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We stock and install the popular LR Baggs Violin Bridge Pickup. Getting the most (tone production) out of any violin bridge requires proper fitting and carving of the bridge to your specific instrument. The bridges come as an oversize blank as seen in the photo below. Getting a perfect mate between the feet and violin top as well as correct thicknessing and bridge location are critical to good tone production.

This is especially true for the LR Baggs Superieur Despiau bridge with pick up as an integral part of the bridge. They are expected to perform acoustically and amplified, a bit of a compromise but fitted correctly they are certainly the choice of many violinists and produce enjoyable results in both realms.

Well, for reasons unknown to myself, January is always busy in the repair shop. Thus my lack of attention to the digital realm. Many interesting projects and repairs in the shop right now and with a few more tweaks to the website I hope to share more of what happens in the back room at Mtn Fruit. Thought I would share a photo of this well loved Gibson J-40, almost looks sandblasted around the pick guard, still sounds great and is played regularily!

 

Will be closed till Jan 3rd. Taking a much needed rest but must apologize for stating in the Valley Voice that I would be open on Christmas Eve till 3pm, I won’t!

See you in the New Year, thx for your support!

This will be a fantastically eclectic concert merging some world class talent and completely diverse music genres. Collaborating on original and known music will be;

Reknowned Cellist, Michael Kevin Jones,

Juno award winning folksinger, Cara Luft,

And Kaslo’s own Kuimba Choir director, Karen Behn!

Join us, please, at 7pm tonight (Dec 6th), at the United Church in Kaslo for a skilled, musical and creative journey.

Stanely wandered into my shop back in early October I think, took me awhile to get to this post! He left me with some CD’s which he says were 10 years in the making. All original mandolin tunes (on a Neopolitan mandolin his father acquired in Kaslo I believe) about his time working and exploring as a young man at the North end of Kootenay Lake.

He lives in Montreal now(most of his kids, raised in Montreal, have moved to the Kootenays) but grew up around Nelson and worked in the Lardeau and Duncan Lake area as a young man. His father, William Triggs was the purser on the sternwheeler SS Moyie for a time in the early 1900’s. He returns every year to spend time at his cabin in Meadow creek and this year was working on reclaiming an old indian trail on the North side of Hammill Creek.

Thank you for sharing your music and stories Stanley!

Neil Johnson and Louis Bockner are the spark behind MRP. Although I would say, and I think Neil and Louis would agree, it’s ‘all of us’ who are creating the MRP. Universal consciousness in action, illuminated daily in the ordinary magic of people expressing themselves through music and other existential musings looking for a voice.

Here is an MRP clip featuring myself, Jeremy Behn, touching on the reincarnation aspect of helping souls inhabit or extend themselves into the vessels we know as musical instruments, one aspect of what I do at the Mountain Fruit Folklore Centre.

 

The work these two are doing is full of passion and inspiration. Their dedication to quality with regards to video/audio and attention to artistic detail is remarkable. It’s film like these two are creating that inspires us to make change in our lives and let that change ripple and overlap into the change of others.

View their first music video;

And go to their Indiegogo page if you’d like to support their project, it’s worth it!

 

I’ve never heard this trio but it sounds as though they easily invoke medieval romance or a trip to the outermost moon of Uranus. I’m predicting another world class concert put on by the Kaslo Concert Society.

Friday, October 4, 2013, 7:30 pm St. Andrew’s United Church, Kaslo, BC.

The poster shows the way but let me say; Jim is a true resource on the history of these ‘Old Tyme Music’ genre’s. He is featured weekly on Kootenay Co-op Radio with his show, ‘Liner Notes’ and always has some rare and intersting songs and info from long ago. It’s a history lesson with someone who is passionate about the music he likes! I might add that he has a wonderful radio voice and endearing stage personna in just being himself, this Capitol Theatre show will be a cozy, funfilled afternoon.

That’s Jim on the left being interviewed by Randy Morse of Radio Free Kaslo about his upcoming show. This interview should be broadcast on Friday, October 4th, 11am on Kootenay Coop Radio.

I took in Saskia Overbeek and Darrel Delaronde’s show for a second time in around a year I’d say. Previously at the Langham and this time at the United Church yesterday evening. As husband and wife they have a wonderful rappore on stage and don’t hesitate to throw in a little gender humour. They’re both great storytellers in song and in between songs. Comfortable Canadiana at it’s best! Next year we’ll be sure to corner them for a Radio Free Kaslo interview.

Michael Guthrie will be performing his eclectic mix of music at the Langham on Sat, Sept 21 at 7:30pm. If you don’t know Michael, visit his website, to find out more about his spearheading the rescue of the very theatre he will be performing in, which took place more than 30 yrs ago! You can also find out more about Michaels musical journey on Radio Free Kaslo’s May 24th show. Only musician I’ve ever seen play ‘Shortnin’ Bread’ on a 2 stringed rebec derived from the arabic rebab, I’ve been learning lots about stringed instrument history from Michael on his visits to Mtn Fruit, thanks Michael!

