monday, august 29, 1977
page 20
daily nebraskan
Fiddlers attract fe w fans
By Rex Henderson
It was a good old fashioned hoe-down
this weekend for the contestants in the
first North American Fiddle Champion
ship. But for the producers of the event it
was nothing but low-down.
About 125 fiddlers, including some of
the best in the nation, gathered Friday,
Saturday and Sunday in the arena of the
Omaha Civic Auditorium. The sounds of
"New Broom," "The Fesitval Waltz" and
hundreds of other old-time fiddlin' songs
filled the arena and the hallways around it.
Unfortunately, that was all that filled
the arena. The spectators filled about 300
seats Saturday afternoon in a cavernous
12,000 seat arena.
For some of the contestants, fiddling is
more than just a hobby, or even a pro
fession. For Mitchum it's a family tradi
tion. Mitchum learned to play sitting on his
daddy's knee on the family farm in Bates
ville, Ark. He has made a living of fiddlin'
for the past fifteen years, cutting ten
albums in Nashville, playing at the Grand
Ole Opry and at fiddle contests around the
U.S. and Canada.
The oldest contestant, Frank Sonnen
felt from Oakdale, Neb., has been playing
for 70 years.
"Get-ups" entertaining
Sonnenfelt said, "fiddlin' is what keeps
me alive."
arts & entertainment
But the poor turn but couldn't supress
the enthusiasm of the fiddlers. Some big
time bluegrass artists, like Frazier Moss
from Cookville, Tenn., and local bands
like Lincoln's Sandy Creek Pickers played
between contestants.
Outside in the halls the contestants
clustered in little groups for jammin',
dancin' and a good time.
Had audience bouncing
The fiddlin' ability of the contestants
varied.
Mary McPhereson, a sociology professor
at Doane College in Crete has been playing
for a year and a half. She bravely played
three numbers, accompanied by her hus
band. But people like Jeff Prichard, who came
from Kansas to participate, had the
audience bouncing in their seats. '
One of the old pros of fiddlin', Johnny
Mitchum, said fiddlin' has been booming
the last 20 years. He attributed the poor
attendance to the newness of the contest
in Omaha.
Some of the "get-up" of the contes
tants was as entertaining as the music.
Contest director Laurier Birginal wore
what he called "the only genuine bow
tie in the world."
Birginal sported a shirt with a . yoke
shaped like a violin and dangling from his
neck,' both front and back, was a violin
bow.
Mitchum proudly displayed his home
made fiddle, put together with . a hand
carved' neck and a body made from an
Armour canned ham tin.
Four categories
For novices in fiddlin', the contestants
are judged on their fiddlin' ability, (techni
cal proficiency), ability to keep up a good,
danceable rhythm, intonation and their
expressiveness.
The contest was divided into four cate
gories. The junior's division was open to
those under 18. Senior's division was open
to those over 65.
A ladies division and championship
division was open to anyone.
!
OJ h
i ii i ii rn Tlimiif i Tint ii n ' -
Photo by Steve Boerner
In dim lighting with free keg beer, Liz Lewis played her last performance as a
member of Earthworks in a crowded Roxy Theatre last Wednesday night.
Auditions begin, play dates posted
So you want to be a star?
The UNL Theatre Department is
holding auditions for the four first
semester main stage and Studio Theatre
productions. Auditions are from 2:30 to
5:30 p.rn. and 7 to 10 pjn. today and
Tuesday.
However, all interested persons must
sign up for a specific audition time. To do
this, applicants should check the bulletin
boards in the lobby of Temple Building,
12th and R Streets. Prospective actors
should note the particular audition require
ments set by each director.
First semester plays on Howell's Stage
will be Romeo and Juliet by William
Shakespeare, directed by UNL Theatre
Department Chairman Rex McGraw, and
Travesties by Tom Stoppard, directed by
t:n: 11... r I !V! ,.-.ifr rrnfnf).
The Studio Theatre selections are Oscar
Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest,
directed by Harley Lofton, and Reynard
the Fox, a children's theatre piece by
Arthur Fauquez and directed by Douglas
Street. Lofton and Street are UNL
graduate students in the theatre depart
ment. Street also is conducting auditions for
On Vie Spot, a class devoted to rehearsal
and production of several small musical
shows. Class size will be limited to six to
eight students who can register for one
" to three hours of credit for participation in
the class.
Auditions for On Vie Spot will be from
7 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 29 and 30, but try
outs are by appointment. A sign up sheet is
on the bulletin board in Temple Building.
