I was just reading the archives to see what I could find out about Mack Hoover’s whitecap whistles, and saw that a few people mentioned playing and buying whistles at festivals. I love this idea, bc it’s becoming clearer to me that I want to be able to play whistles and select the one that’s right for me (but I can’t afford to do what Doc Jones is doing!).
Is there any way to find out which makers will be at which festivals?
Tery
I would contact the makers you are interested in and ask. I would also ask if they would be willing to send you a whistle to try, and if you like it buy it, and if not you would send it back. I bet some makers would do this.
As far as whistlemakers (overton and the like)at festivals, I don’t know (we may not be thinking of the same thing). But I do know that Wycliffe Bible Translators (www.wycliffe.org) has bamboo flute-making seminars at various Christian Music festivals in the Midwest (Namely Lifefest in S. Wis, and Cornerstone in C. IL). They used to include whistles and native american flutes as well as bamboo flutes, but they don’t anymore. If you go to thier website and search for it, maybe it will give you more info.
Timotheus
If the builders ever form a Guild, you could expect to know that info well in advance (appearances in Festivals)