top of page

Workshop Info
*Subject to change, *bst (banjo standard time)

All Day: Cowboy Poetry in the Cowboy Poetry booth with Zane York, and Jessica Schley

10:00 am  Kickoffs, Backup, & Jamming Techniques: at The Family Stage

Fiddle Workshop with Shelah Spiegel

Ideas for starting tunes. Learn the difference between chunks, chops and long bow backup.

Quickie fiddle tunes and fiddle jamming techniques to get you out and jamming. 

 

10:00 am: Mixed Berry Jam:  2-3 Chord Songs hosted by Sally and Dana Charette at Songmakers.   

There are a surprising number of 2-3 chords songs out there from Chuck Berry to Hank Williams and back.   

Let's play around with them in a friendly, supportice song circle.   

Dana and Sally invite you to share your favorite easy songs and join in on theirs.

10:30 am: Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with John David at SWBA

Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Class with John David at 10:30 am at SWBA

Crash course! All bluegrass instruments. All levels. Novices welcome!

Only requirement is change smoothly between 4 chords. G, D, C, A. (notes for bass and fiddle)

You will be jamming right away! 

more info:  https://wernickmethod.org/event/jd-2026-05-calabasas    

11:00 am: Beginner Family Jam at the Family Stage

Led by LA local fiddle teachers Molly White and Natalie Brejcha.

Open to all ages, this slow paced, family oriented jam is for those who have a melody instrument like fiddle

and want to learn and play some classic tunes as well as chord players who know how to play basic ADEGC

chords on their instruments.

This beginner jam will have printed music available with chord charts, words and melodies provided.

11:00 am  Ledbelly Songs that Broke the Top 40 with Chuck Behrman at Songmakers

Many of you may be familiar with these songs. Some may be unexpected.

Bring your instrument and be prepared to sing along. 

You are encouraged to join with your own examples, or songs that are by or in the spirit of  Huddie Ledbetter.

11:30 am: Intro to Musical Saw - at Instrument Petting Zoo

Hosted by Frank Feldstein who has taught musical saw for the past 25 years

with Tony Ramirez Retired Teacher (Musical Saw Tech Support.)

This is a hands on course no experience necessary.  All ages. Saws provided.  

You will learn:

*Solo demo

*Saw Plate harmonics

*The S curve

*Saw Playing posture

*Hammer Technique

*Bowing Technique

*Vibrato

*Playing a Scale

*Playing a simple song

12:00 pm Vocal Health & Performance Workshop with Sweet Megg (CBA) 

Please arrive 5 minutes early.​

12:00 pm Ukulele Sing & Strum Along with David Steinhart at Songmakers

David is an experienced Uke player and teacher. He shares his passion for playing and  

he'll welcome all types of Ukes and all levels of players to join.

12:00 pm: Flatfoot Workshop with Afton Coombs & Hendricks Run at the Dance Stage

 

1:00 pm Guitar Fingerpicking with Jordan Tice (CBA)

Please arrive 5 minutes early.

1:00 pm Crazy Fun Sing Along with Janice Gelencser & Louise Dobbs at Songmakers

​​We love to sing and get others to sing with us.  

We’ll sing familiar songs from many decades that you will likely know and enjoy!  

We invite you to come join and share your own fun group songs!

1:30 pm: DJ Reed & Main Street Jam - Slow Jam 

Hosted by Southwest Bluegrass Association (SWBA).

"Nothing over 80 BPM Jam".  Come on by and hang out with friends…

The Nothing over 80 beats a minute jam is a come-as-you-are casual hoe down.  

Classic songs and fiddle tunes.  

Flip chart with chords.  

Guaranteed fun and smiles!  

2:00 pm Let’s Folk Up Rock & Roll: Warren Hasselberger & Michael Singletary at Songmakers

​​​There will be folk and rock and hybrids and mixed genres. 

You are encouraged to bring along your voice and/or instrument and contribute

examples of your own.

2:30 pm Old Time Fiddle with Jake Blount (SWBA)

Please arrive 5 minutes early.​

3:00 pm  Americana & Roots with Gary and Kathy Lynch at Songmakers

The term Americana is often used to describe hybrids of American music genres, e.g. folk/singer-songwriter,

folk/rock and country/rock. Classic examples are songs by The Weavers, The Byrds and The Eagles. The term Roots can

include genres native to America such as jazz, blues and country & western. In this workshop we will explore and play some

examples of Americana and Roots music. You are encouraged to bring along your voice and/or instrument and contribute.

4:00 Band Workshop with Foghorn Stringband (SWBA)

Please arrive 5 minutes early.

4:00 pm: Saw Players Workshop at Instrument Petting Zoo

Intermediate/Advanced

Hosted by Frank Feldstein who has taught musical saw for the past 25 years

with Janet Holmes & Tony Ramirez Retired Teacher (Musical Saw Tech Support.)

Open to anyone who has participated in a saw playing workshop and wants help

developing and honing their techniques.

This workshop focuses on Individualized instruction​​

Topanga Banjo Fiddle Festival

JOIN US! Sunday, May 16, 2027

 

Where:

King Gillette Ranch,

Calabasas, California, in the Santa Monica Mountains.  

 

Address: 

26800 Mulholland Highway

Calabasas, CA 91302

Contests 9:00 am

Featured Performances: 12:00 pm

Jamming all day!

Workshops

Food Trucks

Craft Beer

Artisans

Instrument Petting Zoo

Family Entertainment

Kids 9 and under are free for basic admission 

(excluding the contests and VIP tickets)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
PngJoy_spotify-spotify-playlist-logo-png

© 2019 Topanga Banjo•Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival.  All Rights reserved.

bottom of page