File - The 43rd Annual East Benton Fiddler`s Contest

Forty years ago Shirley & Red Littlefield and Greg Boardman had a conversation
about sharing fiddle music locally. From that conversation the first East Benton
Fiddle Festival and Convention was born.
On a beautiful day in the summer of 1972 friends gathered at the Littlefield's
farm to watch and listen as musicians played old time fiddle music.
The musicians performed as they stood upon an old hay wagon placed directly in
front of the farm's old blacksmith shop, (a building which, sadly, is now gone).
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July 29 2012 will mark the 40th anniversary of what is now officially listed as the
OLDEST ANNUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL in the State of Maine after 39 consecutive
years of providing old time fiddling music and family style enjoyment for all ages.
(Back to the festival's history): After the first few years, the Littlefield family
relocated the Fiddle festival to an upper pasture of the Littlefield farm, which due
to it's slope created a sort-of naturally shaped amphitheater. A wooden stage
was constructed near a rock wall at the bottom of the field. That original stage,
shown in Maine Historical Society photographs, was replaced in 2003 with a new
larger and sturdier sound stage.
By 1978 the festival included Fiddle Festival T-shirts custom made by Liberty
Graphics, which has had a booth set up at this popular event every year since.
Originally, family and friends sold the refreshments. Over the years more food
vendors would set up with cooked food, cold sodas, ice cream, pop corn, etc.
General parking was regulated to various fields around the farm. In the earlier
years attendants charged for parking. (Today the parking is free and the only
cost for attending the event is the general admission price of $10.00 at the gate).
As the years progressed, more and more musicians would arrive to participate.
Most would hear of the event by word-of-mouth. What started with a group of
Colby College students, Eric Rolfson, Jeff McKeen, Greg Boardman and others,
has today grown to draw musicians from across New England and beyond.
(In 2002 a musician actually traveled to Maine from Scotland just to participate)
By the 1980's a temporary wooden bridge was constructed across a small brook
on the property to make it easier getting from the parking areas to the event field.
In later years a much sturdier steel bridge was erected, which still stands today.
Painted a bright yellow, the steel bridge is visible from the Google Earth satellite.
Security for the festival has always been provided. From the early years up until
the late 1990's a familiar site to festival-goers was local Constable Christine
Bessy riding her beloved horse through the fields while making sure all was well.
Many weddings have been performed and celebrated at the East Benton Fiddle
Convention. Most notable being the weddin~ of Richard and Eva Littlefield, who's
wedding wa{rformed
there during the 14 annual festival in July of 1986.
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Since those days in the early 1970's, when many musicians, fiddlers and
bluegrass bands just starting out took the opportunity of showcasing some of
their earliest works at what many have come to refer to as, "the Fiddler's", the
East Benton Fiddler's Convention has taken great pride in seeing some of those
extremely talented musicians go on to achieve their own personal fame.
Such as Tim O'Brian who has received Grammy awards for his professional
song writing in Nashville Tennessee. Kid segial, a family friend well known in
Oregon for his blues music talent and blues CD's. Jewel Clark, friend, musician
and artist, who has performed at the Grand Old Opera in Nashville Tennessee.
More recently, in the early 2000's a group known across the nation as, "The
Mammals", came to see Shirley Littlefield and play at her family's festival. The
Mammals stayed to spend an 'all-nighter' performing old time music and songs
on Shirley's front porch at the Littlefield farm. The following year The Mammals
came to Maine again, but this time to perform a special memorial concert for the
late Shirley Littlefield. The Mammals appeared again at the "Fiddlers" and went
on to perform with Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, the Preservation Hall band in New
Orleans and many other entertainers while they performed on their national tour
around the United States and across Europe and Australia. Today two of The
Mammals, Mike and Ruthy, have gone on to record many of their own albums for
which they have received national acclaim and notoriety along with achievinq a
top ten spot on national music charts with their album titled, "Million to One".
Tao Rodriguez-Seeger of the Mammals, who performed two years at the East
Benton Fiddler Convention, went on to perform at Carnage Hall in New York City
with his grandfather, Pete Seeger and again at Carnage Hall with Arlo Guthrie.
In January 2008 Tao performed for the newly elected President Barack Obama
at his presidential inaugural celebration party held on the steps of the Lincoln
memorial in Washington DC in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 people.
Some older entertainers who performed at the East Benton Fiddle Convention
and are no longer with us include The famous Yodeling Slim Clark, who passed
away in 2000 after being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway
of Stars.
Also the famous Vaughn Meader, who played a mean piano year after year at
the "Fiddlers", until his passing in 2004. Besides being a bluegrass singer,
Vaughn was also well known years ago for being the comedian who, in the very
early 1960's, recorded the famous Kennedy First Family comedy record album
while John F. Kennedy was President.
David Littlefield, oldest son of Shirley Littlefield and a friend to many in the area,
played his 'gut bucket' bass at the first "Fiddlers" in 1972 and continued playing
at the "Fiddlers" until he passed away in September 2011.
All of these talented people will always be part of what still makes this fiddle
festival so memorable and special to so many today.
The Littlefield family thanks all of the friends and family who have volunteered so
many times over the past forty years to make the "Fiddlers" what it is.
By mowing the fields, building the stage, setting up the festival each year by
distributing trash barrels, directing traffic, parking attendants, gate crews, cleanup crews and many other volunteers needing for carrying out such an event, the
"Fiddlers" has been a success every year. If it hadn't been for the volunteers who
have covered the past 39 festivals, the "Fiddlers" could never have taken place.
Family members who have passed on who have made this festival so special to
so many include, Bert German, Red and Shirley Littlefield, Marcy McManus, and
David Littlefield.
Also many family friends who have passed on after enjoying many years of the
"Fiddlers", all of which will remain in our hearts forever. Such as fiddle security
officer Christine Bessy, musicians Vaughn Meader and Yodeling Slim Clark.
Friends of the fiddlers, Ernie Everett, Brian Bradstreet, Steve Langcaster, Jim
Vashon and so many others.
We encourage everyone to post their personal comments regarding any special
memories or experiences they would care to share from attending the "Fiddlers"
or simply just visiting or hanging out at the Littlefield farm.
Many people enjoy recalling their first visit to the Littlefield farm, how about you?
SEE YOU ALL ON THE 2gih OF JUL Y, 2012 A T THE, "FIDDLERS" !
For more information regarding the 40th annual East Benton Fiddle Convention
please call the Littlefield farm at (207) 453-2017 or visit our website at
www.eastbentonfiddlers.com
40th ANNUAL
East Benton Fiddle Contest and Convention
SUNDAY, JULY 29TH 2012
11:AM to Dusk
RAIN or SHINE
270 Richard's Road, Benton, ME - (At the Littlefield Farm)
Performing Bands include:
• NORTHERN VALLEY BOYS
• OLD GREY GOOSE
• COUNTRY CHOIR
• JEWEL CLARK
• EAST BENTON JUG BAND
• THE MARANACOOK STRING BAND
•
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Also Featuring:
Performances by previous E.B.F.C. fiddle competition winners
Masters of Ceremony: Musicians Eric Rolfson & Jeff McKeen
FIDDLE CONTEST REGISTRATION STOPS AT 1:PM
(SEPARATE CATEGORIES AVAILABLE FOR CHILDERN & ADULTS)
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ADDMISSION: $10.00 AT THE GATE, (UNDER 12 YEARS OLD FREE)
FREE PARKING
(AN ATTENDANT
WILL DIRECT CARS TO THE PARKING AREA AS THEY ARRIVE)
NO DOGS ALLOWED
fi,. 1r(J1'e
NO GLASS BOTTLES
lirpl"ltflti;~~flll:
(207) 453-2017
Sponsored in part by:
CENTRAL MAINE AUTO GROUP
WARE BUTLER
PELLITIER AUTO
C-C MACHINES
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
CHASE REDEMPTION
WAYNE JEWEL