Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships

08/29/2024

Our top 2 t-shirt shots from the weekend! Special thanks to pupper Ralph Stanley for the photobomb. 🐶

08/27/2024

Your 2024 FidPick champions are here!
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What a showing we had this year, across the board — thank you to everyone who competed.

Winners 2024 Winners Miscellaneous Acoustic Instruments First Place: Fred Uzzell, Kansas City, KS (Dobro)Second Place: David Ludwick, Lawrence, KS (Banjolin)Third Place: Steve Graue, Louisburg, KS (Ukelin) Youth Fiddle n/a (zero entries) Open Fiddle First Place: Tricia Spencer, Lawrence, KSSecond Pl...

08/26/2024

THAT’S A WRAP! Thanks to *all of you,* for attending, competing, volunteering, jamming, photographing, vending, sponsoring, and just making one heck of a success. Even in the Kansas summer heat!
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The Board is still hard at work on event wrap-up, and will have contest results posted tomorrow.
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Keep on fiddlin’ and pickin’!

08/25/2024

🗺️ Lay of the land. We’re off!

08/24/2024

Sunday is the day! Be sure to drop by our Hospitality & Merch tent by the gazebo to grab your official program and buy your 2024 t-shirt.
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It’s gonna be a hot one, so bring your hats and water bottles, and catch some shade. ☀️ Y’all come!

08/22/2024

Participation is preservation.

For 43 years now, it’s been FidPick’s (originally the Douglas County Fiddling & Picking Contest) mission to be dedicated to the promotion and preservation of traditional acoustic music — for all people, and without the barrier of cost.

Join us once again, this Sunday, and keep the tradition alive!

08/21/2024

Final walkthrough with the City, we’re ready to roll!
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A FEW NOTES:
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Pick up your official program at our Hospitality & Merch table, which is located just east of the gazebo. This has all the info you need to have a great day, including park map, schedule of events, vendors and more.
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There are water bottle-friendly drinking fountains and jugs near the gazebo, so please help us reduce waste by bringing your own bottles. Aren’t those Stanley cups everyone loves named for Ralph Stanley anyways?
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Stages will be located as adjacent as possible to tree shade, which means there isn’t lush grass underneath. Don’t forget lawn chairs and blankets to relax on!
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Bring cash! Though our Merch Table is equipped to take cards, cash means fewer fees, for us and our vendors. We are also happy to accept donations!
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Speaking of vendors: we have a *spectaular* lineup of food, beverage (yes, Free State will be pouring!) and arts/market vendors. Come hungry, and support your local makers!
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Need help or see something needing attention? Our Staff and Volunteers can be found at the gazebo, at the Hospitality & Merch Table to its east, and wandering the park grounds — just look for STAFF on the back of their shirts!
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Most importantly: HAVE FUN! And bring your instruments to join in the jams.

08/20/2024

Five days til FidPick! 🤩 Our event seems to get better and better every year, in large part thanks to the support of our city, our visitors bureau, our state, the NEA and the best dang violin shop around!
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Thank you Beautiful Music Violin Shop for your continuous support.
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Thank you City of Lawrence, Kansas and Explore Lawrence.
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Thank you Kansas Department of Commerce. FidPick 43 is supported in part by the Kansas Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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We think the best way to say THANK YOU to our sponsors and supporters is to come out on Sunday and have a high old time!

08/17/2024

We’re here at for Live on Mass with Split Lip Rayfield! Don’t be bashful now 🍻

08/12/2024

The State Band Competition is back for its second year, and it is LOADED with talent! The first round will begin at approx. 1:20pm, with only 2 acts moving on to the finals at 4:45pm.
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Only *1* band will be crowned the 2024 Kansas State String Band, and be awarded a $500 cash prize!
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08/11/2024

What a great community we have in our local businesses — thanks to Mass Street Music, Kansas Public Radio and Lawrence Arborists for their sponsorships! Without their generosity, FidPick wouldn’t be a *free* event, so please support these businesses, as they have supported FidPick’s mission.
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See you August 25 for contests, concerts, jamming, food and fun for the whole family! Made possible by our generous event sponsors.

08/09/2024

This promises to be a special evening! You’ll hear some great fiddle tunes, obscure hillbilly songs, and perhaps a few surprises from these veterans of Old Time music — set in the intimate listening room at Americana Music.
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Email Howard at [email protected] to reserve your spot!

08/07/2024

What an August we’ve got happening in Lawrence! We’re in good company 😊

Summer’s just about over, but there's still time to pack in some fun live music events. Check out our best bets for live music this August in Lawrence, Kansas.

07/31/2024

FidPick remains a FREE, family-friendly event, thanks to the support of our sponsors! This allows us to offer cash prizes to contestants, pay our concert performers respectfully, and provides necessary logistical services — like park reservation fees and a liquor license, so you can enjoy a beer with your bluegrass!

