The LA Old-Time Social is BACK! This SATURDAY, May 17th, is going to be incredible! Workshops, Jams, Flatfooting, Musical Cakes, and Square Dancing at an AMAZING venue! Check the OFFICIAL SITE for info! https://losangelesoldtimesocial.com/
—David Bragger will be teaching a FIDDLE WORKSHOP and a BANJO WORKSHOP alongside flatfooting, old-time history, guitar, harmony singing and sacred harp singing workshops! David will be teaching tunes by the legendary Black stringband duo Frazier & Patterson (TN) on both instruments.
“Cinematic, epic, hearts of space Dreamtime! — Todd Barton
“A fantastic journey, jam-packed with compositions only a lifelong multi-instrumentalist could produce.” — Modular World
“This is art. This is very important art.” — No Depression
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This LIMITED EDITION multi-colored Vinyl LP with Art Print and Digital Download drops on April 4, 2025.
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Drawing on decades of musical studies (Indian classical music, archaic Appalachian fiddle music, microtonality, and early electronic experimentation), David Wunder Brägger has woven together a minimalist and analog-driven “séance” of sounds through his uniquely assembled electronic devices and acoustic drone makers. The results are epic, strange, calming, and wondrous.
This ambient recording also features the tape-manipulated and mutated vocals of old-time fiddler and vocalist Susan Platz. In addition to the mesmerizing multi-colored vinyl, the album features the collage work of outlier folk artist Howard Rains whose work has graced countless albums covers. Each physical album also comes with a double-sided print of Rains’ surreal art.
The American Banjo Museum is inducting Tiki Parlour Recording artist BILL EVANS into the American Banjo Hall of Fame along with RALPH STANLEY, Kristen Scott Benson, Ken Aoki, and Ned Lurecki!
If you haven’t picked up Bill Evans’ “Banjo in America” CD & Movie Set from Tiki Parlour Recordings, do yourself a favor. It is a unique display of various banjo styles and repertoire on an assortment of banjos that will blow your mind. Bill even won the prestigious STEVE MARTIN Banjo Prize just after its release!
This is a record of absolute joy, track after track of masterful playing from these legendary musicians infused with a jaunty delight in each other’s skill and artistry. This music is irresistible and healing, put it on and feel happy. —Cait O’Riordan (Pogues, Elvis Costello, Bush Tetras) …Read more
David Bragger & Susan Platz perform “Paddy on the Turnpike” at the TANK Center for Sonic Arts in Rangely, Colorado. This recording was made during a day of music and exploration in celebration of Todd Barton and David Bragger’s birthdays. This West Virginia tune was learned from the playing of Lee Hammons and Jimmy Triplett. The TANK is a sonic space that boasts a 40-second natural reverb.
–Old-Time Fiddle Intensive Workshop: Bowing Rhythms, Bow Rocking, and Tunes–
David Bragger will demystify several fiddle tunes with an emphasis on the infectiously rhythmic bowing techniques used by countless, classic old-time fiddlers including Earl Collins (OK), Tommy Jarrell (NC), Melvin Wine (WV), Uncle Bunt Stephens (TN), John Salyer (KY), Mel Durham (IL) and MANY others.
The same bowing elements are also the key to old-time fiddle seconding! This workshop is old-time fiddle “gold” for fiddlers who have been trying to wrap their bows around getting that high-energy danceable “sound.” You will walk away with several tunes and all of the bowing clearly broken down and explained.
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Traditional fiddler David Bragger has become a ubiquitous figure in traditional American folk music. He is a musician, documentarian, UCLA ensemble director, 78rpm record collector, musical festival director and founder of the Old-Time Tiki Parlour. Having learned the “old-time” art of fiddling directly from two generations of traditional masters, David has been passing down these archaic musical secrets and sounds to fiddlers worldwide with an emphasis on BOWING.
His critically-acclaimed debut CD “Big Fancy” instantly put him on the traditional music map and paved the way for his groundbreaking sophomore release. In 2018, he and fiddler Susan Platz released the very first American old-time fiddle duet CD ever recorded: King’s Lament–Old-Time Fiddle Duets. David has also recorded and performed with artists as diverse as Brad Leftwich & Linda Higginbotham, Spencer & Rains, Hog-eyed Man, Rafe Stefanini, Social Distortion, Paula Poundstone, Greg Graffin (Bad Religion), and also provided the banjo and fiddle solos for the western feature film “Gone Are The Days.”
David has also produced, directed and recorded over 30 albums and countless video projects for his independent folk label Tiki Parlour Recordings.
David has written several articles and has been featured in Strings Magazine, Banjo Newsletter, Fiddler Magazine, No Depression, FolkWorks and many other publications.
This Sunday, April 28th at 1PM PST, David Bragger will be kicking off a special episode of Modular World with a live parlour performance video. This episode showcases 18 hand-selected artists from nine countries performing music and sounds on their modular synthesis machines. (Think analog oscillators, patch cables, blinking lights, knobs, sliders, control voltage, sci-fi sounds, and transcendent arpeggios.)
David ‘s video is featured in a stellar lineup of electronic musicians, which also includes experimental electronic artist AND David’s modular synthesis guru Todd Barton.
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Each performer’s instrument will feature modules that were originally conceived in the 1960s/70s by the innovative electronic synth creator Don Buchla. They are currently produced by TipTop Audio and Buchla USA.
If you’re curious about this “other” music that David conjures up when he’s not playing traditional old-time American stringband music 24/7, then we encourage you to watch this upcoming episode. It shot it with multiple cameras at the Old-Time Tiki Parlour, home of Tiki Parlour Recordings. You might really dig it too! Enjoy!
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ARTISTS:
AGAlGonzo, @agalgonzo
Cinematic Laboratory, @cinematiclaboratory
cksample, @cksamplenoodling
David Wunder-Brägger, @david_wunder_bragger
Dexba, @dexbasynth
Ice Locus, @icelocus
Johno Wells, @johno_wells
Kyle Munroe, @kmunroeaudible
little-scale, @littlescale/
Nireus, @nireusofficial/
Noise Buddha, @boutiquepedalnyc
Okin, @okin_musik
Piero Fragola @tiptopaudiofficial
Stazma, @stazma
Synsor, @synsormusic
Todd Barton, @synthtodd
Wavefiler, @wavefiler
WhenIWasWater @wheniwaswater
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A few words about the show for new-comers.
Modular World is modular-centric, but not exclusive. On our shows, you will see many formats of modular synthesizers: Eurorack, Buchla, Serge, Ciat Lonbarde, BugBrand, hybrid systems, midi controllers, computers, SOMA, Elektron, drum machines, acoustic instruments, tape decks, the human voice, and so much more.
This global community is all about making music and maintaining an inclusive, patient and helpful SAFE SPACE for all.
David Bragger & Susan Platz will be at the Greenleaf Old-Time Festival in Braggs, Oklahoma. They’ll be jamming, performing, and teaching Fiddle, Banjo, and Yodeling workshops alongside Spencer & Rains AND The Canote Twins!
