Can you play fiddle, banjo, mandolin, accordian, anything? Fiddle and Washtub Bass player interested in starting a band in the Anchorage/Eagle River area. We used to be in a very fun band in Nome, but have recently moved to Eagle River. We would be happy to play with people of modest talent and equally modest ambition. Our old band started with people of no prior Old Time/Folk/Bluegrass etc. experience. The guitar and accordian had no prior experience with hillbilly music and the "fiddlers" only had training in classical violin. Only the banjo/mandolin player had Old Time experience. I (the washtub bass player and singer) was pressed into service never having sung before and, indeed, never having even heard of a washtub bass. In a couple months we turned it into a heck of an Old Time and Irish band and ended up playing publicly for a couple of years on a very regular basis. Thankfully, the band lives on in Nome, but we have moved. We know it's possible to make a band out of people who have never thought they could be in a band. The main objective is fun, and if we eventually get gigs, all the better. We have run into a couple of very talented Old Time players in the area, but we got the impression that they had an ideal of purity for Old Timey that seemed inconsistent with our goal of having fun while making fun music (besides, they are probably too talented to play with us). So, if you are interested please feel free to email me, or if you know someone who might be interested, please show them this message. kburke@altavista.net