Andrew Small, The Crooked Road’s first Artist-In-Residence, has partnered with The Crooked Road to giveaway a 4-lesson package. These lessons will occur over zoom to make it convenient for anyone to enter to win. Small specializes in a variety of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar and double bass. These lessons can be tailored to old-time or bluegrass styles. The giveaway will be featured on The Crooked Road’s Facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thecrookedroadva">www.facebook.com/thecrookedroadva</a>. Anyone who comments on the post regarding the lesson giveaway by August 31 will be entered to win, with the winner being chosen and notified the beginning of September. Small has a wide repertoire of work and a deep dedication to the heritage music traditions of SWVA. A versatile musician with an impressive background, he is accomplished as a singer and performer on a variety of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, and double bass. He has performed at major venues and festivals on four continents and has toured with artists including Sierra Hull, Mandolin Orange and the North Carolina Symphony. He is currently the bassist for Bill and the Belles, who play monthly as the house band for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s Farm and Fun Time. In addition to touring, Small also participates in fiddlers’ conventions around the Southeast region and has won numerous prizes for both fiddling and singing. In 2021, Small received a Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship to learn from master fiddler and National Heritage Award-winner Eddie Bond of Fries, VA. He also plays with wife Ashlee Watkins at concerts and dances as well as building a fiddle and learning how to make moonshine. As The Crooked Road’s Inaugural Artist-In-Residence, Small will perform at various events and participate in educational opportunities. He will also contribute an original piece of music or new performance of an existing traditional piece of music for The Crooked Road’s use. This program is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
