Northland Hoedown Show. Duluth, Minnesota.

The late Bob Andresen of Duluth, Minnesota was a real advocate for Upper Midwest old-time music. He had an amazing radio show in the 1980's on KUMD out of Duluth called, The Northland Hoedown. Here are two of the shows that feature fiddlers. Edwin Johnson's music is currently being passed down by his family, through the ASI Spelmanslag. Archie Teigen was a fiddler from Brainerd, Minnesota.

Bob with Leonard Finseth

Edwin Johnson


Archie Teigen

Ed Quall. Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Ed was born in 1885 and was the uncle of Leonard Finseth.  Leonard at a young age started playing guitar for his uncle (pictured).  Leonard recorded Ed in the late 50's.  This tape courtesy Larry Finseth.

Leonard Finseth on guitar and Ed Quall on fiddle

Elmo Wick. Brooten, MN

Elmo Wick was the founder of the Minnesota State Fiddle Association.  He was born Aug. 27, 1924, in Sunburg, MN to Andrew and Esther (Erickson) Wick. He grew up in Sunburg where he attended school.  He carefully recorded and transcribed many of the tunes he learned over the years.  I know the MSFA is sitting on more than 600 of his transcriptions of tunes.  They are in the process of figuring out what to do with them.

Harold Sorenson. Climax, Minnesota.

I got this tape from Larry Finseth and it only said "Leonard Finseth and Harold Sorenson". I am pretty sure that this is all Harold fiddling.

Harold Sorenson was born in Oklee, Minnesota on July 3, 1917.  Harold passed away just a couple of years ago in 2008.  He was one fine northern Minnesota fiddler who never did read notes off of paper.  His father was from near Grand Forks and his mother was from Norway.

Yankton, South Dakota Fiddler's Convention. 1997.

Wilbur Foss Has been organizing fiddler's conventions in South Dakota for many decades.  He also has put out numerous tapes of these gatherings that are mostly out of print.