Kansas State Fiddling & Picking Championships

09/13/2025

The Board needs your help - can you spare 5 minutes to fill out our post-event survey? Click back to our Bio to find the link.

This survey is crucial for securing future funding, and helps us make FidPick better!

If you see a board member out at Winfield next week, hanging around , be sure to tell them THANKS for all their hard work! FidPick is run entirely by volunteers — thank you to everyone to helped at the 2025 Kansas State Fiddling And Picking Championships!

08/26/2025

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS to our 2025 WINNERS! 🏆

We are blown away by the showing of incredible musicians and guests this year — thank you to everyone who competed, judged, volunteered, donated, and attended!

Without further ado…

Miscellaneous Acoustic Instruments
First Place: Edith Sigler, hammered dulcimer, Wichita, KS
Second Place: Jeremy Blaes, bones, Wichita, KS
Third Place: Carl Sunquist, spoons, Lawrence, KS

Youth Fiddle
First Place: Sophia Johnson, Topeka, KS
Second Place: Maya Bledsoe, Kansas City, MO

Open Fiddle
First Place: Edith Sigler, Wichita, KS
Second Place: Josh Wills, Checotah, OK
Third Place: Isaiah Sibi, Lawrence, KS

Mandolin
First Place: Jesse Carr, Lawrence, KS
Second Place: David Hawkins, Wichita, KS
Third Place: Dustin Gill, Leawood, KS

Banjo
First Place: Elliott Carver, Manhattan, KS
Second Place: Ben Kuglin, Holton, KS
Third Place: Matthew Hawkins, Overland Park, KS

Finger Style Guitar
First Place: Cade Polsgrove, Platte City, MO
Second Place: Matt Parenti, Ottawa, KS

Flatpick Guitar
First Place: Andrew Morris, Kansas City, KS
Second Place: Coy Link, Williamsburg, KS
Third Place: Larry Lintner, Ottawa, KS

Youth Award
Josh Wills, Checotah, OK

Band Contest
First Place: The Midday Ramblers
Second Place: Betsy O & The Hollaback Boys

See more about this year’s winners here:

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...

08/24/2025

TODAY IS THE DAY! If you’re competing, stop by the gazebo in the center of the park to register. Then, please check in with the Stage Manager at the Contest Stage (South stage) at least an hour before your instrument competition is slated to begin.

Whether you play for fun or professionally, make Beautiful Music Violin Shop your source for instruments, service, lessons, and everything else violin+cello.

Thank you, Beautiful Music, for your enduring support!

08/23/2025

Grab a program from the Info Table by the gazebo when you arrive - but you can use this handy map to help you find food and drink, activities, bathrooms and shade — compliments of Lawrence Arborists! 🌳

With no rain in the forecast and a high of 77, we’re expecting lots of people and lots of fun. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets for sitting, your instruments for jamming and come on out for some FINE acoustic music!

Thank you Lawrence Arborists for supporting

08/22/2025

ANNOUNCING: Your 2025 Kansas State String Band contestants! Presented by Wildman Web Solutions and Kizer Cummings Jewelers.

• Jenny Lou & the Buckaroos
• Bluebelles of the Trail
• Boxcar Brethren
• The MayBelles
• Betsy O and the Hollaback Boys
• Tequa
• Captain Howdy and the Sunset Serenaders
• The Midday Ramblers

FidPick thanks Wildman Web Solutions and Kizer Cummings Jewelers for their support - it’s an honor to have so many quality local businesses partner with us!

08/22/2025

Brought to you by SpyderArt Constructors — With the expansion project to the judicial building still ongoing, parking in the lot to the east of South Park is extremely limited.

Please plan accordingly and walk if you can! There is a parking garage at 10th and New Hampshire, and lots at both 11th and 10th and Vermont.

FidPick thanks for their generous support!

08/20/2025

There’s a full weekend of events slated for FidPick weekend! Kick things off on Friday with a free Contra Dance hosted by Lawrence Barn Dance Association 💃 and on Saturday, an intimate performance by Midwestern Harvestersern Harvesters. 🎻

Then join us for the 44th Annual Kansas "FidPick" on Sunday, featuring Tim O'Brien (of Hot Rize fame) and Fabricius.

FidPick Contra Dance with Open Band and Caller's Potpourri
• Friday 8/22 at the Carnegie Building in Lawrence, KS
• Doors 6:30, lessons 7pm, dance 7:30
• Free and open to all experience levels
• Music by The Whiskey Consort
• More details here: https://tinyurl.com/fidpickdance

The Midwestern Harvesters Concert
• Saturday 8/23 at Americana Music Academy in Lawrence, KS
• $20 a ticket
• Featuring Chirps Smith, Jim Nelson, Fred Campeau
• Email [email protected] for tickets

08/17/2025

Your 2025 Schedule of Events, brought to you by the City of Lawrence, Kansas!

Please note that all times are approximate, and dependent upon the number of entrants in each competition. In the event one event runs long, the subsequent events will begin at the conclusion of the previous event.

If you are competing, Please check in with the Stage Manager at the Contest Stage (South stage) at least an hour before your instrument competition is slated to begin.

Thank you to the City Of Lawrence for their support of

08/16/2025

Just two open spots left in the KS State String Band competition! This coveted title also comes with:

💰$500 cash prize
🎙️ Two live-recorded songs at Sad Cowboy Recording Co.
🎻 A performing slot in the champions concert at Walnut Valley Festival (aka “Winfield”)

Tell your (band) friends! Click here to enter:
https://fidpick.org/register/

Thank you Sad Cowboy Recording for your support of FidPick 2025!

📸:: Nell Schmidt

05/07/2025

The weather for Spring Thing this Saturday is shaping up to be pretty idyllic. ☀️🪕🎻

04/28/2025

At FidPick 43, we had our first ever Spanish-language group, Alegres del Rancho from Topeka. This August, we are excited to announce our first ever Grammy-winning artist. Official announcement to be made at Spring Thing! A FidPick Fundraiser on Saturday, May 10.

Any guesses? If you guess right, we have a free FidPick t-shirt for you at our annual event happening on Sunday, August 24! 🥇🪕

04/24/2025

FidPick is just 4 months away! And we have BIG news coming about this year’s headliner, you’re going to be 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯…