14th Annual

Old Mill
Music Festival

Concert Schedule

Live in Kennard, TX | NOV 7-8, 2025

Workshop Schedule

This Years Lineup

Ashlee Watkins
& Andrew Small

Vanderveer Brothers
String Band

The
Lost Keys

Pipp Gillette
with Lloyd Wright

Roy
Book Binder

Morningside

Stephen
Seifert

The
Wright Family

Steve & Sheryl Hartz
with Jay White

Join us in the Heart of the Davy Crockett National Forest for the 14th Annual Old Mill Music Festival. This musical event features some of the best in the business, highlighting roots music from several genres. Enjoy music, camping, eating, and a good fire under an East Texas sky. The old sawmill is the perfect backdrop for some good family fun.

Lineup

Minstrel Master of Ceremonies

Randall McKinnon

Ashlee Watkins
& Andrew Small

The
Lost Keys

Roy
Book Binder

Stephen
Seifert

Steve & Sheryl Hartz with Jay White

Vanderveer
Brothers
String Band

Pipp Gillette
with Lloyd Wright

Morningside

The Wright Family

Concert
Schedule

Friday

07

6:00pm

The Wright Family

7:00pm

Vanderveer Brothers Stringband

8:00pm

The Lost Keys

9:00pm

Squaredance

with Caller Dana Hamilton

Saturday

08

3:00pm

Morningside

4:00pm

Pipp Gillette & Lloyd Wright

5:00pm

Roy Book Binder

6:00pm

Stephen Seifert

7:00pm

Steve & Sheryl Hartz w/ Jay White

8:00pm

Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small

9:00pm

Squaredance

with caller Roger Houston

Workshop
Schedule

Friday

03

10:00am – 11:00am

Shaped Note Singing

THE
BURNER

11:15am – 12:15pm

The Burner: Open for Jamming

THE
BURNER

11:15am – 12:15am

Joel Vanderveer: Beginner Fiddle

OLD MILL
STAGE

11:15am – 12:15pm

Stephen Seifert: Dulcimer: Find the Tune Fast in Key of D

– By Ear and Barebones Tab (Novice | Mountain Dulcimer)

We’ll learn one or two of the easiest of some of the best mountain dulcimer jam tunes in D major using DAD (no capo). You’ll learn each tune by ear and with my simple, readable barebones tablature that helps you remember the melody fast. We’ll focus on comfortable strumming, steady rhythm, and relaxed left-hand fingering. I’ll tune you up if you need help. You’ll get a video of me playing each tune three ways — beginner slow, intermediate medium, and jam up to speed.

MAIN STAGE
AREA

11:15am – 12:15pm

Margaret Wright: Beginner Dulcimer

ELIJAH’S
CLUBHOUSE

1:30pm – 2:30pm

The Burner: Open for Jamming

THE
BURNER

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Orion Spencer-Speirer: Banjo Uke

OLD MILL
STAGE

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Margaret Wright: Dulcimer:

2 tunes. “I’m Gonna Make My Mustache Black” (D), “Jim Shank”.

MAIN STAGE
AREA

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Ashlee Watkins: Songs of the Carter Family

The music of the Carter Family has influenced nearly every corner of popular music in America, and their recordings serve as an important resource for enthusiasts of traditional song repertoire. In this class, we will listen to and learn directly from their original recordings as we uncover a wealth of insight and inspiration in the song traditions of Southwest Virginia. We’ll become familiar with the heart of each song while also exploring the ways we can make a song our own. Bring your instrument and a bunch of curiosity as we dive into the music of the Carter Family.

ELIJAH’S
CLUBHOUSE

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Open for jamming.

THE
BURNER

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Howard Rains: Old Tunes from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas

OLD MILL
STAGE

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Stephen Seifert: Dulcimer: Groove and Grow

– By Ear Meets Easy Tab (Intermediate | Mountain Dulcimer)

We’ll play one or two fresh but trusted jam tunes in G major using DAD (capo 3) OR DGD (no capo) – your choice. You’ll learn by ear with supportive barebones tab so you can see and remember what your ears are hearing. We’ll polish rhythm and timing and add a touch of variety by playing melodies in one or two spots on the fingerboard. You’ll also get a video of me playing each tune slow, medium, and jam speed.

MAIN STAGE
AREA

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Steve Hartz: Intermediate Mandolin

ELIJAH’S
CLUBHOUSE

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Jam with the Vanderveer Brothers Stringband!

