Experience Fiddle Tunes
Artistic Directors
The Onlies The Onlies are a longstanding collective of friends defining a powerful new generation of string band music. Comprised of multi-instrumentalists Sami Braman, Riley Calcagno, Leo Shannon, Vivian Leva, and Nokosee Fields on banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bass, the band moves effortlessly between ripping dance tunes, delicate waltzes, and strong, vocal-driven songs—woven together with rich two- and four-part harmonies. Equally at home headlining a festival stage for a crowd of dancers or holding an intimate theater audience in rapt attention, The Onlies bring traditional music vividly to life for the modern ear. Their fourth studio album, You Climb the Mountain (2025), marks 20 years as a band. True to its name, the record is a volcanic journey, featuring fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass, autoharp, harmonium, electric guitar, and expansive vocal harmonies across 15 generous tracks, including a special cameo from bluegrass legend Alice Gerrard. The Onlies have earned first place at the Appalachian String Band Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia. As staples of the fiddle camp community, they have taught and performed extensively across the United States and internationally. They have supported and collaborated with notable artists such as Bruce Molsky, Elvis Costello, Darol Anger, and Watchhouse, and have appeared at major festivals including Pickathon, the Berkeley Old Time Music Convention, and Father’s Day Festival.
Artist Faculty
Artists for 2027 will be announced soon! - Below are artists from 2026:
Additional Staff and offerings
Staff updates for 2027 will be shared soon!
2026 Staff & Offerings:
Sue Truman – crankies
Sue is a fiddler, guitarist and crankie artist from Seattle. What's a crankie you ask? They are an old storytelling art form. Start with a long-illustrated scroll that is wound onto two spools. The spools are loaded into a box which has a viewing window. The scroll is then hand-cranked while the story is told, a song is sung, or a tune is played.
The term crankie is being used now to name this very old art form. In the 19th Century, they were called moving panoramas (among many other names). They originated in Europe in the late 18th century. This scrolling, picture art form is experiencing an international comeback, and Sue is at the forefront of this movement.
Sue will lead a workshop at Fiddle Tunes, meeting each day to create a group crankie, which will celebrate the 50th year of the festival. It will performed at the festival, with live music of course!
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT MUSICIANS
In lieu of a Tutorial Staff, the 50th Fiddle Tunes gathering is offering Emotional Support Musicians. ESMs offer companionship and support to folks at Fiddle Tune, alleviating symptoms of depression, tuning anxiety, FOMO, and being overwhelmed by the number of tunes in the key of C. ESM’s will meet behind the Commons at 1:30 (after lunch) on Monday through Thursday to answer any questions you might have, or to help with bowing, or breaking down a tricky phrase in your band lab tune, or to work on a part of a tune that challenges you. They’ll be there to help you get the most out of your Fiddle Tunes experience.
The following folks will be available during Fiddle Tunes:
* * * *
John Harrod and Tona Barkley - Kentucky
John Harrod and his wife Tona Barkley will make several presentations during the course of the week. John has documented, recorded, and performed traditional music for more than 45 years. Born and raised in Shelby County, Kentucky, he has a B.A. from Centre College (1967) and an M.A. from Oxford University (1969) which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. Recently retired, he taught history and English at Owen County High School and Frankfort High School. In the 1970s and ’80s, he played with a number of bands including the Progress Red Hot String Band, the Bill Livers String Ensemble, and the Gray Eagle Band that re-introduced traditional musicians such as Bill Livers and Lily May Ledford to Kentucky audiences. During this time he also worked for three years as a Kentucky Arts Council folk artist-in-residence in Wolfe, Estill, and Trimble Counties. Along with Mark Wilson and Guthrie Meade, he produced a series of field recordings of Kentucky fiddle and banjo players that is still available on Rounder Records. In 2015 the Field Recorders Collective issued his recordings of Carlton Rawlings and Darley Fulks, two exceptional and heretofore unknown fiddlers who have had a great impact on his life. John's field recordings are housed at both Berea College and the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead.
Nathan Viner - Kentucky
Nathan Viner will present Songs Between Others: Jewish Visions of Appalachia. Though understudied if not unacknowledged, a meaningful connection between Jewish artists and Appalachian cultural tradition has developed over the past half-century. Jewish figures such as John Cohen, Art Rosenbaum, and many others have explored and adopted the historied traditions of the region through their work in music, film, visual art, and other forms. In this workshop, we will explore the stories of some of these artists and use their work as a means of seeing Appalachia through their eyes. We will also consider what causes lie behind this affinity, from social and political history to the musical modes of their liturgy.
Workshop
FIDDLE TUNES 2026
Check-in starts at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, followed by dinner in the Commons. After dinner there will be an extensive orientation where we’ll introduce everyone who is teaching during the week.There are two categories of staff – the faculty and the tutors.
FACULTY: During the week most faculty will teach three or four classes, lead an afternoon band lab, play for an evening dance, and play in one in-house performance and one public performance. Classes and band labs are open to all. In a band lab, you’ll be a part of a group learning to play in that faculty member’s style. You’ll learn what makes that style sound like it does – slurs, slides, bowing, ornaments, tempo, etc. Each band lab will play for a dance on Friday night, and in the band lab concert on Saturday morning.
There is also a Beginners’ Band Lab, which is a band lab for beginning-level musicians, and a Teen Band Lab for younger folks.
TUTORS: Tutorials are offered four times during the week. Tutorials are designed to address the needs of beginning and beginning/intermediate players who wish more individualized instruction on their instrument; they will focus on technique. Intermediate level tutorials include technique and tend to focus on style. In many cases, the intermediate tutorials will be in the musical styles presented by the faculty. Tutorial sessions are open to all.
You will also find tutors hosting jam sessions with a spirit of graceful encouragement, playing for dances, and generally being a welcoming and helpful presence throughout the week.
General Schedule
9:30 - 10:45 a.m.: choice of classes
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: choice of classes
Lunch and siesta
3:00 p.m.: band labs and tutorials
4:30 p.m.: wildcard workshops
Evenings: showcase concerts and dances
Schedule
FIDDLE TUNES WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2026
SUNDAY JUNE 284:00pm - check-in starts at 4pm at the Centrum office.
6:00pm - Dinner
7:00pm - Fort Worden Tour
7:30pm - Orientation in McCurdy Pavilion.
9:00pm - First Timers Orientation in the Wheeler Theater
~ 9:00pm - A welcoming square dance in 204.
Mornings: Monday - Friday
9:30 - 10:45 - choice of classes
11:15 - 12:30 - choice of classes
12:30 lunch
AFTERNOONS: MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI
2:00 - 3:30: Band Labs
4:00 - 5:00: Wild Card Workshops
6:00: Dinner
AFTERNOON: THURSDAY
1:30: Free concert with Marley’s Ghost
on Littlefield Green
4:00 - 5:00: Wild Card Workshops
6:00: Dinner
EVENINGS
7:15: Showcase concerts in the Wheeler
on MON, TUE, THU
9:00: Dancing in 204 north and south
FRIDAY AT 8:00:
Band Labs play for dancing
SATURDAY
9:00: Band Lab Concert in the Wheeler
12:00: gates open for the Fiddle Tunes at 50 Festival
McCurdy Pavilion, Wheeler, USO
SUNDAY
8:00: breakfast and goodbyes
11:00: out of housing
Beginners
FIDDLE TUNES FOR BEGINNERS
What might a beginning musician expect at Fiddle Tunes? The gathering welcomes people of all abilities, but it’s not uncommon for beginning musicians to feel frustrated at Fiddle Tunes. Here’s what to expect.The morning classes are dedicated to workshops led by the faculty (and the tutors as well). These players were invited to the festival as representatives of a certain style of music, one that they learned from their family and neighbors. Some are experienced teachers, many are not. In an effort to present them appropriately, they receive no guidelines from Centrum as to what level they should teach – it’s their choice. Most teach at an intermediate and above level.
Even though most of these classes are not geared towards beginners, we think it’s critically important that you attend these sessions. The people on staff are active tradition-bearers, and they share more than their music. You might not open your case at these sessions. Rather, you’ll be in listening mode, soaking your head in a certain style, hearing to stories, understanding the context in which this person’s music is played “back home.”
In the afternoon you have a few choices. You can join the Beginners Band Lab – all beginning-level players of any instrument are invited. You’ll get an idea about how exciting it is to play with other people. The Beginners Band will play in the Band Lab concert on Saturday morning.
You can also choose to take a tutorial. Beginning-level tutorials are designed to address the needs of beginning and beginning/intermediate players who wish for more individualized instruction on their instrument; they will focus on technique. Intermediate level tutorials include technique and tend to focus on style. In many cases, the intermediate tutorials will be in the musical styles presented by the faculty.
We hope this information is helpful to you in deciding whether the workshop might be a good fit. Being among so many players can be overwhelming, but it helps to know what to expect. If you have any more questions, feel free to call Peter McCracken at 360-385-3102, x127, or peter@centrum (dot) org.
Kids & Teens
FIDDLE TUNES KIDS & TEENS
Fiddle Tunes is proudly an inter-generational gathering, welcoming musicians of all ages to participate.The Kids Track is a morning-only program geared towards people from the ages of five to twelve, running from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a Saturday performance.
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Fiddling for Kids.
