News and Reviews

News August 2016

Cowtipper News Seoul, South Korea

This summer has zipped by. In July Sandy traveled to Seoul, South Korea. She spent a week there in a conference on Time Use research at the Seoul National University and traveled in the city and north to Ganghwa Island, as far north as the demilitarized zone separating South from North Korea. This was a long way from West Virginia, to be sure, but there I heard traditional Korean music played on an instrument that looked much like a mountain dulcimer, but much larger and cruder. It is plucked, hammered, and even bowed.




Clifftop, West Virginia, Appalachian String Band Music Festival

Sandy and Howard set up their usual site at Clifftop. See the photo with Howard, Joe, Lisa Roberts, and friends. We played music for what seems like 6 days straight, with time out only for meals, sleep, and to secure the site from occasional thunderstorms. Joe set up a perfect corner location right at the entrance to the upper section of the campsite in the woods behind the large camper section facing the stage. We visited and played music with folks who come every year from Australia and our favorite musicians from France who have been living in Georgia (USA) for several decades.

We were fortunate to hear Scott Prouty, son of a long-time jam friend of ours and who started fiddling through our jams, fiddle his heart out and take third place in the fiddle competition. Way to go, Scott!


 

Events this Fall

If you have not visited to Dairy Mooseum in Germantown, we invite you to do so. The Mooseum is a renovated dairy barn with wonderful exhibits on early dairy farming in Montgomery County. It is located on the original farm, most of which has been converted into a soccer and recreation complex for county children. In the barn you can see several full-size replicas of cows and bulls. No cowtipping of course! Join us for The King Barn Dairy Mooseum's Annual benefit and silent auction in Germantown, MD on September 24, 5-8 pm. There is an admission fee for this one. www.mooseum.org/(301) 229-4385. Food is fabulous.

Older News:

Deer Creek Fiddler's Convention

Sandy, Howard, and Fred Cherney played at the Deer Creek Fiddler's Convention on June 11th at the Carroll County Farm Museum. Sandy placed third in old time fiddle. Last year Howard placed in the old time banjo competition. In the past 6 or 7 years one of us or the band has placed every year. This is a terrific record.

Summer and fall 2011 are shaping up to be busy for the Cowtippers.

The Cowtippers are off during the first week in August for their annual pilgrimage to the Appalachian Stringband Music Festival in Clifftop, West Virginia.

This fall looks to be fun.

Saturday September 24 we will be playing all day at the fall Apple Festival at Piney Run Park in Sykesville, MD. Cloggers are also expected to put on an exhibition during the afternoon.

On Saturday October 8 the Cowtippers will be playing for annual benefit and silent auction benefit for the King Barn Dairy Mooseum. This event begins at 6 pm. The Mooseum is in the original dairy barn on 18028 Central Park Circle, South Germantown Recreational Park, Boyds, MD 20841. The Web Address is www.mooseum.com.

Summer 2010

Welcome to the New Southern Cowtippers Web Site for Summer 2010.

Summer and fall 2010 are shaping up to be busy for the Cowtippers.   

Cowtipper Howard Zane placed in the Carroll County Farm Museum banjo competition in June playing Blood Red River, accompanied by Fred Cherney.  Howard played well in spite of the incredible heat and humidity.  Cowtipper Sandy did not place after playing the heck out of the fiddle in 95 degree heat, though one spectator came up and told her what an outstanding fiddler she was.  What do the judges know?   In May Sandy placed in a fiddler competition at Fiddlers’ Grove Festival in North Carolina, where they know their old-time fiddling.  There she added to her collection of ribbons by playing Old Sledge. 

This summer the Cowtippers are railfanning in Colorado.   Howard  will drop off structures he built for a layout in Boulder and then Howard and Sandy will taking some railroad tours out West.  Hopefully they will learn some railroad songs and tunes.  They return to attend the Appalachian String Band festival in Clifftop, West Virginia, the mother of all old-time music conventions.

This fall looks to be fun.

