The department's L.A. BlueGrass Hoppers perform at the 52nd annual Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest. From left: Rob Denomme, Nicolette Yarbrough, Jeffrey Riggs, Joseph Lorge, Wyatt Stone, Scott Linford, Douglas Morier. Photo: Brita Wanger, 2012.

Published: August 10, 2012
By: Scott Linford

In May 2012, the L.A. BlueGrass Hoppers competed for the first time in the Topanga Canyon Fiddle and Banjo Contest. Now in its 52^nd year, the Topanga Canyon contest is a venerable institution in the world of Southern California folk music, and even took place on the UCLA soccer field for several years back in the '70s and '80s.

Like most festivals in the bluegrass and old time genres, the Topanga Canyon event is much more than a contest. Professional bands from all over the country perform short sets, master musicians lead workshops on diverse topics, and local artisans ply their handmade wares. No one comes to a fiddle and banjo festival just to listen: you bring your instrument and jam for hours in a shady spot, or learn a new way to clog dance, or perhaps swap stories with an "old folky" in a funny-looking hat. Participation is the name of the game.

And then, of course, there’s the contest. With over 200 contestants in a variety of categories, the competition is stiff but friendly. The L.A. Bluegrass Hoppers played their hearts out on the traditional instrumental “Cherokee Shuffle” and a bluegrass rendition of the old Buddy Holly hit “Blue Days, Black Nights.” We took second place in the "band" category, missing first by a heart-breaking four points out of a possible 200. Band member Nicolette Yarbrough (current B.A. student, Ethnomusicology) took second place in the advanced fiddle category and Joseph Lorge (B.A. Ethnomusicology '12) took third in the back-up guitar category. Not a bad haul for our first year in the contest.

Douglas Morier and Jeffrey Riggs celebrate after the contest.

The L.A. BlueGrass Hoppers, as a part of the Ethnomusicology Department's Bluegrass and Old Time String Band, hosts an old time jam at Schoenberg Hall on Tuesday nights, open to beginners and advanced players alike. We also released our first album last year; you can listen for free online or buy the CD here. To learn more about the group, check out our featured profile in the Ethnomusicology Review journal or contact Scott Linford at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .