North Country Fiddle and Dance activities are made possible in part by grants provided by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council through funding from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State's general fund.

Fall 2023 Events

• Community Dance

  
  Saturday, September 9, 7:30-10 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Callers: Tom Maloney & Brandy Forsman, Duluth; Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Four Mile Portage, Duluth (with O'Neils)
  
  

• Concert by Gangspil

  
  Sunday, October 1, 3:00-5:00 pm, Campbell Library, EGF
  This Danish folk duo, featuring Sonnich Lydom and Kristian Bugge, has become a well-known name in trad- and folk circles both home in Scandinavia and abroad. In 2016 Gangspil received the "Tradition Award" at the Danish Music Awards.
  
  

• Community Dance

  
  Saturday, October 28, 2:30-5:00 pm
  

  at Embassy Community Center, Fosston, MN
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band, East Grand Forks, MN
  
  

• Community Dance

  
  Saturday, November 18, 7:30-10:00 pm
  

  at East Grand Forks Senior Center, EGF, MN
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Jefferson Reynolds, Hibbing,
  
  with Erin and Tom O'Neil, EGF
  
  
• ***** Up Next *****

• Christmas Concert by O'Neil Family Band

  
  Wednesday, December 20, 3;30-4:30 pm
  

  at East Grand Forks Senior Center, EGF, MN
  Erin (fiddle), Jeanne (banjo and concertina), and Tom O'Neil (guitar and fiddle) present a selection of traditional tunes and folk carols for Christmas and New Year.
  
  

EGF Senior Center address: 538 Rhinehart Drive SE, East Grand Forks, MN

Our Recent Past Events

Summer 2023 Events

• Northeastern North Dakota Heritage Association
  presents
  An Evening at Akra Hall
  Saturday, June 10
  Akra Hall, Icelandic State Park, Cavalier, ND

  
  
  3:30-4:30 pm: Traditional dance workshop
  4:30-6:30 pm: Social with burgers and brats
  6:30-9:00 pm: Community Dance
  
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  
  

• Concert by Lynx Lynx

  
  Monday, June 19, 7:00-9:00 pm
  

  at Campbell Library, EGF
  Vidar Skrede and Patrik Ahlberg join their Scandinavian fiddle forces together in this Norwegian-Swedish folk duo.
  
  

• Traditional Music Show at Heritage Days
  2-5 pm Saturday, August 12
  East Grand Forks Heritage Village

  
  
  2:00 pm: Concert by The Skally Line
  

  Featuring Fred Keller and Bill Cagley, The Skally Line
  

  brings the old stories of Minnesota to life with
  

  rip-roaring energy and passion!
  3:00 pm: Concert by O'Neil Family Band
  4:00 pm: Community Dance
  
  

Spring 2023 Community Dances

• 
  Saturday, January 28, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Callers: Tom Maloney & Brandy Forsman, Duluth; Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Four Mile Portage, Duluth (with O'Neils)
  
  
• 
  
  Sunday, February 26, 1:00-3:00 pm
  

  at Settlers Square, Warren, MN
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  
  
• 
  Saturday, March 18, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  
  View a Grand Forks Herald article with video from the dance
  
• 
  Saturday, April 29, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Tickwood String Band, Fergus Falls
  
  
• 
  Saturday, May 6, 2:00-4:30 pm
  

  at Embassy Community Center, Fosston, MN
  Callers: Shawn Glidden, St. Paul, MN, and Julie Young Walser, Mnps, MN
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  
  

Fall 2022 Events

• 

  Saturday, August 13, 1:30 pm, EGF Heritage Village Stage
  Concert by Dean and Peggy Ellingson, Bemidji
  A light-hearted musical romp featuring antique tunes and vintage songs to entertain the young at heart.

  
  
• 

  Saturday, August 13, 2:30 pm, EGF Heritage Village Stage
  Concert by Bill Cagley, Minneapolis
  With guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, and a clear stout-hearted voice Bill delights audiences with folk, country and old-time music.

  
  
• 

  Sunday, August 14, 1:30 pm, EGF Heritage Village Stage
  Concert by O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  A unique blend of traditional and original fiddle tunes interspersed with step dancing.

  
  
• 

  Wednesday, September 14, 5:30 pm, Campbell Library, EGF
  Concert by Lynx Lynx
  Playing traditional and original Nordic music, Vidar Skrede and Patrik Ahlberg join their Scandinavian fiddle forces together in this Norwegian-Swedish folk duo.

  
  
• 

  Saturday, November 12, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Community Dance
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Erin O'Neil (fiddle) and Tom O'Neil (guitar), EGF

  
  

Spring 2022

11:00 am: O'Neil Family Band (East Grand Forks)
featuring Erin (fiddle), Jeanne (banjo and concertina), and Tom O'Neil (guitar and fiddle). A unique blend of traditional and original fiddle tunes interspersed with step dancing.

