Pickin' and a Fiddlin'

The Farnum Family Band of Galena includes Benjamin, 26, Hannah, 23, Maggie, 17, Matthew, 15, Father Norm and Mother Trish.

While the family band was created in the early 2000s with their first gig in 2004 during a church performance, the Farnum family’s musical roots go back even further, with Trish and Norm performing a duet together in Branson before passing their love, passion and talent for music on to their children.

Each member of the Farnum Family Band has their own way to contribute with an instrument, and each of the band members contributes with their own unique vocal stylings.

The oldest of the Farnum children is guitar and mandolin player Benjamin. Benjamin started mandolin lessons when he was 8 years old and took up the guitar a few years later. His strong rhythm and skillful flat-picking are the bedrock of the band – add the charming smile and ready wit and you’ve got an audience favorite. Though he was once a reluctant singer, Norm and Trish said he has blossomed in recent years and is now a featured lead vocalist.

Hannah began “fiddlin’ around” at the age of 6, studying for more than 10 years with world champion fiddle player, Ricky Boen. In addition to her position in the Farnum Family Band, she also occasionally competes in fiddling competitions and won third place in the 2012 Walnut Valley Old-Time Fiddle Contest.

Hannah enjoys playing many musical styles including western swing, bluegrass, and traditional Irish.

Community members can keep tabs on what the band is up to via their website, www.farnumfamily.org. The website also features merchandise like T-shirts, hats and stickers.

Another way for community members to keep up with the Farnum family and enjoy their musical stylings through Hannah’s pet project Fiddlin’ Friday at 5 p.m. on Facebook Live. Fiddlin’ Friday is Hannah’s brain child, and has garnered international attention in this age of COVID-19, with viewers from across the globe. Trish said Hannah is often, but not always, joined by other family members during the weekly performances.

“People have said that this has brought them great joy at times when they couldn’t go out to see live music,” Trish said.

Tricia plays piano and the penny whistle and has been known to team up with the girls on trio numbers. As mother and musician, Tricia also coordinates wardrobe, plans set lists, helps Norm with itineraries, and emcees live performances opposite her husband and group comic relief, Norm.

She began playing piano at age 6, and in 1987, got her first music job as ragtime pianist in the Homestead Comedy Revue at Shepherd of the Hills in Branson. That same year she and Norm began performing on the Lake Queen, a paddle-wheel boat on Lake Taneycomo.

The Farnum Family Band of Galena includes Benjamin, 26, Hannah, 23, Maggie, 17, Matthew, 15, Father Norm and Mother Trish.Originally from California, Norm, the father of the Farnum family started taking banjo lessons when he was 17 years old, and has been entertaining folks on the five-string for nearly 45 years. He started at Silver Dollar City in 1977 in both the Saloon Show and as part of the Marvel Cave Band. Later, he traveled with a rockabilly band (Stumpwater) and in 1983 began performing at the Roy Clark Theater in Branson. While there, he fronted many Nashville artists, including Whispering Bill Anderson, Freddie Fender, Janie Fricke, Louise Mandrell, Ray Price, Patti Page, Ray Stevens, Tanya Tucker, and of course, Roy Clark.

Norm said it is a tradition in family bands for the father to serve as both comic relief for the band and make sure they do at least a little something to embarrass the kids during a performance.

Maggie followed big sister’s example and started learning fiddle just before her sixth birthday. After five years of lessons with Ricky Boen, she set her eyes on bigger things – namely, the bass fiddle. She is known as the "younger and prettier version" of the Farnum family bass player, filling the shoes of big brother, Daniel, who left the band in 2018.

The youngest Farnum, Matthew, joins the family for several feature songs, including “Battle of New Orleans,” “Wreck of the Old ’97,” and, on the family’s latest album, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Matthew plays the mandolin, and Trish and Norm said they are hopeful that the coming year will find him on stage more frequently.In addition to Fiddlin’ Friday, the Farnum Family Band also occasionally broadcasts “Toe Tappin’ Tuesdays” via Facebook. Both Fiddlin’ Friday and Toe Tappin’ Tuesday events are hosted free of charge.