Brussels Lions Olde Tyme Fiddle Jamboree

 

When The Brussels Lions decided to start having an annual Fiddle Jamboree, they were hoping to not only have a fun time, but to further the legacy of an important part of Huron County’s musical heritage. That’s why the Jamboree’s organizer, Jim Lee, wants to make sure that people know that the Jamboree isn’t just for skilled musicians. “It’s open to people of all skill sets,” he explained. “We just want to preserve our culture.” Even if you’ve never picked up a fiddle before, the Fiddle Jamboree is a great place to start your musical journey - there will almost certainly be a highly skilled local fiddler who would be happy to give you a few pointers. The more people looking to learn, the better. Of course, the Jamboree is also going to draw out a lot of fine local talent looking to show off their skills and connect with other enthusiasts. The idea to start their own jamboree in Brussels came from the annual Barn Dance Jamboree Weekend in Blyth, which was put on each year by the Barn Dance Historical Society. Wingham’s Barn Dance, of course, saw its fair share of talented fiddlers over the years, including Wingham inventor and CKNX founder W.T. Cruikshank, who was a great champion of rural music and art.

Back in the day when ‘Good Old Music’ was just called ‘music’, Huron County was full of fiddlers. A person who could play well would often be sought out to add a little ambiance to all kinds of occasions, and those who were truly talented would perhaps tour the country for a spell to share their talents. In fact, the man known across the country as “Canada’s Only Singing Violinist” came from Brussels - Jack Thynne, also known as The Kansas Farmer. There were other fiddlers out there in the world that were better known than Thynne, but none of them could play and sing at the same time.

This year will be the 10th annual Fiddle Jamboree in Brussels, which is a historic milestone for the organizers and a great time to find new talent! There will also be another great Huron County tradition there - beef on a bun! The Brussels Fiddle Jamboree will take place at the BMG Community Centre in Brussels on July 21, 2024. Registration is from 11:20 to 1:30, and the Jamboree starts at 1 PM  $12 admission, with no charge for performers.