September 25 we will be playing all day at the fall Apple Festival at Piney Run Park in Sykesville, MD.  Cloggers are also expected to put on an exhibition. 

On October 22 the Cowtippers will be performing for the Oakland Nights Music Series, 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia, MD 21044.  The Show goes from 7:30 to 9 pm and is free.  Refreshments are provided.

On October 23rd the King Barn Dairy Mooseum will have its grand opening ceremony at the Barn in Montgomery County.   There will be a free old-time music concert and clogging exhibition with the Cowtippers  from 5 to 6 pm before the opening, and then a fundraiser for the Mooseum about 6:30 pm.
 The Moosum is in the original dairy barn on 18028 Central Park Circle, South Germantown Recreational Park, Boyds, MD 20841.  The Web Address is www.mooseum.com.

July 2009

Featured on the New York Times web site in an audio slide show from Fiddler’s Grove

Sandy and Howard appear in a new audio slide show (7/3/09) on the New York Times web site in a travel story featuring the annual Fiddler’s Grove festival that took place in Union Grove, North Carolina, May 2009. 

Winners at the Carroll County Farm Museum Fiddler’s Convention (6/14/09)

Playing as “Eat More Possum,” the New Southern Cowtippers took second place in the Old Time Band competition at the Carroll County Farm Museum’s annual Fiddlers’ Convention held Sunday June 14, 2009.   Fiddler Sandy Hofferth placed third in old-time fiddle and second in bluegrass fiddle.  For more information, see the Carroll County Farm Museum web site: http://www.carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org/

 


Photo by Sarah G. Peck


Leslie Plant wrote up a terrific photo-illustrated description of 2007 October Old-time week that you can see by going to the Old Time Banjo WEB site.

Old Time Band Competition

The New Southern Cowtippers won second in Old-Time Band at the 2007 Carroll County Farm Museum Fiddlers’ Convention on June 10. Sandy also placed second in the Bluegrass fiddle competition.

Review from the Old Time Herald
June-July 2007:

Well, folks, we were finally reviewed in the Old Time Herald, THE journal for old time music. Howard was afraid that the reviewer would tell him to go back and get banjo lessons or take up the harmonica, so he let out a sigh of relief. And Jim’s feet have still not returned to the ground. Sandy is a perennial student of fine fiddling and resigned to always playing second fiddle, so is happy with any kind words. Of course we don’t know how many reviewers returned the CD to the editor and said, no thanks! But, as the review states:

“The New Southern Cowtippers from Columbia Maryland have a great time playing old-time music.”

“I like the way these folks approach a tune. In addition to a drop thumbed banjo, Howard Zane sometimes employs to good effect what he calls the ‘ancient thumb lead’ style . . . that made me perk up my ears. Sandy Hofferth has a nice touch on her bowing and has learned tunes from some of our finest current fiddlers. Jim Jones is a marvelous guitarist. His playing propels the tunes just right. . . And naturally, I really like the numbers that have a cow theme . . . ‘Old Cow Crossing the Road,’ conjures images for the band of cows dancing the polka. Me too!”

Joe Newberry, The Old Time Herald, June-July 2007

The Cowtippers think that you will have a good time listening to us too!

Other Reviews and Comments:

“What a magnificent, mouth-wateringly fine project it (“Old Bell Cow”) is! Your playing is full of drive, bounce and good times. Can’t wait to play ‘Who Shit in Grandpa’s Hat’.”
Dave Higgs, Nashville Public Radio, March 10, 2006

"'Old Bell Cow’ is old-time country music in its purest form.”
Bluegrass Unlimited, April 2006.

“Driving home at 12:30AM listening to WAMU, Washington DC, I hear this wonderful version of Walk Along John to Kansas by the Cowtippers . . . Great Old Time Music, again, and at its best!!!”
Fred Cherney of Duplicate Impressions:

Update on our 2006 Clifftop adventure

The Cowtippers are back from a great adventure at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival in Clifftop West Virginia. Arrived on Friday, a week before the festival and had a great jam that evening with friends from southern Virginia. It was hot, just as it was everywhere else, but we were happy to get away from the Baltimore-Washington area.