THE
BURNER

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Ashlee Watkins & Andrew Small

Heart of the Blue Ridge: Old Time Dance MusicWith a focus on fiddle-driven dance music, we invite all string band instruments to join us as we delve into the living traditions of the Blue Ridge region of Southwest Virginia. We’ll examine strong, danceable rhythms and the patterns behind them as we cover an array of richly stylized material and discuss ways to add character and regional flavor to your playing. Join us as we uncover the heart of our Blue Ridge music traditions!

OLD MILL
STAGE

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Stephen Seifert: On Stage with Texas Master David Schnaufer

– Tunes and Techniques (Intermediate & Up | Mountain Dulcimer)

Tunes and ideas I learned and performed with Texas dulcimer legend David Schnaufer. We’ll learn them by ear with supportive barebones tab for clarity. Bring a capo. We’ll add slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and a bit of flat-picking to bring the music to life. You’ll leave with practical skills and a deeper appreciation for the music that shaped my playing.

MAIN STAGE
AREA

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Sheryl Hartz: Broom making demonstration.

ELIJAH’S
CLUBHOUSE

Saturday

04

9:00AM – 10:00AM

The Burner: Shaped Note Singing

THE
BURNER

10:15AM – 11:15AM

The Burner: Open for jamming

THE
BURNER

10:15am – 11:15am

Stephen Seifert: Old-Time Sound in Key of A – Hear It, Play It, Remember It

(Intermediate | Mountain Dulcimer)

We’ll explore that earthy old-time mountain dulcimer sound in A modal using DAD (capo 4) OR DGD (capo 1) – your choice. You’ll learn by ear with matching barebones tab that locks in what you hear. We’ll focus on steady rhythm, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs for color, and on shifting melodies around the fingerboard for variety. You’ll also receive a video showing one or two tunes at three speeds.

MAIN STAGE
AREA

10:15AM – 11:15AM

Old Time Mandolin with Andrew Small

Tune up the old 8-string and join us as we explore all things mandolin! We’ll spend time covering useful shapes, chord voicings, and other repeating patterns that will expand your facility on the instrument and can add variety and color to your playing. Throughout the class we’ll consult recordings of mandolin masters who demonstrate a variety of approaches to using the instrument in a traditional context. Along the way, we’ll hammer home the three T’s – Tone, Taste, and Timing (although not necessarily in that order). If you love the mandolin, this is the class for you!

ELIJAH’S
CLUBHOUSE

10:15am – 11:15am

Isaiah Sibi: Old Time Backup Guitar

OLD MILL
STAGE

11:30AM – 12:30AM

The Burner: Open for jamming

THE
BURNER

11:30am – 12:30pm

Margaret Wright: Mountain Dulcimer: Two versions of “The Eighth of January”.

Novice and up.

MAIN
STAGE AREA

11:30AM – 12:30AM

Britt Irick: Clawhammer Banjo: Learn backup, chord shapes and a tune or two.

ELIJAH’S
CLUBHOUSE

11:30am – 12:30pm

Tricia Spencer: Seconding first, Understanding the fiddle through two-finger chord shapes.

OLD MILL
STAGE

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Jam with the Lost Keys in the Burner.

THE
BURNER

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Stephen Seifert: Music from the Texas David Schnaufer Legacy

– By Ear and Beyond (Intermediate & Up | Mountain Dulcimer)

Music I performed and taught with Texas master David Schnaufer, shared the same way we learned it — by ear. You’ll also get clear tablature. Bring a capo. We’ll strengthen tone and rhythm while using slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and some flat-picking to expand your sound. You’ll get a video of me playing at beginner, intermediate, and jam speeds.

MAIN
STAGE AREA

1:30pm – 2:30pm

Traditional Harmony Singing with Ashlee & Andrew Small

In this interactive workshop, we’ll focus on traditional song repertoire from Southwest Virginia as we delve into the nitty gritty details of harmony singing. Shaping a harmony line, experimenting with stacking different parts, and settling on the right key are just some of the ideas we’ll cover in this workshop. We’ll also discuss stylistic choices involved in designing a harmony line as well as how to achieve a good vocal blend through phrasing, pronunciation, tone, and intonation. Bring your voice and all of your questions about harmony singing. Recording devices are welcome and encouraged!