Dan Levenson
TEACHER ~ AUTHOR ~ PERFORMER
Dan Levenson is well-known among old-time music fans for his performances, recording, and his instructional material for clawhammer banjo and old-time fiddle. An Appalachian native, Dan makes his home in Tucson, Arizona.
Dan founded the renowned old-time string band The Boiled Buzzards. He now tours, teaches and performs solo at concerts and festivals or at dances with his current band, the Cat Mountain Rounders.
Dan Levenson photo (above) by Steven Meckler
Important: Please note, as of January 1, 2025 I am no longer selling my products (CDs’, books, and videos) directly. You can follow the links to my pages at BandCamp for recording and insert downloads and to MelBay for physical book sales.
Dan’s Blog
- Summer Travel 2026 (6/3/2026)
Yep, as usual I have not been the dedicated blogger or, how do they say it now, “digital content creator” many of you have become. BUT, every so often there is a thing of two I want to let you know. First, I’m still alive and hanging in at 70. I did have that aging scare requiring bypass surgery in mid-December and though the body has healed, it still takes a bit out of me now and then. Still, I continue to teach at home and by webcam as well as play locally for dances and restaurant gigs.
Now it is time to take a trip! I will be heading out to Bardstown, KY on the 13th of June and make my way there landing in Bardstown June 16 or 17 depending on traffic and my stamina. I will probably spend the first night in Las Cruces, NM with friends then cut up to I-40 for a stop in Amarillo and dinner at the Big Man Steak House. Might even be a contestant or two trying to get the 72oz. dinner done in an hour. If you have never seen it, there was an episode of American Pickers that featured this spectacle of gluttony just for your entertainment. NO, I don’t do that but they make a fine filet and I will surely pair it with an appropriate bourbon. Yes, I stay close after that.
Next couple of days I will keep on driving till I see that sign for Bardstown, KY – the bourbon capital of the world. Bourbon and American Single Malt whiskies have become something of a hobby for me so, yes, a couple of distillery tours and tastings are on my itinerary as I will have a couple of days before starting Kentucky Music Week (https://www.kentuckymusicweek.com/index.html) where I will be teaching both fiddle and clawhammer banjo. I do love Kentucky and am looking forward to visiting some old haunts there and discovering some new ones.
Right after camp I have to scurry on home for the July 4th Contra Dance back here in Tucson. Should be a fun one and a special way to celebrate our country’s 250th. We can’t promise fireworks but we will play some hot hot tunes!
And, speaking of whiskey, one of my favorite whiskies and gigs is playing at the Whiskey Del Bac distillery for their latest edition whiskey release party! This year it will be August 25 for their American Single Malt seasonal release. Such a great time! Come listen to the music (dance if you like!), meet friends new and old, have a special del Bac cocktail or two (their creations are amazing!) and take home some of their newest released whiskey to enjoy and share.
I will be home the rest of the summer, though I am considering a short trip to Austin to see the Still Austin Distillery. So I am able to take new students in person or on line. Let’s get you started or advancing on the instrument of your choice. Rates go up in September but if you start before that you will not be impacted by that and your rate will stay the same as long as you are a student with me. Clawhammer Banjo? Fiddle? Old-Time Guitar? From Scratch or performance level or anything in between. Weekly lesson or a couple days residency. What works for you?
In other news, the garden continues to do well with tomatoes ripening on the vines, basil bright and flavorful, green beans, cukes and many, many flowers! And for those of you who have been following me for many years (or a few) both of my boys are doing well. Working hard and raising their own families. The both took the time to come out here for my birthday last June and to help with my recovery in December. I love them both very much and it is so good to see what they have become. I credit them with the work. All I did was encourage them to find and follow their paths.
In closing, I hope you all have a wonderful summer full of music, dance, festivals, jams and the best weather for all of it! Me, I’ll be driving in my birthday this year after what promises to be a wonderful week of music and teaching. Hope to see you on the way, there or perhaps here soon!
Till then, Play Nice!
