String Fever

Join host Barb Heller each Thursday afternoon from 3:00 to 4:45 pm for the best of acoustic and bluegrass music in the North Country

String Fever (stream archive) 03/18/10

The best in bluegrass each week. Here's your place to listen to the latest edition of String Fever, hosted by Barb Heller, anytime you want. The 03/18/10 edition is the lead segment of this stream. (This archive will only be available until next week's show is posted.)

This text will be replaced

Launch in player | Post/Read Comments |

String Fever "Play Along with the Radio" Jam (Hour 1) 01/07/10

This was a special "Play Along With the Radio" edition of the program, featuring a live jam band in the studio. We provide the downloadable accompaniment and the sheet music, you can play along at home. This first hour includes the following tunes: Arkansas Traveler, Cock of the North, Fisher's Hornpipe, Flop Eared Mule, Garry Owen/Haste To The Wedding, I'll Fly Away, Irish Washerwoman, Keep On The Sunny Side, and Off She Goes.

This text will be replaced

Launch in player | Download audio | Post/Read Comments |

String Fever "Play Along with the Radio" Jam (Hour 2) 01/07/10

This was a special "Play Along With the Radio" edition of the program, featuring a live jam band in the studio. We provide the downloadable accompaniment and the sheet music, you can play along at home. This second hour includes the following tunes: Old Joe Clark, Smash The Windows, Star of the County Down, Devil's Dream, Soldier's Joy, and Wabash Cannonball.

This text will be replaced

Download audio | Post/Read Comments |

Arkansas Traveler from the String Fever
Radio Jam 1/7/10

Welcome to String Fever! I’m so glad you’re tuned in!

If you are a long-time listener, you know that you can expect to hear what’s happening in our regional bluegrass scene. If you are a first-time visitor, let me tell you a little more about String Fever:

It’s all about the music - and the players.

Pat Donohue on String Fever 03/26/09

String Fever host Barb Heller chats with Pat Donohue, the lead guitarist in Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, from the A Prairie Home Companion radio show. Pat is traveling to Saranac Lake on Sunday for an appearance at BluSeed Studios at 7 pm on April 5.

This text will be replaced

Download audio |

Post/Read Comments |

BluSeed Studio

String Fever "play along with the radio" Radio Jam 02/19/09

Members of the String Fever Jam Band in the NCPR studio.

(click image to enlarge)

String Fever host Barb Heller welcomes a whole slew of traditional musicians into the studio to perform standards and favorites. To encourage the radio audience to play along, all the sheet music was posted online. You can download this audio and play along yourself. Recordings of your home session may be posted on the String Fever page.

This text will be replaced

Post/Read Comments |

Set list, sheet music and more information

Watch the String Fever Jam Band play "Union Maid"

Watch the String Fever Jam Band play "Liberty"

Fiddlers Gretchen Koehler and Don Woodcock live on String Fever 01/29/09

Fiddlers Gretchen Koehler and Don Woodcock

(click image to enlarge)

String Fever host Barb Heller welcomes Gretchen Koehler and Don Woodcock into the studio for some great North Country fiddling. Gretchen is the 2008 Northeast Champion fiddler, and Don is a past NYS champion. They take turns at the fiddle and the piano for some favorite tunes, and talk with Barb about the history of traditional fiddle styles. More...

This text will be replaced

Post/Read Comments |

Two hosts, no waiting. Former String Fever host Dan Gotham joins Barb Heller for the August 25, 2005 edition of the program.

Finding Music

You can find or special order any of the music heard on this program from local music stores, including:

Northern Music & Video, Potsdam: 315-265-8100

Strawberry Fields, Potsdam: 315-265-7700

SLU Brewer Bookstore, Canton

Ampersound, Saranac Lake:
518-891-3114

Peacock Music, Plattsburgh:
518-561-0555

Suggest a regional music vendor

I welcome live soloists, bands, and co-hosts in the String Fever studio – especially if you have an upcoming gig in our listening area! You can reach me anytime via email (barb@ncpr.org), or by calling the station toll-free at 877-388-6277. If you have a gig in the region please email me the details for inclusion on String Fever – and include a copy to calendar@ncpr.org too!

In my opinion, there’s nothing like live music, but I strive to make String Fever your weekly nearly-as-good-as-a-live-gig Bluegrass Café… and I hope that you’ll hear something on the air that inspires you to seek out the live, in-person version of it; whether it’s a bluegrass festival, concert or workshop.

So… until we meet in person at a gig, festival, concert or fundraiser….

Happy listening!

See you on the radio,
Barb

E-mail Barb!

Bluegrass links:
Festival Finder | Ottawa Valley Bluegrass Music Association
or call the International Bluegrass Music Association Festival Hotline at
1-888-600-IBMA.

You can find download live performances by guests who have performed on String Fever from the UpNorth Concert Hall. Select "Traditional and New Acoustic Music."

You can also hear Barb Heller in her classical guise each Saturday and Sunday on FM in the Morning.

Program Playlists

Recent | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

String Fever Radio Jam!

Jam with the all-star String Fever Jam Band and play along with the radio. (Archive audio at left)

Download the sheet music (.pdf):

Arkansas Traveler
Cock of the North
Fisher’s Hornpipe
Flop Eared Mule
Garry Owen
Haste To the Wedding
I’ll Fly Away
Irish Washerwoman
Keep On the Sunny Side
Off She Goes
Old Joe Clark
Smash The Windows
Star of the County Down
Devil’s Dream
Soldier’s Joy
Wabash Cannonball

Bluegrass

The Greencards: The Pursuit Of Perfection

February 16, 2010 | WKSU· When the continent-straddling bluegrass group launches into the Grammy-nominated "Crystal Merchant," a meticulously crafted studio session springs to life. Once the band plays, it's easy to forget the technique involved, because the music is so engaging. Here, the group pulls off a remarkable performance for Folk Alley.

Real |

Windows |

MP3 | Play Now | Add to NPR.org Playlist

Mumford And Sons: London Folk Goes Global

February 9, 2010 | WXPN· After bonding over a shared affinity for country, bluegrass and folk music, Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane began collaborating in 2007, with an enthusiasm that helped land them at the forefront of London's underground folk scene.

Real |

Windows |

MP3 | Play Now | Add to NPR.org Playlist

Staats And Shafer On Mountain Stage

January 29, 2010 | NPR· Mandolin player Johnny Staats and guitarist Robert Shafer are both award-winning pickers on their respective instruments, with a knack for reinventing old favorites and crafting an impressive collection of original bluegrass songs.

Real |

Windows |

MP3 | Play Now | Add to NPR.org Playlist

House Honors Bluegrass Legend Lester Flatt

January 26, 2010 | NPR· The House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday to honor bluegrass legend Lester Flatt. Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN), who now represents the area Flatt was born in, says the music and the late musician are as important to American culture as its best writers and painters.

Real |

Windows |

MP3 | Play Now | Add to NPR.org Playlist

more from Music at NPR