Long time presenter John D has offered an upbeat Irish reel with three recordings to hear -- the composer, BHO member Noah Cline and his own.  The tune is catchy with two parts, but if you're interested you can hear all six parts in the mp3 by the composer, provided in a link with notation.  For those of us who like "mountain music", you'll equally like the title TOTW, 9/23/22, The Mountain Road.

A sweet and lively modal tune comes to us via the music of Art Rosenbaum, presented by BHO moderator Bill Rogers who has much history in old-time banjo.  The tune doesn't yet have a lot of on-line presence, though it has Celtic roots, so let's get some old-time banjo versions in our discussion.  Glad to have you, Bill, on this newest TOTW, 9/29/23, Cottage in the Grove.

Any tune that may have been passed along by Alabama fiddler James Bryan is a winner.  He may have learned it from Norman and Nancy Blake. Others are involved in its journey, with the Canote Brothers sharing it on the west coast. Our Tune of the Week presenter, Mtngoat, has chosen a tune with a bit of an unclear history, but there are some hints, so perhaps we can uncover more details.  Check out TOTW, 10/6/23, Going Down the Valley -- you're bound to like it!

Good ole RG Hocutt has given us a piece of his childhood with a tune emulating a freight train learned from the venerated banjo player Pete Steele.  The tempo changes are quite understandable by the descriptive title and the only thing we might add is a train whistle if we can learn to play the tune.  Let's appreciate this piece of history and investigate the TOTW, 10/13/23, Train A-Pulling a Crooked Hill/Heavy Loaded Freight Train.  

It's been my pleasure to learn more about Missouri fiddler Vesta Johnson (1922-2021) and play another one of her good tunes.  She was active in the old time scene in Missouri from childhood well into her 90's.  When you study her life, you get the feel of rural Americana where dances were a social outlet for hard-working farm families.  The music evolved into something shared via colleges, festivals, workshops, and old-time associations, as it still is today. The tune is a beautiful waltz, so give a look at the new TOTW, 10/20/23, Orvetta Waltz.

We're most fortune Zach W has researched a second Ohio tune to work on.  It comes from the playing of Estil Adams, who apparently resided in the town the tune is named for. It's the longest town name in all of Ohio.  Join us for this week's TOTW, 10/27/23, Washington Court House.

Porter Branch is an enthusiastic player willing to research the good tunes he finds.  This week's tune isn't played a lot yet, but those who play it wish it were played more.  James Bryan, the legendary Alabama fiddle, and Cameron DeWhitt of Get Up in the Cool fame, are two of the well-known players we can listen to.  James learned it from the nephew of the source fiddler, Mack Blaylock, associated with his now well-known tune Farewell to Trion.  Let't get in on it and help bring this week's tune to old-time circles -- TOTW, 11/3/23, Rabbit in the Grass

We have a relatively new mountain tune introduced here by loyal contributor Mark Gentry.  The tune has  family history, uncovered by Mark's efforts, and he also learned that it's named for a medicinal tea.  Mark has provided some listening links, his own nice performance, and tab for our Tune of the Week.  Another nice TOTW, 11/10/23, Sycamore Tea to explore!

A contemporary and pretty tune honoring a legendary fiddle and banjo player, John Hartford, is the latest presentation by Bill H and a special choice it is.  April Verch, the composer and fiddler,  plays regularly with living legend Joe Newberry, who also plays with living legend Mike Compton, who was in the John Hartford String Band.  So we have some living history this week and a beautiful new waltz to hear and learn from the three of them. If you remember Hartford's songs and tunes associated with his steamboat captain roots, e.g. Old River Man and  Julia Belle Swaine, you'll appreciate the river boat connection even more:  TOTW, 11/17/23, A Riverboat's Gone.

This week's song, presented by Mtngoat, has roots in Georgia and seemed to have morphed to Dallas, Texas with a different title, but similarity in lyrics.  At least we know that the older recording was by the Georgia Crackers whose lyrics mentioned Georgia.  The second version apparently sings of a particular street in Dallas called Elm Street and has a direct connection to the alternate title.  Tune in to this fun bluesy melody on TOTW, 11/24/23/Black Bottom/Deep Ellum Blues.

Veteran player and tablature writer Carl Baron has gifted us with a Civil War tune that became popularized by Kirk McGee along with Arthur Smith, on the Grand Old Opry as a dance tune.  Carl invites us to contribute our own arrangements and so far has already offered four different settings.  Hopefully more will get in line to contribute to this week's TOTW, 12/1/23, Lafayette.

Our presenter from Ohio, Zach W, has found another tune with an Ohio link, having one of its most prominent cities in the title.  The source fiddler is native Ohioan Estil Adams.  The tune is more widespread than Ohio, so it will be interesting to compare versions of fiddlers in other regions.  Zach put the tune to clawhammer banjo and shares his tab, too.  Take a peak and sneak in a dance to a lively hornpipe -- TOTW, 12/8/23/ Cincinnati Hornpipe.

Long time presenter Jan Olov has again gone over and above to give us background and examples for this Tune of the Week.  The tune is linked to a location and to the coal mining of the region.  The dangers of coal mining have been embedded in our cultural expression through stories, songs, tunes and movies.  Come and partake of this deep history and participate in our newest TOTW, 12/15/23, Coal Creek (Manon Campbell).

