Today we’d like to introduce you to Wes Barlow.
Hi Wes, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a classically trained violist turned fiddle player. I started off in orchestra at age 10, but was quickly drawn into the world of fiddle after hearing the likes of Charlie Daniels and George Strait when my family moved to Texas. I continued playing violin throughout middle and high school, and even expanded into playing viola. I was a regular sight at Texas All-Region Orchestra, Solo & Ensemble competitions and the Houston Youth Symphony. As I progressed through high school, I started learning how to play fiddle from some of the local legends around the Katy area. I eventually joined a Texas country band in college, and have been a constant in the scene ever since. I resided in College Station for 10 years, playing various genres ranging from country to Irish rock, traveling the country and world in the process. I relocated to Colorado with my wife about two years ago and play fiddle for Danno Simpson now.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Relocating to Colorado from Texas presented its own set of new challenges. The music business is wildly different in all aspects, there are less bands overall, the geography makes being based out of Colorado difficult if you are a touring band regularly playing outside of the state, the cost of living is higher and we do not have an H-E-B. I’ve just had to push my side hustles a little harder and be a little more creative about other ways I can make money. I picked up a part-time job as the Marketing Director for an event center and I have stayed pretty busy recording fiddle for artists from my home studio. It’s been a little slower musically this year than normal, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In 2023 I founded the Texas Fiddle Clinic. TFC hosts masterclass-style clinics for high school violinists that are taught by the best touring fiddle players that Texas has to offer! The 2023 clinic instructors were Jody Bartula (Cody Johnson Band), Bennett Brown (Shane Smith and the Saints), Damian Green (Aaron Watson), Haydn Vitera (Asleep at the Wheel, Tequila Rock Revolution), Brady Black (Randy Rogers), Katie Shore (Asleep at The Wheel), Nick Worley (Cooder Graw, Jason Boland), Brendon Anthony (Pat Green) and Wes Barlow (Danno Simpson, Dolly Shine).
As a violinist, students start in elementary or middle school and play through high school. Most traditional orchestra programs don’t include material to show students the other options for their instruments that exist outside of the orchestral setting. When students get to college if not seated in an orchestra, most students quit playing because they do not know how to play their instrument in other settings. If we can catch students just before college, change their perspective on the skills and knowledge they already posses, teach them a few new skills and feed them a little inspiration then we can not only inspire the next generation of fiddle players but also increase player retention after high school. The first clinic took place December 17, 2023 at the Stella Hotel in Bryan, Texas. Students traveled across the state, from neighboring states and from as far away as Hawaii to attend the one-day masterclass. All of the lessons were audio and video recorded so the students can have access to revisit the lessons whenever they would like through a portal on the Texas Fiddle Clinic website. This year the clinic will be expanding to a two days and will be hosted at The Stella Hotel in Bryan this December with the dates to be announced early Fall.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always loved playing music since I was a kid. I also played football, ran track, raised market goats for FFA, and started learning how to work on trucks when I bought my first one,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://txfiddleclinic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiddlin_around/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wesbarlowmusic