Played music with our friends. Heidi kept up great rhythm on her guitar and we played music day and night. Thank you, Heidi!! Met with our friends Jean-Paul and Dominique from Georgia who introduced us to the French dance tunes on hurdy gurdy and concertina they are playing. Heidi left midday Wednesday and Al and Donna arrived, Al taking over the guitar duties. Thank you, Al!!

On Thursday Sandy entered the fiddle contest, with Al on guitar and Howard on banjo. She played the Hilltop Hornpipe, a tune known as the Hornpipe in A or the Free State Hornpipe, that she collected some years ago in Fauquier County, Virginia. After the contest was done, went to the dining hall for a meal. On the way out, our friend Marty grabs us and tells us the great and very surprising news: Sandy placed second in the Senior Fiddle Competition!! What a thrill and great honor. (And probably the only advantage of being over 60). We had to go and actually see the board with the names written on it. I was in shock. Everyone came over to congratulate us. Got a beautiful red ribbon, a certificate, and some money.

The weather improved on Saturday, and after 8 days we couldn’t play any more, so we sat and enjoyed the traditional band competition. Of the 49 bands, every band was great and we enjoyed the finals, with Jake Krack and his band winning the contest as well as the fiddle contest. Bobby Taylor’s protégées were everywhere this year. Besides Jake, Jared Nutter played a concert with Adam Hurt on banjo, Beth Hartness on guitar, and Jared’s dad on bass. These talented young people capped a wonderful 2006 festival. For more about the festival, see Bob Buckingham’s article in the fall 2006 Old-Time Herald.

Miscellaneous Musings

The Cowtippers are starting to get letters and orders from around the world. We had a recent CD request from an old-time muisc collector from Belgium. The hats were also very popular at Clifftop.

Livestock love us.

Clifftop, WV. If you like old-timey music, you’ll probably be at Clifftop this summer…early August. Come over and visit …. We have plenty of chairs. Play and share some tunes, and have a cold diet Coke. We are easy to find: straight back from the stage in the far woods. Look for the Cowtippers’ blue and white sign and the banner saying “Chicken-Tune-Free Area.” We doubt if we will be entering the string band contest as we really don’t care if we play better than others or others play better than us. That is not what the music is about — at least for us.
We usually arrive the Friday before Clifftop week. The jamming is always much better as the crowd is small and intense.

Chicken tunes? This is a Howard thing. Howard, growing up in a semi-orthodox Jewish environment, learned to dislike anything modal or in minor keys. Jewish music is written in only three keys…D minor, D very minor, and D extremely minor.

Most Chicken tunes are in A modal, like “Cluck Old Hen, or just sound “chickeny.” Tunes like Crow Black Chicken are in major keys and are happy and wonderful. Then of course there is “The Chicken Reel,” which is indeed in a major key, but when someone suggests playing it will usually bring a look from Howard, like, who stepped in the moose turd?

In Howard’s words: “Learning old time music from real old timers, like folks born in the late 19th century, I found that minor notes, modal, or minor keys, were rarely used, as this was mainly lively and happy dance music. During a jam in the late 40’s, my mentor, Uncle Bob, and his Winchester 12-gauge once chased a mandolin player off his porch as he insisted on playing modal tunes. Even though I was only eleven at the time, I fully concurred. Aunt Ida on the event: “Aw shucks, Bob, you might have hurt the sumbitch’s feelings!”

Then there are Diane Jones and the Reed Island Rounders who have specialized in modal tunes and have taken them to an advanced art form. They even wear ‘T’ shirts saying “Modal Rules.” What Diane does to a modal tune with her banjo is sheer excellence.

Howard says: ”I do have a respect for modal tunes and I admit that some are rather beautiful (see Icy Chicken on ‘Old Bell Cow’), but I prefer not to play (most of) them.” Now, Sandy and Jim????
Sandy says: “We wouldn’t dare!”