Thank you!
The Free State Brewing Co.
Wildman Web Solutions
Lawrence Public Library
SpyderArt Constructors LLC
Replay Lounge

07/30/2024

Another fine evening of acoustic music!

We’ll be there enjoying the show, but we’ll also be tabling with info about our concerts and how to register to compete! 🎶 🎻 See you there!

Big News - PopSkull Rebels and MoonShroom will join Split Lip Rayfield at Live On Mass on Saturday, August 17th! 🥳

📅 Saturday, August 17th
📍 Outside on the 1000 block of Massachusetts
🎟 FREE and All Ages!
❌ Official after party at Lucia hosted by MoonShroom

We can't wait to see you all out on Mass St! 🙌🏼

RSVP: Live on Mass Presents: Split Lip Rayfield with PopSkull Rebels and MoonShroom

Kaw River Roots Festival Downtown Lawrence Explore Lawrence The Free State Brewing Co. City of Lawrence, Kansas - Municipal Government Lucia Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships

07/27/2024

Lost Patterns, Your 2024 headliner! 🎻

This American roots duo, based in Austin, TX, features songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Beth Chrisman and Silas Lowe.

Chrisman and Lowe have been sharing stages together since 2006 when they met during a bluegrass jam at a BBQ joint. The duo plays songs culled from the depths of the American musical tradition as well as writing new classics shaped by those musical landscapes.

Each themself a celebrated musician, the two have performed at Merlefest and the Kennedy Center, respectively, among other storied events and venues.

Read more on Lost Patterns on our website, or check them out on your preferred streaming platform!

07/26/2024

Introducing Alegres del Rancho, your 2024 featured concert performer!

Alegres del Rancho was formed 24 years ago by Isauro Muñoz, who moved to Topeka KS from Zacatecas, Mexico.

The group originated with a violin, vihuela, and tololoche (upright bass) and has since grown to include a jarana and accordion.

Alegres Del Rancho’s musical style is known as ‘Chirrines,’ which is an ensemble style similar to American Country music.

Welcome to FidPick, Alegres Del Rancho! 🎻

07/25/2024

We’ve got +2,600 followers on our socials - if everyone chipped in, that’s only roughly $4,500 a person to buy Bill Monroe’s Tennessee estate!

Price: $12,000,000, address: 395 Allen Road

07/22/2024

Only a few spots left to enter the 2024 String Band Competition! Bands will perform in front hundreds of active listeners, with the opportunity to win 💰$500💰 and be awarded the title of Kansas State String Band of the Year! Plus, a gorgeous hand crafted, one-of-a-kind trophy by
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Tag a band who should enter!
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Register your band at https://fidpick.org/registration/

07/19/2024

The Doug DuBois Harmony Fund supports causes that were dear to Doug, with a focus on the Lawrence community that he so loved. FidPick is thankful for the continued support from Doug’s family, and deeply honored to have Doug’s name live on through FidPick.

So come on out to the 43rd Annual Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Champions on August 25, and show off your skills, circle up and jam, or just enjoy the scene that Doug helped build.

06/05/2024

“Because without beer, FidPick does not seem to go as well…”

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05/28/2024

That’s a wrap for BuskerFest! Great to see some fiddlers and pickers out there, especially FidPick board member Jesse! 🎻

05/18/2024

In honor of 100 days til FidPick, it’s time to officially announce open registration for the 2nd annual Band Contest!

Spots are *extremely* limited, so register your Acoustic / Bluegrass band today! 🎻

Band Contest Registration Band Contest Registration Thanks for filling out this form for entry into the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships Band Competition 2024 to be named the Kansas State Acoustic / Bluegrass / Newgrass Band of the Year for 2024! Band contest rules can be found at htt...

04/22/2024

Congrats to FidPick’s 2022 headlining star, Rick Faris! We’re so proud to call Rick and co. fellow Kansans. Keep going, Rick!

Popular bluegrass performer and noted luthier Rick Faris is set to be inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame as part of their 2024 class.

04/01/2024

Big announcement! 📣
We’ve been doing this thing for almost 50 years now. Our goal remains to promote and preserve traditional American music, but the time has come to add “strumming” to all the fiddling and picking — we’re adding an electric guitar competition to our contests! The louder the better! Are y’all excited, or what?!

02/23/2024

There’s a light at the end of the wintertime tunnel — we’re HALFWAY to FidPick 2024! 🗓️

Mark your calendars now, and keep your eyes peeled as more announcements come. 😎

01/29/2024

Happy Kansas Day! Don’t forget to wander a bit through South Park during our event, and see all the beautiful native plants. 🌳 🌻 🪕

09/01/2023

Let’s see that FidPick merch! 🚨 Surprise: we’ll be sending a handful of koozies down to to disperse, so if you see a Board member, ask them for the hookup!

08/31/2023

2023 Event Survey -

Thank you all for attending FidPick 42 and making it the best one yet! Please take a few moments and give us your input by taking the survey.