Young participants are broken into groups based on ability, starting at the VERY beginning (“here’s how to hold a bow”). Every effort is made to integrate the more advanced groups with the styles of music of the faculty at Fiddle Tunes.
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Play Party Games or Kids Band Lab
Kids have two choices in this time slot: either play party games, or join the Kids Band Lab. The Kids Band is directly aligned to one of the faculty members’ styles, and will play for a dance and in the band lab concert at the end of the week. All instruments are welcome in the Kids Band Lab.Participants who are registered in the Kids Track receive free admission to all performances, public and private, and are welcome at the evening dances as well.
The Kids Track is only available to children of registered participants, or to kids with a local zip code (98368, 98339, 98358, 98365, 98325). There is a limit of 50 Kids Track slots. Parents considering registering their child in the Kids Track should be prepared to check in their child between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and check out their child at 12:30 p.m.
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The Teen Track is designed for players ages 13-18. All abilities are welcome. This track is intended for players who want to learn with their peers, or for players too advanced for the Kids Track. Teen Track tuition includes admission to everything – workshops, in-house concerts, and dances.
Teen Track participants must be accompanied by a registered adult with the following exception: if you are local and your teen won’t be staying at Fort Worden, you may come in to the Centrum office and sign a waiver.
The general schedule:
Monday - Friday:
11:15 – 12:30: Fiddling for Teens
12:30: lunch
2:00 – 3:30: Teen Band Lab (does not meet on Thursday)
In addition to Teen Track specific programming, teens are welcome to attend:
9:30 – 10:45: choice of classes
4:00 – 5:00: wild card workshops
7:15: Showcase concerts in the Wheeler
9:00: Dancing in 204 north and south
Saturday, July 4
9:30: Band Lab Concert (including Teen Band) in Wheeler Theater
Mid-afternoon: Teen Band performance at FT at 50 Festival
Costs
2026
The Fiddle Tunes tuition structure relies on the honor system, allowing you to choose the tuition fee that best suits your finances. As a result we are not requiring scholarship applications. If you need financial assistance, please choose the Fiddle Nut or Scholarship rate.Fiddle Fanatic - $875
Choose Fiddle Fanatic if you are in a good place financially and wish to help support the Youth/Scholarship rate.
Fiddle Aficionado - $675
The standard rate for 2026.
Fiddle Nut - $550
If you can't currently afford the Aficionado price but would still like to be a part of our community.
Scholarship - $350
Scholarship is for individuals requiring financial support
Teen Track - $150
We curated a track especially for teens and it has been a big success. This program runs all day, each day and includes entry to all public performances.
Kids Track (mornings only) - $60
This popular track is for kids, kids, kids! Classes and fun-making held 9:00-12:00, Monday - Friday with a Saturday morning performance. Parents or guardians, plan to check your student/s in and out each day.
Adult Guardian
This is a no-cost registration type for a parent or adult guardian (21 or older) who does not play music but wishes to provide opportunities for their kids. Youth at Centrum under the age of 18 are required to attend with a registered adult (unless they live locally). The Guardian option makes this possible and affordable. Guardians do not participate in the workshop, rather, they supervise and support their U18 participant.
Room and Board Options
Most participants stay in private dormitory rooms at Fort Worden. There are a limited number of double rooms, i.e., rooms with two beds. If you’d like a double, please request one, and list another registered participant who has signed up for room and board in order to share that room. It is first come, first served.
Private Room only: $400
All meals: $480
Lunch and Dinner: $360
Lunches only (6): $155
All meals are served at the Fort Worden Commons. The first meal is dinner on June 28; the last meal is breakfast on July 5.
Our new food service provider is locally based Planted. Planted offers nourishing plant-based meals and ingredients that are locally sourced from the Olympic Peninsula. For more info on Planted, visit plantedporttownsend.com.
Lucas Hicks Shining Light Front Porch Fellowship
Honoring the Legacy of Lucas Hicks
Centrum and the greater family of Lucas Hicks are proud to offer the Lucas Hicks Shining Light Front Porch Fellowship.
Composer, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist Lucas Hicks left a hefty legacy when he passed in October of 2017, and his family and friends have created, in his honor and at his request, a fellowship to be awarded to a person who might embody the spirit and character of Lucas Hicks’ approach to music and to community. The Front Porch Fellowship grew out of the notion of folk music as a shared experience—passing along tunes, songs, and stories person-to-person, or as Lucas would say, knee-to-knee, and in a spirit of revelry. At the end of the day, folk music is about sitting around on each other’s porches, sharing music until the sun comes up.
The Front Porch Fellowship is awarded annually to a curious musician who embodies some of the most essential attributes of Lucas Hicks’s musical ethos. The fellowship is available to anyone from anywhere, of any age, playing any instrument.
