Mandos and Fiddles and Banjos, Oh my!

By Sandra Cooper
There has been a delightful coolness in the mornings this past week  that  hints that  we are turning  the corner on Summer and can begin to look forward to the laid-back days of Autumn.  Once the Fall “honey-do” tasks are taken care of, this is a time to enjoy a bit of leisure before the cold weather arrives to put an end to many outdoor activities.
Taking advantage of the  glorious golden days ahead is a group returning to town who really know how to make the most of that magical time that singer-songwriter Michael Martin Murphey calls “Palomino Days.”  The Idaho Sawtooth Bluegrass Association’s members and friends who came for Labor Day Weekend last year are returning for their 10th Annual ISBA Fall Festival on September 18-20.
This will be their second year in Weiser camping on the spacious lawn in front of National Oldtime Fiddlers’ headquarters at Slocum Hall, 2235 Paddock Avenue. Last year, they offered free instrument workshops, a battle of the bluegrass bands, open mic bluegrass sessions and Sunday morning gospel hour and lots of jamming and camaraderie throughout the three-day event.  The 2015 event will be held later in the month to allow more people to attend and they extend their invitation to all area music lovers to come play, listen, and learn.
This year’s activities will begin with a Bluegrass Open Mic session on Friday evening , September 18, beginning at 5 pm at the Snake River Heritage Center Auditorium.  The auditorium is a perfect venue for this kind of acoustic event.   Admission is free and the public is invited to attend. 
Workshops will begin at 9 am Saturday morning with a free Young Acoustic Musician Workshop for kids. An instrument workshop for adults will follow at 10 am, followed by a Showcase featuring the students from the Young Musician Workshop at 12:30.  All local acoustic musicians are invited to attend the workshops. The Showcase will be followed by a concert featuring the Ladd Canyon Ramblers, Dry Buck and Ron Cole and Cherry  Springs beginning at 1:00 pm.  There will be an intermission at 4:30 during the concert.  There is a $10 admission charge for the concert.
The camping area at Slocum Hall will be open Thursday September 17 and spots are available for $11-16 plus sales and lodging taxes.  Call the Fiddle Office at (208) 414-0255 for a reservation.  For additional information call (208) 377-5326, email  isbassn@gmail.com or visit the Idaho Sawtooth Bluegrass Association’s website at www. idahosawtoothbluegrass.org.   Bring the family and hear some great bluegrass music!  Bring your instruments and join in the jamming.  Bring your youngsters and let them enjoy a great learning experience that promises to be a lot of fun.