Links

Below you will find a few selected links to find your way around the Bluegrass scene and links that have a particular relevance to Sore Fingers Summer Schools. These include references to organistions, companies or festivals that have provided sponsorship to enable us to bring young people to Sore Fingers.

Sore Fingers

Kingham Hill School
The beautiful school that is becoming known as "Hogwirtz".

Scratch band Registration

Scratchband Registration form

Please use the registration form to join either the "performing Scratch bands" who take part in the Student Concert (Thursday Night) or the "Non-performing Scratch bands" who follow a similar programme of mentoring to hone their band skills but don't enter the student concert.

Sponsors

A number of individuals and companies have provided Sore Fingers Summer Schools with financial assistance to help young people to attend Sore Fingers Week. Here are links to the organisations currently active.

Roger Netherton
We are grateful to Roger for giving us permission to use his track "John Stenson's No2" as background to Eleanor Wilkie's Sore Fingers Promo video. Roger Netherton is a folk, old-time, swing, and jazz multi-instrumentalist active in the St. Louis area of the US. In 2016, he won 1st Prize at the prestigious Old Time Fiddle Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. His music can be heard in listening rooms, dance halls, festival and concert stages, and restaurants. Do check his website to find out a little more about him and perhaps buy a cd!

The British Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Federation
The British BMG Federation promotes the playing of the banjo, mandolin and guitar. The federation's mission is to promote this practice by organising events and concerts featuring these instruments. The federation is not driven by a particular style and is open to all from Jazz, though folk to classical music. We have found over the years that many of our SFSS students are active BMG members. The Federation has always shown a positive interest in what we do at Sore Fingers as our activity fits right in with their mission statement. We are very pleased to have the BMG as one of our sponsors.

Crossover Bluegrass & Old Time Music Festival
The Crossover Festival held annually at the Clonter Theatre near Congleton in Cheshire is now in it's third year. As festival organisers who are decerning about their programming, they are well aware of the value of assisting the developement of young musicians and they have made a contribution to the SFSS Youth Fund. You can help them too, go to the festival, it's great! Check dates and line up on the link!

Slim Jim Banjos
Hampshire based Slim Jim Banjos are the latest organisation to join the list of Sore Fingers Sponsors. It's really re-assuring when small commercial organisations realise the value of being more involved with their customers, going the extra mile to support the future of the scene. Jim Heasell set the company up in 2014 and has been gaining a reputation for making High Quality Hand crafted Banjos. They look good too. So, don't miss the opportunity to go and talk to Jim and maybe place an order. Check out his range on his website.

Davidsoninstruments
Phil Davidson has been making instruments for twenty five years and prides himself in very high standards of workmanship whilst keeping the prices afordable. Phil will be displaying a selection of his instruments at Sore Fingers Week 2011! Phil has been a loyal supporter of Sore Fingers Week.

D'Addario
D'Addario is a major manaufacturer and supplier of strings and accessories. Sore Fingers Summer Schools are proud of this association, the first with a major company with a worldwide reputation for quality.

Gower Bluegrass
Gower Bluegrass is headed up by the irrepressible Roland Emmanuel. He and his small team of devotees run the Gower Bluegrass Festival and a number of activities across South Wales. Picking sessions for experienced and beginner players, workshop and learning days and help promote Bluegrass and Old Time concerts collaborating with local arts centres and venues. Any surpluses generated are re-invested into the music and Gower Bluegrass have sponsored several young musicians to attend Sore Fingers Week.