Julian Family Fiddle Camp and More!

 A Fiddle Camp Experience. 

Performance on the main stage at Julian Family Fiddle Camp.

Jamming around the campfire.

What do a live performance by great artists and teachers, a nature hike, a woman in a Scottish kilt and Arabic cloak wearing a green turban and doing the splits on stage, a gopher snake, and jamming til the wee hours have in common? The annual Julian Family Fiddle Camp.

Set in the mountains of Julian at the Whispering Winds Retreat, this year’s camp was held the first week of May and featured top artists teaching and performing on mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, vocals, and bass. But, the camp experience was much more than classes and concerts. It was escaping the drudgery of school and work-a-day life for the pine-scented mountains, getting away from stresses and worries to share meals, hikes, learning, and music with friends both new and old.

It was faculty concerts each night, and student performances in open mic sessions and in closing performances. It was hanging out on the porch listening to the birds and watching the wild turkeys graze the grass. It was taking the guided nature hike and visiting a Kumeyaay site to see grinding holes and pottery shards. And, overall, it was music 24-7.

If you find this appealing, consider attending next year. We hope you enjoy the accompanying David Cupp photos.

Bluegrass Day at the Fair is Coming!

Bluegrass Day at the Del Mar Fair will be Saturday, July 6, 2024 from 11am to 5pm on the Paddock Stage. It will feature live concerts by four great bands, a youth performance, a band scramble, and a demonstration by Emma’s Gut Bucket Band featuring members of the Old Time Fiddlers. If you would like to sign up to volunteer and earn free admission or to enter the Band Scramble and get free admission, scan this QR code:

Bluegrass Day at the Fair on the Paddock Stage happens on July 6, 11am-5pm.

11-11:15am: Stage setup, sound check
11:15-11:50am: Youth performance, students and teachers
11:50-noon: Change over
Noon-12:30pm: The Full Deck in concert
12:30-12:40pm: Change over
12:40-1:10pm: Ash Street Ramblers in concert
1:10-1:20pm: Change over
1:20-1:50pm: Emma’s Gut Bucket Band and fiddle demonstration
1:50-2pm: Change over
2-3:30pm: Band scramble
3:30-3:40pm: Change over
3:40-4:10pm: The Shoreline Pickers in concert
4:10-4:30pm: Band Scramble awards
4:30-5pm: Drought Tolerant in concert

We hope to see you there!