Essential criteria are that the recipient is passionate about traditional music; is eager to learn, and to share; and is fond of people.
In return, the Fellow agrees:
- to seek out and learn one tune a day during the week, “knee to knee” from someone outside of scheduled classes;
- the Fellow will learn three new jokes;
- the Fellow will pass on one tune to another player;
- and the Fellow will record these things in the Shining Light Bible.
The Fellow receives tuition, room, and board at Fiddle Tunes.
To apply, all you need to do is describe why you think you are deserving of this fellowship. Send this in an email to aheist@centrum.org, with "Lucas Hicks" in the subject line. Deadline to apply is February 2, 2027
BETSY BROWN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
BETSY BROWN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Betsy Brown started fiddling late in life. She had been amazed at the musicians Who populated the house parties where she lived in Austin. They sat in the back yard, knee to knee, fiddle and banjo, focused on the tune at hand. When she said she wanted to learn the fiddle one of them told her that she was already too old. Sadly, she believed him and put that dream aside. She was 29.
Betsy started contra dancing while in medical school and continued as she moved to Seattle for Residency. Summer would take her to the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes where she’d dance the night away. One afternoon she got to see David Cahn’s “Baby Band” play at the Band Lab concerts. These were adults who had never played before standing on stage and ripping on three tunes. She made up her mind to learn to fiddle and that decision changed her life.
Fiddle Tunes became an annual pilgrimage to the heart of the music. She learned the rhythmic twisty styles she loved from her favorite old geezers. Bob Douglas, Joe Thompson, JP Fraley, and Lee Stripling were friends and mentors. The community of old-time music became an integral part of her life with house concerts and travel to meet new friends throughout the country and beyond. One night a bearded banjo player named Jamie danced into her heart and they shared the next 22 ½ years of music and community.
This scholarship is in recognition of the fact that it’s never too late to follow your dream. Life doesn’t always offer the time or resources to take up an instrument. We hope this award can give a bit of each and the support to continue. With a little luck and effort, it will change your life too.
“If I ever wanted to get even with someone, I’d give them a fiddle and 3 lessons.” - Frankie McWhorter
Have you ever been told by someone else, or the voice in your head, that you couldn’t play music? Or that you couldn’t sing? Then the Betsy Brown Memorial Scholarship might be for you. It’s open for all string band instruments, and the applicant needs to be 21 years of age or older.
The scholarship includes:
- Full tuition, room, and board to Fiddle Tunes.
- Use of a good instrument for 1 year.
- To the best of our ability, personal resources to connect with musicians at your level, in your geographic region.
If you apply, you promise the following:
- A commitment to practice every week of the year. Even when life gets in the way.
- To return the instrument after 1 year.
To apply, please answer the following questions.
- Are you currently part of a music or dance community?
- How often did you play music in the last 18 months?
- Do you aspire to play a specific kind of music?
- What instrument would you like to learn?
- Why do you want to do this?
Please email your answers with “Betsy Brown” in the subject line to peter@centrum dot org. Deadline is March 15, 2026.
FAQ
FIDDLE TUNES FAQ
If you are interested in volunteering, or a work trade position, please contact Peter McCracken at peter@centrum (dot) org.Cancellation policy:
All but $50 is refundable if cancellation is made on or before May 31, 2026.
Fiddle Tunes Travel Tips
Book flights to arrive June 28 by 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time and depart no earlier than noon on July 5. Port Townsend is two hours from Sea/Tac on a good day.
If you’re interested in transportation from SeaTac Airport to Fort Worden, choose the shuttle option for when you register. The shuttle costs: $130 round-trip or $65 one-way.
Fiddle Tunes shuttle schedule:
Arrive – Sunday, June 28, 2026, pick-up at SeaTac airport, 2:30pm, Pacific Time.
Depart – Sunday, July 5, 2026, depart Centrum at Port Townsend, 9am, Pacific Time.
If you have any further questions, please contact Peter McCracken at 360-385-3102, x127, or peter@centrum (dot) org.
Performances
Workshop tuition includes admission to everything including the public performances
Past Artist Faculty
Fiddle Tunes 2024 FacultyOver the years, Centrum's Fiddle Tunes has welcomed a diverse and talented roster of faculty, representing a rich variety of fiddle traditions from around the world. From masters of Appalachian old-time and bluegrass to Celtic, Cajun, Québécois, and beyond, these esteemed musicians have inspired countless participants with their artistry and dedication to their craft. This directory celebrates the incredible faculty who have shaped Fiddle Tunes, offering a glimpse into the legacy of teaching and collaboration that continues to make the program a cornerstone of Centrum’s mission. Explore the musicians who have brought their unique traditions and talents to this vibrant community!