12:30 pm: Leatherwood (Bemidji)
featuring Cory Campbell (fiddle), Peggy Ellingson (mandolin), and Dean Ellingson (guitar). Lively old-time fiddle tunes and light-hearted songs that will have you smiling and tapping your toes.

2:00 pm: Alex Conwell (Grand Forks)
playing a mixture of folk and contemporary violin with a cosmic twist tied together with a looping pedal.

Summer and Fall 2021 Events

• 

  Saturday, July 24, 7:30 pm, EGF Heritage Village, Beier Building
  Concert by Four Mile Portage, Duluth
  Followed by an Appalachian-style clogging workshop
  Hear the band recorded live at the concert

  
  
• 

  Saturday, August 14, 2:00 pm, EGF Heritage Village Stage
  Concert by Northern Aire, Minneapolis
  Followed by a dance workshop in the Beier Building

  
  
• 

  Sunday, August 15, 2:00 pm, EGF Heritage Village Stage
  Concert by O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  Followed by a dance workshop in the Beier Building

  
  

Spring 2020 Community Dances

• 
  Saturday, February 8, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Callers: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Erin and Tom O'Neil with Michael Prewitt, EGF
  
• 
  Saturday, March 7, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Sugar on the Roof: Clancy Ward (fiddle),
  
  Megan Orwig Reynolds (guitar), Corey Campbell (banjo),
  
  with guest Erin O'Neil (fiddle)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
• *** The dance scheduled for April 18 was cancelled ***
  in compliance with Minnesota coronavirus control orders
• *** The dance scheduled for May 2 was cancelled ***
  in compliance with Minnesota coronavirus control orders
• 

  A music video featuring Four Mile Portage, Duluth.

  Tom and Brandy, who would have been our guest musicians for the May dance, have produced a video with music and clogging for us!

  
  
• *** The dance scheduled for June 6 was cancelled ***
  in compliance with Minnesota coronavirus control orders
• 

  A banjo lesson with Adam Kiesling, Minneapolis.

  Adam, who would have been our guest musician for the June dance, shows us how to play the tune Cora Dye on the 5-string banjo.

  
  

Fall 2019 Community Dances

• 
  Saturday, September 14, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Tickwood String Band, Fergus Falls
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, October 12, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Sean Fenstemaker from Marion, Ohio
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band, EGF
  
  
• 
  Saturday, November 16, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Robin Nelson, Minneapolis
  Musicians: O'Neil Family Band with Michael Prewitt, EGF
  

Spring 2019 Community Dances

• 
  Saturday, February 2, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Callers: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF;
  
  Tom Maloney and Brandy Forsman, Duluth
  Musicians: Four Mile Portage, Duluth (with O'Neil Family)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, March 2, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Rupertsland Band: Erin (fiddle) and Tom O'Neil (guitar),
  
  Gayle Gulbranson (keyboard)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, April 6, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Sugar on the Roof: Clancy Ward (fiddle),
  
  Jefferson Reynolds (banjo), Megan Orwig Reynolds (guitar)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, May 18, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: O'Neil Family: Erin (fiddle) and Tom O'Neil (guitar)
  
  

Fall 2018 Community Dances

• 
  Saturday, September 29, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Bill Cagley and friends, Minneapolis --
  
  Bill (guitar), Sarah Cagley (mandolin), and Erin and Tom O'Neil (fiddles)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, October 27, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  Callers: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF; Bob Walser and Julie Young, Minneapolis
  Musicians: Young Walser Family Band (with Erin O'Neil), Minneapolis --
  
  Julie (bass), Smack (fiddle), Lolo (banjo), Bob (guitar), Erin (fiddle)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, November 24, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Senior Center
  
  
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Erin and Tom O'Neil, EGF
  
  with special guest Adam Kiesling, Mnpls --
  
  Erin (fiddle), Adam (banjo and guitar),
  
  Tom (guitar, fiddle, bass)
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  

Spring 2018 Community Dances

• 
  Saturday, January 13, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Eagles Club
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Erin and Tom O'Neil, Gayle Gulbranson, EGF; Arne Pelto, Minneapolis
  
• 
  Saturday, February 17, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Eagles Club
  Guest Caller: Shawn Glidden, Minneapolis
  Musicians: Jeanne and Tom O'Neil, Gayle Gulbranson, EGF
  
• 
  
  Saturday, March 17, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Eagles Club
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: The Liccks Stringband: Clancy Ward, Kyle Ollah, Laura Idle, Cooper Orth, and Soren Dietzel; Duluth area
  
  Hear the band recorded live at the dance
  
  
• 
  Saturday, April 21, 7:30-10:00 pm, EGF Eagles Club
  Caller: Jeanne O'Neil, EGF
  Musicians: Doug and Betsy Wells, Fergus Falls; Tom O'Neil, EGF