ladymuse - Posted - 09/02/2010:  01:31:31

Didn't see Augusta in the forum search, but any of you mainers, My dad came from there - (through Canada) - And don't know much about his side if the family, except that he had 7 brothers and sisters, and his mom's name was Maude Tavernier (nee?)
At anyrate, I have apparently a whole slew of family (Taverniers & whatnot) up there - and have always had this searing desire to go play in a cableknit sweater, on the docks - and then to Nova Scotia, to do the same thing -

Does anyone know the state of fiddling in/around Augusta?
Love to be able to find some family, too! (And maybe some of them play!) I have no data, cause dad (deceased in the 80s) never spoke of his family there.

Jen/Ladymuse

DougD - Posted - 09/02/2010:  02:25:00

I don't know if you'll find too many docks in Augusta, although its on the Kennebec River. Its not on the coast. I don't know if it matters, but the Maine fiddle camp is not too far from there. One of our members just attended it and apparently really enjoyed it.
I think this fiddler is from Lewiston, which is not too far from Augusta: youtube.com/watch?v=qJxAM_f9U4w I like her playing.

ladymuse - Posted - 09/02/2010:  03:35:01

Very cool! Aside from Stephen King, (LOL) my maine topography is sketchy - - I figured Augusta was inlad - but I know there IS a coast there, somewhere! I really want to go visit! - AND get to Nova Scotia!
Thank you for given me an idea of what else is around it, and someone near - this shoud be an exciting adventure - if abd when the economy turns around and there is any extra $ for traveling - arghhhh!
I do great playing on rivers, too!
Jen

DougD - Posted - 09/02/2010:  05:43:08

I guess Augusta is closer to the coast (at least the Atlantic coast) than Reno! Here's the website for Maine Fiddle Camp: mainefiddle.org/ The staff there could probably tell you a lot about what goes on in the area, and it might be a desination itself. Acadia National park also, on your way to the Maritimes. Stonington and Deer Isle might be a good place for the cable sweater and the fiddle on the waterfront, and there are more.

GeeDubya - Posted - 09/02/2010:  06:13:09

Lots of Maine music info also at deffa.org : Downeast Friends of Folk Arts

Best
G

drnathan747 - Posted - 09/02/2010:  07:15:11

Jen,

Best of luck with your search, sounds like a fun trip. I recently spent a week in Maine visiting my family near Bath and Brunswick, Maine. I did some searching around Bath and unfortunately wasn't able to find anything going on at the time I was there (first week of August).

They didn't seem to have any kind of pickin' parlor, nor any informal jam sessions that I could track down. Too bad, as I think it would be a great place for such.

Let us know what you find.

Thanks,
Nathan

carlb - Posted - 09/02/2010:  08:08:58

Now about an hour east of Augusta is Belfast. You can try people at:
belfastbayfiddlers.org/

slimman53 - Posted - 09/02/2010:  10:48:01

If you are traveling through Portland on your way to Augusta on a Thursday evening there is an OT jam at Acoustic Artisans on Forest Ave.

Dick Hauser - Posted - 09/02/2010:  15:42:00

Whenever I see a musician mention "Augusta", I immediately think of the music workshops in West Virginia. Last I heard, they had week long workshops on different types of music and had world class instructors. I have heard of Augusta, Maine, but the subject did not involve music.