A huge THANK YOU to all of the students that participated in the Spring Recital, it was another fantastic showing by everyone involved!

It seems that each time we do one of these, the music selection gets more diverse This time we had bluegrass, old-time, country swing, classical, a theater-style “one man show” and even a song from the soundtrack of Monty Python’s Meaning of Life – I love it!!

If you’ve never done one of these, they are a great chance to push yourself a bit, level-up your performance chops and meet some other local and outstate players. We’ll be doing another one in the fall, and we’d love to have you!

Check out the recital image gallery on Instagram:

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I honestly never thought it would be released to the public but am so grateful to have found an outlet for it with my new songwriting-focused project that I started with Eric Christopher, Becky Schlegel and Kevin Rowe, Clover and the Bee. They all really brought this song to life.

It also wouldn’t exist in the world if I hadn’t started playing clawhammer banjo, which really opened up new possibilities for my songwriting. This song finally found its voice when I put that thing in double E tuning (double C capo 4).

For the record, I’m working hard to dispel the myth that you can’t play a sad song on a banjo (sorry Steve Martin).

In all seriousness, I’m really proud of this one and would love for you to give it a spin. If you like, please give it a heart or add it to a playlist on your favorite streaming platform, or better yet, share it with a friend, that helps a lot!

Lyrics

Time, she waits for no man
Who longs to win back a woman
Try as you may, do what you can
But your secrets she already knows

I wake alone from a bad dream
Where you once laid right beside me
Thin sheets, cold feet, broken window full of leaves
The years pass over me like geese flee from the cold

[Chorus]
And In the fall, I miss you most of all, in the fall
In the fall, I miss you most of all, in the fall

That old gray sweater is now a tight fit
There’s still an empty shelf in the bathroom cabinet
I wipe off the steam and in front of me
Is just some old guy that you wouldn’t know

I cleaned out the attic and junk from my veins
Always an addict but I’ve got the reigns
Night School, whole foods, brand new pair of running shoes
And I’m not even your type now, I suppose

[Chorus]
But in the fall, I miss you most of all, in the fall
In the fall, I miss you most of all, in the fall

Credits

released November 7, 2025
Eric Christopher – Guitar, Mandolin and Vocals
Anthony Ihrig – Banjo and Vocals
Becky Schlegel – Guitar and Vocals
Kevin Rowe – Bass

Written by Anthony Ihrig
Mixed and Mastered by Rob Genadek

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I am a firm believer in the power of group learning and always strive to create a welcoming environment at these workshops, knowing that many attending are just beginning their music and/or jamming journeys. This job is made all the easier by the fact that the workshop area is hosted by my friends in the Potluck String Band, who show up to the festival each year with a caravan of RVs connected by tents filled with food, beverages and instruments available to anyone in need.

I always want folks attending my festival workshops to walk away with something they can apply to their playing/jamming that same day, so, if you’re attending the Blue Ox Festival this year and you play banjo or are just “banjo curious,” make sure to stop by the Potluck Pickin’ Place Saturday (6/28) at 11am and we’ll have a big ol’ time!!

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Rather than some stuffy school auditorium-style recital, we treat ours more like an open mic to help students work on their performance chops in a safe and encouraging environment. We had students play solo, team-up with one another and even bring in bandmates to play songs.

The music spanned genres from traditional bluegrass to classic country to modern Americana and even some 1930-40s jazz.

We’re planning on doing another recital next fall and all of my students are welcome to participate, so, if you’re looking to level-up as a performing musician, sign-up for some lessons and I’ll look forward to seeing you up on stage

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Not only does this festival feature top notch national and regional bands, they also host a 3-day bluegrass “jam camp” every year in the days that precede the festival.

I’m excited to say that I’ll be teaching the bluegrass camp this year with my band, The High 48s! This year’s festival runs from August 8-11 and the jam camp is August 6-8.

The focus of the camp is to get you in an ensemble with other musicians playing acoustic instruments (guitar, banjo, bass, dobro, fiddle, and mandolin) to learn and play some simple songs together.

You’ll work on various aspects of playing and performing with others, attend instrument breakout sessions, meet new friends, and have an awesome time both during the day and around the campfire jams each night.

The camp culminates with performances from each ensemble on the festival’s main stage, which is pretty exciting

I’ve taught at this camp a few times in the past and it is a ton of fun and one of the best ways to level up your playing in a short period of time. If you’re interested, here are some more details:

• Camp Dates: August 6-8
• Cost: $125 until June 30 ($150: July 1 – July 31)
• Registration Deadline: July 31st

​You can learn more and register at the link below:

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Carbone’s Minneapolis

4705 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407

(612) 724-006

Website

Related show

• Project: Anthony Ihrig & Friends
• Date: 04/13/24
• Time: 7:00pm
• Venue: Carbone’s – Minneapolis
• City: Minneapolis , MN
• Address: 4705 Cedar Ave S
• Venue phone: (612) 724-0063
• Country: United States
• Admission: Free!
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: The South Cedar String Band rides again! A night of pickin’ and pizza with Eric Christopher on the fiddle and mandolin and Shane Akers on the Dobro. We’re on from 7-9pm.
  
