Description
After 30 years of playing together Patt Plunkett and Charlie Walden (a.k.a. Patt & Possum) have learned a thing or two about getting along musically. While some couples might bicker about the bills or where to go out to eat, these two battle over chord progressions and set lists.
Charlie and Patt both grew up listening to and playing traditional mid-western fiddle music and have performed across North America as well as touring in Australia and the U.K. Their infectious, toe-tapping tunes are sure to entertain audiences young and old.
Work Sample
When the pandemic hit and all the music shut down Patt & I decided to start a program called "The Big Fiddle Show" on YouTube just to entertain our friends. Now after over 120 episodes of our unique variety show featuring old-time fiddle tunes, songs, fun contests and general hi-jinx we've managed to entertain thousands of people all over North America, Australia and the UK via YouTube.
Patt & I love to play at Folk Festivals and other outdoor music events. Here's a clip of us playing at the Lowell Folk Festival in Lowell, Mass, back in 2016.
Besides performing we love teaching other folks to play the old-time fiddle tunes in the traditional way through imitation and by ear. Here's an example of one our livestreamed fiddle lessons of a traditional Illinois fiddle tune called Cora Dye.
These particular work samples illustrate Patt & I playing in typical settings including a festival stage, online livestreaming and a teaching workshop. We also play for social dancing, such as contra and square dancing and for general entertainment.
History
After 30 years of playing together Patt Plunkett and Charlie Walden (a.k.a. Patt & Possum) have learned a thing or two about getting along musically. While some couples might bicker about the bills or where to go out to eat, these two battle over chord progressions and set lists.
Charlie and Patt both grew up listening to and playing traditional mid-western fiddle music. Charlie learned as a teenager form some of the Midwest’s finest old time fiddlers. Along the way he developed his own style incorporating elements of Bluegrass and Canadian fiddle playing, while still staying true to his roots.
Patt started out by playing piano for her grandfather, Carl Voorhees, who was a seasoned Illinois square dance fiddler. She went on to play Irish-style piano accompaniment and formed a ceili band in Chicago, which won the local Fleah Ceol twice. She is also a professional music educator and trained singer. Patt’s ability as a dancer led her to take an interest in square and contra dance calling and instruction.
Charlie and Patt are active contra and square dance musicians. They serve as instructors at several music camps, giving instruction on fiddle and piano accompaniment.
Artistic Vision
We strive to maintain and preserve musical traditions, while making them accessible and entertaining to broader audience outside our musical community. We do this by sharing our music online via YouTube and Facebook and through teaching workshops where we try to pass on the tunes and techniques that make up the Midwestern fiddle style.
Traditional Folk/Ethnic Artform Statement
We play primarily Midwestern old-time fiddling, which is instrumental music is played on a violin (a.k.a. a fiddle – being the same instrument), but the technique, repertoire, performance context and manner of learning are distinct from classical or formal violin playing.
Old-time fiddling in Illinois originates is derived from Anglo-Saxon, Scotch-Irish, French and German traditions along with music of the “New World” and reflects a broader culture of non-European influences, American popular music of the 19th & early 20th centuries and African-American. The repertoire includes a tunes for social dancing and entertainment like reels, jigs or quadrilles, hornpipes, waltzes, and schottisches.
The music was historically a diversion from the hardships of pioneer life. In the modern era it is a pastime enjoyed by rural, suburban, and urban performers and represents a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds. Illinois fiddlers perform in small venues, square & contra dances, and contests (such as the Illinois State Championship) and on-line. The audience varies with the type of venue/event and region of the state. A rural audience for a fiddle contest might be older and more homogenous than folks attending an urban contra dance, who might be younger and more ethnically diverse.
Name
Patt & Possum's Big Fiddle Show
Type
Individual Artist
Address
2730 Lawndale Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
Contact Person
Charlie Walden
[email protected]
847.800.1647
Web Site
https://charliewalden.com/about/
Artistic Discipline(s)
Music
- Folk/Traditional
- Heritage
- Roots/Americana
Geographic Availability
Central Illinois
Chicago/Chicagoland
Northern Illinois
Southern Illinois
Western Illinois
Fee Ranges
$400 to $2000
Additional Services
Demonstrations
Lectures
Master classes
Workshops
Core Audience(s)
Adult
Children
Seniors
Youth