Dolly Parton - Pam Tillis ~ Ralph Stanley ~ John Starling ~ Jim Hurst ~ Patty Loveless ~ Kathy Mattea ~

For more information about all our Instructors and registration for 2015 PeachBottomFarmFiddle&StringsCamp please check out our website! peachbottomfarm.com.
Registration opens Feb. 1. Accepting only 35 registrants. Sign up early!

Come join in the fun!

02/02/2015

Back for her the third year is PBFF&S Dance Instructor, Samantha Wilhelmi! Samantha has been dancing since the age of 3, beginning with ballet, tap and jazz. Clogging however was what claimed her attention with its percussive expression of music and emotion. Samantha has worked under various renowned instructors through the years. She is proficient in both precision and freestyle clogging forms, with influences of flatfooting and buck dancing making her style unique.
Samantha directs her own clogging company "Rhythmic Expression", as well as teaching in the Alleghany County Junior Appalachian Musician Program for the past five years. She performs at events with the Patrick Henry Travelers, directed by Clogging Hall of Fame member Pearly Reynolds. Helping others, especially young people, to build an avenue to express themselves and accomplish something they can carry through the rest of their lives is truly Samantha’s passion.
Find out more at her website:http://www.rhythmicexpressionclogging.com/

01/31/2015

We are so pleased to welcome Mark Schatz to PBFF&S Camp.
Twice named IBMA Bass Player of the Year. Mark is Musical Director for the internationally-acclaimed Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. He has worked and/or recorded with an impressive variety of artists including Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Maura O'Connell, Tony Rice, John Hartford, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Tim & Mollie O'Brien and Nickel Creek. Bring your dancing shoes, claw-hammer Banjo and Bass and get ready to learn and have some fun!

01/28/2015

We are thrilled to welcome Bryan McDowell, musician extraordinaire to this years PBFF&S Camp.
Since a tender age, Bryan and his sister Emma performed and recorded throughout SW Virginia. Two of their songs were selected for the 2008 IBMA Songwriter Showcase.
Bryan took a break from performing to try his hand at competing. Over the next two years, by the ripe old age of 19, he would amass twenty-one first place wins including, Merlefest, Wayne C. Henderson, and Galax Festivals. In 2009 Bryan was crowned Champion in the Walnut Valley National Flat Pick Guitar AND Mandolin AND Fiddle Championships... a feat unparalleled in the festival's 40 year run. Bryan is sure to challenge and inspire you with his patience and in-depth knowledge.

01/23/2015

MORE INSTRUCTORS TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!!!!
Check us out at

01/23/2015

Back buy popular demand, the gifted Brandon Davis brings us his versatility and expertise, spanning styles from smooth Jazz to Old Time, Bluegrass and everything in-between. One of the original "Winfield Three" Brandon has his share of trophies, but he's also a talented Instructor and very popular with his students.

01/16/2015

Another all-star instructor at PBFF&Strings returns in 2015 (this time as a proud Dad)
Shane Cook is:

US Grand National Fiddle Champion
3-time Canadian Open National Fiddle Champion
3-time Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion
US Grand National Fiddle Champion
Shane was the youngest fiddler ever to win three of these four major awards.
Need we say more? Maybe just a little bit;
“Shane Cook rates at the top of the short list of the finest fiddlers in the world today."
-Canadian Fiddlers Hall of Fame
about his latest C.D. Liz Carroll says:
“You can't get much better than this - Shane cranking it out on the fiddle with his innovative,
hot-smooth playing, and Jake, alternating between guitar and piano,
creating the perfect groove. Superb musicians, beautiful tunes, powerful music!"
Okay, we rest our case!

01/09/2015

Larry had such a grand time last year he's returning in 2015!
Larry Unger has been a full-time musician since 1984 and has presented a diverse range of musical performances across the United States, Europe, Israel,India and Afghanistan. Titled “master guitarist” by Dirty Linen, Unger has played with many top contra dance bands and has accompanied such fiddlers as Eden MacAdam-Somer, Judy Hyman, Matt Glaser, and Lissa Schneckenburger. Larry’s original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musicians around the world and can also be heard in four Ken Burns documentaries. Initially studying blues guitar with Etta Baker and John Jackson and later taking up the banjo and bass, Unger has become one of the most sought-after rhythm players in the country. Find out more at: http://www.larryunger.net/

12/24/2014

Let every heart prepare Him room!

Wishing everyone a warm and Peaceful Christmas filled with lots of Love and really great music!
Looking forward to seeing everyone in the New Year!
Warmly,
Peach Bottom Farm Fiddle & Strings Camp

11/25/2014

Peach Bottom Farm Fiddle & Strings would like to wish everyone a heartfelt Thanksgiving! We are so greatful to an awesome God for his longsuffering patience, His mercies, (new every morning) and His eternal Love for us!

07/24/2014

It's official. The dates for next years Fiddle & Strings Camp are
June 15 - 19.
We're excited about some of the changes we hope will make your experience even more inspirational!
Registration dates will be announced after the first of the year, but will likely be some time in February.
It's hard to belive the summer is winding down. The week of the Old Galax Fiddlers Convention is just around the corner, the signal school is just about here.
I am still hearing from some of you just how meaningful Peach Bottom has been in your lives and your music. This makes my heart glad! I hope your Summer has been filled with music and love.

We have some very exciting news to share, but I will have to keep you in suspense a bit longer.. :)

Thanks!

07/01/2014

Thinking ahead to next year! …. some surprises…. stay tuned! ..

06/19/2014

Thank you again to the wonderfully attentive & talented teachers of PBFF&S Camp 2014 ! You're the best!

SHANE COOK, PAUL ANASTASIO, STEVIE BARR, SAMANTHA WILHELMI, LARRY UNGER, STANLEY WIDENER, CODY WALTERS, APRIL VERCH