The Violin Shop is a well-established music outlet on Old Hickory Boulevard in Nashville, Tennessee, owned by Fred Carpenter. He has been a violin/fiddle player for over 42 years and has over 27 years of experience in the violin and bow trade, including years at the workbench.

Carpenter has worked with the Tony Rice Unit and with Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band. He is a recording artist in his own right.

In Spring 2005, Carpenter built a 50-seat concert room onto the side of his shop. In the Fall of that year he began promoting a series of concerts featuring, what else, fiddle players, and top names have rosined a bow there too. All concerts have been recorded on video.

It is the product of some of these first recordings that is featured on the first of the Fiddler Masters DVDs.

Appearing on this collection are Andy Leftwich (of Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder), old-time fiddle master Bruce Molsky, Jim VanCleve (of Mountain Heart), Bobby Hicks (possibly the top single fiddler to play both the bluegrass and western swing styles) and Aubrey Haynie (a regular with The Time Jumpers, a group made up of touring and studio musicians who enjoy jamming with each other at the Station Inn).

Molsky plays five pieces solo, including Last Of Gallahan and Peg & Awl, both on the fiddle, but switches to guitar for the tune Brothers & Sisters and the song Poor Cowboy. I cannot say how it was on the night that Molsky appeared at The Violin Shop, but the guitar interludes provide an enjoyable variation within the context of the video.

The other four fiddlers appear accompanied by their own pick-up band chosen from Byron House, Cody Kilby, Wyatt Rice, Charlie Cushman, Alan Bibey, Adam Steffey, Kent Blanton, Clay Jones, Ron Stewart, Jason Moore and Steve Gulley. It would be unfair to single out any of the support musicians for praise; all shine very brightly. While the setting is a showcase for fiddlers, each person called upon to take a break shows how superb they are at their craft.

VanCleve steps into spotlight on four occasions, performing his own #6 Barn Dance, the rollicking opener, Ride The Wild Turkey, and a barn-storming version of Big Mon. (more…)

We heard over the weekend from reader Linda Wright, who runs the LocalGrass.com web site in Kingsport, TN. She sent along a report on the surprise birthday bash for Bobby Hicks which Brance had posted about earlier this month.

“I read the posting on The Bluegrass Blog about a birthday party that was being thrown for Bobby Hicks on Sunday July 20th in Marshall, NC, and decided to take the short trek from home to attend since it was open to the public.

The party was held at Marshall High Studios on what is called Blannahassett Island in Marshall, and is an old converted High School there. With the large gathering, the event was held in the building’s old gymnasium, and man-o-live! I bet it never rang out like that in all it’s life!

There were around 150-200 people there, all friends and family of Bobby’s, and the guest of honor was just about the happiest I have ever seen – his suprise and expressions were priceless. The invitation said to bring your instruments, and everyone did! There were so many fiddles and guitars, it was more of an orchestra than a ‘band.’

It was truly a wonderful gathering, and his family is to be commended for one of the best celebrations ever. I shot some video with my camera and it can be viewed on YouTube for anyone who might like to see it.”

Bobby Hicks has been a fixture in the world of bluegrass and swing fiddle playing for quite some time. I wouldn’t have guessed that he was approaching his 75th birthday though!

Next Sunday, July 20, 2008, a surprise party will be held for him at Marshall High Studios. The studios are located in the old Marshall High school on the island in downtown Marshall, NC. The event is free and open to the public. If you plan to attend, you should be there no later than 2 PM. If you can’t make it by 2 PM and still want to attend, the organizers ask that you wait till after 3 PM before showing up. Bobby will be brought in sometime between 2 and 3 PM and they don’t want anyone spoiling the surprise.

The party will, of course, including some picking and fiddling so bring your stringing instrument with you if you decide to attend.

Cathy asked that we post this to announce it, knowing that Bobby doesn’t get online that often. She did request that no one mention anything to him, it is a surprise party after all!

We posted back in April that fiddle master Bobby Hicks had broken the ring finger of his left hand, and had undergone surgery to repair the damage.

Imagining how devastating such an injury could be to a musician, we were delighted to hear this week from Bobby’s daughter, Melissa Holland, that her dad was on the mend, and back to playing while continuing with twice weekly physical therapy.

Melissa says that Bobby taught last week at Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp last week, and did fine, though he still doesn’t feel like he is back in top form.

“I know Dad was worried about how much movement he would get back on that finger. Luckily, he knows how to make accommodations until it’s back at 100%.”

Look for Bobby back on stage doing shows with Earl Scruggs in July.