Kaslo resident Randy Morse (host of Radio Free Kaslo) has a beautiful, cooperative, sustainable and exciting vision for the Community of Kaslo and surrounding area. Come and learn more about this vision Thurs, Sept 19th, 7pm @ the Langham Theatre.

 

 

Morien Jones is a dear friend and wonderful musician who has a gift for connecting with, and enjoying children just as they are! As gifted as he is he has worked tirelessly on all of his musical skills, whether it be performing, recording or songwriting. This is his first full length CD of music for children. Come on out and have a short rest on Sat, Sept 7th from 1-2 PM on the lawn of the Kemball Ctr, while the kids follow the piper!

Blues singer Kirby Sewell (pronounced soul) from Calgary visited Mtn Fruit yesterday for an Radio Free Kaslo interview. Kirby played Kaslo Jazzfest in 2012 and was well recieved. Without giving too much of the interview away Kirby loves to laugh and talk about the business side of music. Look for Kirby’s interview at Nirvanna Chronicles in the coming weeks.

On Saturday Aug 24th I attended the Nimble Fingers Concert with a market booth. Met lot’s of fine folks and heard some great music. I also had the pleasure of meeting Mike and Annie of Clawhammer Press in Fernie, BC. Mike is the creator of the beautiful poster for Nimble Fingers which is printed on ‘turn of the century’ letter press equipment! Love what you are doing Mike!

Ron Wall and Liz Lupton from Penticton have been visiting Kaslo area on and off for years. Liz plays in the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra and together they teach violin to kids in their program called ‘fiddlekidz’. They play wonderfully together and enjoy playing for others. They have collaborated on a wonderful beginners fiddle book for kids and adults alike with original mountain paintings by Ron and are in the process of writing a second book. I will post some photo details about the book in the coming weeks and the book can be purchased from Mtn Fruit. We are planning to have Ron back in the fall to teach an introduction to the hammered dulcimer.

 

Every year the Village of  Kaslo has a small birthday party on the lawn of the Kemball Memorial Centre (right below the window of Mtn Fruit). There was cake, shade, speeches, social cheeriness amongst a small crowd and this year a live performance from Ron Wall and Liz Lupton from Pentiction. Liz plays violin and Ron plays fiddle, hammered dulcimer, harp and I am sure a few other instruments as well. Thanks to Liz and Ron for their short notice ‘goodwill to Kaslo performance’, I’m sure they would be welcomed here anytime!

Come out and visit with the Slocan Ramblers, all the way from Toronto, and local band The Lichens. They’ll play some tunes together and apart in the noonday sun on the green, green grass of…..the Kemball Centre! Wednesday, August 7th at 3pm, see you there.

Torontos Slocan Ramblers were in Mtn Fruit for a Radio Free Kaslo interview and performed two songs. One of which was a new arrangement of an old song titled “ramblin sailor”. Magic to hear such beautiful music in such an intimate setting. These young lads make it look easy but to my ears they are all masters and real craftsmen in the musical sense of the word. Unpretentious and sensitive to the details that take take us deeper into the listening journey.

Thanks for sharing guys!

Margaret, the gypsy from Palestine, wandered into the store after following others to a purported ‘Rainbow Gathering’ in Meadow Creek, BC. The gathering never happened but Margaret stuck around Kaslo a few days and sang some songs for me in the shop. Her travelling guitar had been backed over by a truck while she was picking fruit in the Okanagan so I gifted her a ukelele that  needed a home. She had a lovely voice and some lovely songs, made a little money busking and then moved on! But not before an interview with ‘Radio Free Kaslo’ from the pew at Mtn Fruit.

Buckman Coe and his friend Rika dropped by Mtn Fruit for a chat and some tunes yesterday. They are on a fundraising tour for the Dogwood Initiative’s efforts to stop proposed plans for the Enbridge pipeline and increased tanker traffic on BC’s coast, power to them! Rika is accompanying Buckman with his beautiful oceanscape art and together they are a very soulful team! Hope to see them again soon. In the photo, from left to right are Buckman, Randy (our intrepid Radio Free Kaslo host) and Rika. Doesn’t matter how you arrange their names, you’ve always got a band name.

 

These two played a concert at the Bluebelle Bistro on Friday night that I wish I had been at. The song, The Promise, is what they sang during an interview on the Pew at MtnFruit and had me close to tears and lamenting a missed performance. Christina and Dale share a creative intimacy that is rare and beautiful.

Dale Murray, an accomplished Nova Scotia musician, accompanied his wife Christina Martin on copy of a 19th Century guitar made by Jeremy Behn.

I’d wish these two luck but they don’t need any, the next step is the path they’re on!

We have Christinas latest CD, Sleeping With a Stranger, for purchase at the Mtn Fruit.