Earthworks trio seporoies
By Charlie Krig
It was old friends and free beer, almost
like a family reunion. But under the
surface of good times and good music was
the reminder that it wasn't a marriage but
a separation.
The Roxy Theatre was full last
Wednesday night for the last public concert
by Earthworks, a trio of Lincoln musicians.
The mood was surprisingly light. No
maudlin memories, no sense of defeat, just
lively talk and excellent music,
Liz Lewis, the group's female vocalist,
warned the crowd, "You guys gotta' keep
talkin' or else well be real obnoxious."
The audience complied and the musicians
asked for more.
' Dar Horrigan played his guitar and har
monicas with ease, throwing in a few quick
comments between each song as if this was
any other performance in a bar rather than
a movie theatre.
Even Steve Hesh, the trio's, most reserv
ed member, seemed at ease knowing that
Earthworks had one week left. From
August 29 to September 1 they will record
in Kansas City.
Horrigan said he will be back in Lincoln
to do some solo singing. For Lewis and
Hesh it will be off to San Francisco to
whatever fame their music can continue to
build. -
But Hesh said he and Lewis , won't
-remain a duo. In time they'll find a third
partner "for ease of work and so we can
do more things," he said. '
But the group will never be the same,
"No matter how far the miles, IH still love
you," sang Horrigan and Lewis. During the
song they exchanged warm smiles and after
the song they embraced emotionally.
Still, the emotion didn't detract from
the music. Their style, a kind of bluegrass
blues characterized by extremely tight
vocals, could give and . take with, every
selection. .
Through it all, the audience was loose.
People exchanged addresses, renewed old
acquaintances, shared the cups of beer and
brown-paper-bagged liquor. There was
laughter and conversation but an obvious
dedication to the music echoed by
frequent applause.
'Tonight's going to be hysteria," Lewis
said before the concert. But it was - a
respectful affair. Probably because the
audience knew Earthworks so well and
they admired Lewis when she told them,
"You've all heard these songs so many
times before. When you recognize them,
sing along and we won't be so lonely."
QJJ) (MICD (CCDEJTlBDnig
Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery ,
Art Shop
Watercolors by W. Donald Boe, Omaha.
Union Program Council
East Union Program Council movie,
Vie Sting, Aug. 28, East Union Great
Plains Room, 8:30 p.m.
Welcome Wingding, Sept. 1, afternoon
and evening on the plaza north of the
Nebraska Union.
Nebraska State Fair
Mac.-. Davis with comedian Don Rice
HI, Sept. 2, UNL Sports Complex, 8 p.m.
Artist draws promising picture
Describing himself as one who's "been
the route himself," Gary Kamenicky said
he has plans to ease some of the struggling
artist syndrome in Lincoln.
Kamenicky owns Flight, 118 North
14th St. The store is a head shop that
presently thrives on the sale of smoking
paraphernalia, but it will take on a new
look in the coming month.
"We will move the head shop down
stairs, enabling us to turn the main store
into an art gallery," Kamenicky said. "It
will be an outlet for local artists, mostly
students, and we hope to explore all
mediums, including photography,
sculpting, jewelry, and painting."
Kamenicky expects to have a group of
six judges, including himself, examine the ,
works and determine what goes into the
gallery. This is necessary because the
gallery will handle several art forms in a
limited space, he said.
"We want to take a fresh approach with
the gallery," Kamenicky said. "Hopefully,
well have a system in which we rotate
stock once a month, yet try to play it by
ear as it progresses."
Kamenicky said his reason for opening
the art gallery is to help artists, especially
those who've had no outlet for their work.
Being a combination gallery-head shop,
Kamenicky explains that moving the head
shop downstairs is necessary to not offend
anybody. s
"Actually the head shop will be our
prime money maker and play an important
part in keeping the gallery open," he said.
"But in time we hope the gallery will
catch on and be able to support itself."
"We have a good contract that protects
the artist and the gallery," Kamenicky said.
"We are taking only 20 per cent
commission, and I feel our set up is one
that artists will really appreciate." "
Kamenicky plans special features by
artists and to have some do work in the
gallery along with their exhibits.
Prices at the gallery will range from a
few dollars to a few hundred dollars.
Kamenicky said he hopes to invite people
who normally buy art - bankers, lawyers,
and doctors - to visit Flight. But he said
he thinks it will attract anyone interested
in unique and creative art in ail forms.