DEER ISLE, BELFAST, BLUE HILL — Bagaduce Music presents the Bagaduce Family Reunion Weekend on January 17, 18, and 19, 2025. 

Friday, January 17: The weekend starts with a lively contradance from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Deer Isle Music Hall and Barbeque, located at 65 Sunset Road in Deer Isle. This dance will feature the Gawler Family Band, the Northern New England Ensemble, and any musicians eager to join in. Admission is free as part of Healthy Island Project Winterfest 2025. Doors open at 4 p.m., with BBQ and all the fixings and beverages available for purchase.

“This is an all-comer’s event, so bring your fiddles, banjos, and whatnot to sit in with the band, or come dance the night away—no experience necessary," said Bagaduce Music Executive Director Bennett Konesni, in a news release. 

Saturday, January 18: The festivities continue at the Baptist Church, 65 High Street in Belfast, with a day filled with workshops on various stringed instruments, slow and fast jam sessions, a potluck dinner, and an evening concert and dance.

The day's schedule includes:

-Workshops: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., led by Bagaduce Music faculty and the Gawler Family Band. Workshops feature work songs, guitar flatpicking, polska for fiddle, “Bingbong” percussion, choral rounds, exploring the whole guitar fretboard, chopping and rhythm for fiddle, Mississippi John Hurt guitar picking style, and a kitchen junket for all instruments and voices.

• -Jam Sessions: 3-5 pm.
• -Potluck Dinner: 5 pm.
• -Concert and Dance: 6:30 pm.

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Sunday, January 19: The weekend culminates at Bagaduce Music, 49 South Street in Blue Hill.

The day includes:

• -Music Workshops: 10 am and 1 pm, presented by Bagaduce Music Faculty and members of the Gawler Family Band. Workshops feature chops and grooves for fiddle, worksongs, recording studio, “Bingbong” percussion and voice, drop D tuning for guitar, Scandinavian polska for fiddle, fun with John Gawler! 
• -Concert: 3 to 4:30 pm.

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The featured performers and faculty for the Saturday and Sunday events will be members of the Gawler Family Band, a musical group based in Maine known for their infectious spirit of fun and sparkling musicianship, according to a news release. They play a variety of acoustic instruments, including fiddles, banjo, guitar, cello, harmonica, washboard, and even use their feet to create rhythms.

"The Gawler Family Band has been a longtime institution in Midcoast and central Maine, contributing to the thriving music traditions in the region," said the release. "They are known for their energetic performances and engaging concerts, often leading audiences in traditional shanties and folk songs."

In addition, members of the Bagaduce Music faculty will take part in the workshops and concerts, providing a sampler of the types of music and instruction provided by Bagaduce Music. Bagaduce Music promotes the appreciation, knowledge, and performance of music through concerts, classes, camps, and our unique lending library.

For more information about Bagaduce Music, visit bagaducemusic.org or contact Bennett Konesni at bennett@bagaducemusic.org.