  Reserve Your Table Online
  
  

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Thursday, August 24th I’ll be swapping songs with Eric Christopher, John Niemann, Taylor James Donskey and host Becky Schlegel at the 331 Club in Minneapolis!

And then…

Sunday, August 27th I’ll be swapping songs with Leslie Rich, Dan Gaarder, Haley Rydell, Maura Dunst and host Mother Banjo at the White Squirrel in Saint Paul!

I’m not sure how I will arrange my songs or what instrument(s) I’ll bring but I know it is going to be a lot of fun to play them in such an intimate setting and to talk shop with this amazing lineup of songwriters.

For more details see info below, hope to see you there!!

Related show

• Project: Anthony Ihrig
• Date: 08/24/23
• Time: 9:30pm
• Venue: 331 Club
• City: Minneapolis
• Address: 331 13th Ave NE
• Venue phone: 612-331-1746
• Country: United States
• More information
• Notes: Minneapolis Songwriter Rounds: Hosted by Becky Schlegel and featuring myself, Eric Christopher, John Niemann and Taylor James Donskey

• Project: Anthony Ihrig
• Date: 08/27/23
• Time: 7:00pm
• Venue: White Squirrel Bar
• City: St Paul , MN
• Address: 974 7th St W
• Country: United States
• More information
• Notes: Saint Paul Songwriter Rounds: Hosted by Mother Banjo and featuring myself, Leslie Rich, Dan Gaarder, Haley Rydell and Maura Dunst

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The amazing Minneapolis fiddle/cello duo The OK Factor are celebrating the release of their brand new 10th Anniversary album, OKX, and I’m honored to have been asked to pick some banjo on a couple tracks!

Funny story, when they asked me to do this, I assumed they wanted me to play 3-finger style banjo (since that is my specialty) but after I sent them my parts, they realized they actually wanted clawhammer I was happy to send them some clawhammer tracks and it turns out they used both.

You should definitely pick up the entire album and save it to your favorite playlist, but here you can check out the tracks I’m picking on:

Go grab your copy today and don’t miss their album release show at the Parkway Theater in Minneapolis on April 1st with Sprig of That, I’ll be there sitting in on a couple numbers!!

Related show

• Project: Anthony Ihrig
• Date: 04/01/23
• Venue: The Parkway Theater
• City: Minneapolis , MN
• Address: 4814 Chicago Ave
• Venue phone: 612-822-8080
• Country: United States
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: Sitting in for a couple of songs with the OK Factor

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I’m excited to celebrate my awesome south Minneapolis neighborhood and community by playing on the patio of my favorite local family restaurant, Carbone’s, for their 2022 Music Fest event that is taking place August 5-6.

I’ve put a little pick-up band together for this show that I’m calling the South Cedar String Band that features myself on banjo, my bandmate Eric Christopher on the fiddle and mandolin and the super talented Shane Akers on the Dobro.

We’re playing on Sat. Aug. 6th from 5-7PM and you can expect some original and traditional bluegrass, fun covers, tight harmonies and plenty of hot pickin’! More infro below:

Related show

• Project: Anthony Ihrig
• Date: 08/06/22
• Time: 5:00pm
• Venue: Carbone’s – Minneapolis
• City: Minneapolis , MN
• Address: 4705 Cedar Ave S
• Venue phone: (612) 724-0063
• Country: United States
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• More information
• Notes: I’ve put a little pick-up band together for this show that I’m calling the South Cedar String Bandthat features myself on banjo, my bandmate Eric Christopher on the fiddle and mandolin and the super talented Shane Akers on the Dobro. We’re on from 5-7PM, hope to see you there!

The post Carbone’s Music Fest w/ The South Cedar String Band appeared first on Anthony Ihrig.

I’m thrilled to announce that I will once again be teaching a bluegrass banjo workshop at Blue Ox Music Festival, Friday June 24th at 9am!

My goal when teaching short group banjo lessons like this is to give players a dose of inspiration as well as a handful of actionable takeaways that they can use at jams the same day.

Perhaps most importantly, I want to facilitate the opportunity for players to meet and learn with other players! I feel this is an important aspect learning any instrument instrument, here is why I think group learning is so cool

For more info on this year’s Blue Ox Workshops, click HERE.

Related show

• Project: Anthony Ihrig
• Date: 06/24/22
• Time: 10:00am
• Venue: Blue Ox Music Festival – Instrument Workshops
• City: Eau Claire , WI
• Address: 5024 Crescent Avenue
• Venue phone: 715-602-4440
• Country: United States
• Age restrictions: All Ages
• Notes: I’m teaching a banjo workshop at the Potluck Pickin Area the morning of Friday, June 24th!

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