Andy Taylor has found a true folk song to share this week.  If you've never listened to Peggy Seeger, this is a good opportunity.  She played banjo and sang with talent akin to her famous brother.  Andy is a true folk song aficionado and even has January concert tickets to see one of the performers he has shared with us. Enjoy this journey to the world of old songs without beginnings about young couples and marriage.  Help keep the song alive!  TOTW, 12/22/23, Wedding Dress.

Long-time presenter and talented banjo player Adam Schweigert has found a Mose Coffman tune as played by Jimmy Triplett.  It's a good one with a funny title.  Mose Coffman tunes are hard to come by and they're all good, so tune in and enjoy this week's TOTW, 12/29/23, The Old She-Possum Skating on the Ice.

Presenter Mark Tomko is a talented bass player with an intricate bowing style, who also plays banjo.  He says he hasn't played banjo in a while and so for his Tune of the Week turn browsed through the Slippery Hill site and found a tune recorded by John Lomax, fiddled by North Carolinan Marcus Martin.  It's in 3/4 time with some resemblance to a couple of old tunes and looks to be a good addition to anyone's repertoire.  One of the samples offered is by the great Dirk Powell.  So come join us in honoring Mark's choice, the first one of the new year, by studying his TOTW, 1/5/24, Wake Robin.

For my turn on Tune of the Week I've chosen a Kirk McGee tune. The tune has some older history, with a recording in 1957, but is said to perhaps go back to minstrel time.  We're still looking for that older source... If you're a fan of Stephen Wade, this is a good opportunity to catch up on his life's accomplishments.  He visited Kirk as a young banjo player and says it was the first lyrical piece he's learned. Stephen also calls it a fandango.  The tune title has a seasonal association, though my neck of the woods in California isn't receiving much snow yet.  Join in on the fun with our TOTW, 1/12/24, Snowdrop.

Our good friend Mtngoat has come up with an Ozark tune that is currently circulating in jams.  Lyman Enloe (1906-1997), a skillful Missouri fiddler, deserves to have his tunes kept alive. He took up fiddle as a 22 year-old and "his wife jokingly asked him to play outside so no one would think he was screaming," as told in the Ozarks Fiddle Music book by Drew Beisswenger and Gordon McCann, where eleven other his tunes are notated.  Join in on the TOTW, 1/19/23, Cowhide Boots and also learn something about these kind of shoes that are still popular in many necks of the wood.

We're thankful that presenter Zach Wilhelm continues to provide tunes from Ohio, along with extensive historic background.  This week's tune highlights a fiddler from Chillicothe in Ross County named Lonnie Seymour.  His band mentored a more recent band in the 1980's with the same name, Ross County Farmers, whose banjo player was one we have highlighted before -- Tony Ellis.  The title of the tune reminds us of its use in industry, particularly in construction and even to this very day, or perhaps the title is the name of a dance.  Come and listen and learn the upbeat TOTW, 1/26/24, Log Chain.

We have a presenter from Virginia, Jim G., who is offering a tune this week from a Virginia fiddler nicknamed "Papa Jake" (1923 - 2009).  David Bragger of the Old-Time Tiki Parlour recorded him. Though the river in the title rings with familiarity, the tune is unique.  Hear the tune played up and down the neck by Jim and perhaps you'll want to learn it, too.  So let's take a boat ride with the TOTW, 2/2/24, Boatin' Up the Big Ole Sandy.

Talented banjo player Pat Lyons showcases another talented banjo player, Arnie Naiman, also a Canadian composer.   Let's learn one of Arnie's great tunes, possibly named for his pet dog, who lovingly has shown up on Arnie's Facebook page.  It will be a fun tune to learn, and one of the recording links includes another favorite Canadian player, Chris Coole.  Enjoy the new TOTW, 2/9/24, Walking the Dog.

It's a refreshing treat to be introduced to a very old, old-time player, such as the one Carl Baron offers this week.  Sam Long was a fiddler born in Kansas, whose father was a fiddler from Pennsylvania.  Sam was one of those kids you hear about who snuck his father's fiddle out after being told not to.  His proficiency became good enough to win fiddle contests where the competition was keen.  A few of his tunes were recorded in the 1920's and this week's title reflects a region where fiddling became popular and prominent in the folk culture.  Let's learn something new from a very old source this week, TOTW, 2/16/24, Echoes of the Ozarks.

This week we're given a tune that seems to have traveled far and under various titles. It appears in 1800's publications and has been played in Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States.  Our talented UK presenter, Mark Gentry, plays it prettily and gives us several links for listening. You can also learn about "sand jigs." Nothing like a good dance tune for the TOTW, 2/23/24, Kiley's Reel.

Have you heard of Northumbria?  This week's tune was played there as long ago as the late 1700's and is named after the player.  Our presenter, Bill Huntley gives us a history of this talented bagpipe player. The tune is also considered a New England march.  It sounds like a fun and jaunty tune to learn, so have a look at this week's TOTW, 3/1/24, Jamie Allen.

Rick Hocutt digs deep into his banjo roots, presenting an old-time classic tune from an iconic album of the 70's, "High Atmosphere." Everyone knows the tune, but not played like George Sanders in a 2-finger North Carolina style.  Since Rick describes the style as imitating drop-thumb, we can approach it as a clawhammer challenge, too.  This isn't the first tune offered from "High Atmosphere" on Tune of the Week.  It's a compilation worth studying, as Rick did a long while ago, and we ought to do now, too:  TOTW 3/8/24, Cumberland Gap (George Landers).