The Barefoot Fiddler

Description

Currently, I play regularly 5 days a week in country/rock music bands in the famous Honky Tonks on Broadway in Nashville. I am also called upon regularly for a variety of types of recording sessions; anywhere from country to bluegrass to rock and alternative styles. I am contracted independently as a solo, duo, trio or full band act for wedding ceremonies and receptions, cocktail parties, funerals, corporate parties, banquets, awards ceremonies, private celebrations, restaurant entertainment, open houses, and others.
My background is classical and traditional fiddle style playing as well a ... s country/southern rock cover bands. I am also able to provide live online/streaming concerts and shows for public and private functions. Read More

Set-List

Willing to incorporate specific song requests at client’s request. Variety of cover songs new and old, top 40 country and alternative/rock/r&b, etc.

Biography

A Colorado native with a rich musical heritage, unprecedented passion, and dedication, Merna Lewis is a force behind the fiddle. Every melody born from years of trial by fire, education, and persistence. You don’t just listen to Merna play the fiddle; you FEEL her play the fiddle. Pieces of the Colorado mountain tops, the Texas plains, and the Nashville honky tonks are evident with every performance, and the brand of The Barefoot Fiddler is sawed into their fabric as well.
She’s been playing fiddle from the age of 7, and stands on the shoulders of the late Aunt Bettie Freel, well-known ... musician and music teacher in the San Luis Valley; and deceased Grandmother Virginia Marie Bond Riggenbach, violin virtuoso; A Juilliard School of Music graduate and teacher of violins at the Brearley School for Girls in New York City, and founder of Riggenbach School of Music in Alamosa, CO.
Merna competed at many regional and national fiddle contests, and placed 1st place in her division at the Albuquerque State Fair Fiddle Contest, 2nd place time and time again at contests in the state of Colorado, and 15th in her age division at the National Fiddle Championship contest in Weiser, ID. She also sat 1st chair violin in the Alamosa Symphony Orchestra for Children under conduction of Robert Walkley and earned several high merits in solo and ensemble competitions.
Merna earned her Associate of Applied Arts Degree in Commercial Music from South Plains College, Levelland, TX in 2002. While in school and afterward, Merna played around the Texas/Red Dirt circuit with many bands and ensembles, playing all styles of music from rock and roll to jazz to Texas Western Swing.
She moved to Nashville in 2003 and immediately ranked as one of the first call fiddle players for the Lower Broadway Honky-tonks, which led to touring opportunities with Trent Willmon, The Roys and Tanya Tucker as well as many studio recording sessions. You can hear Merna playing on many independent artist CDs and EPs. When she’s not in the studio or on tour, you can still catch her playing barefoot in the Nashville honky tonk bars. Don't be surprised if she comes to your table, fiddle in hand - she might just let you play fiddle on the spot! Read More

Reviews     (1 Review)

Experience

Artist Tours:
Tanya Tucker (Fantasy Records), Trent Willmon (Columbia, Compadre - Producer, Songwriter), Chelsea Lena (Universal Music Publishing - Writer; Topliner, Vocal Producer), Billy Arnold (3D Records, Kari & Billy, Drury Outdoors Channel), Johnny Lee (Asylum, Warner Brothers, Curb), The Roys (Rural Rhythm), Dan Roberts (“Beaches of Cheyenne” - Green Hill, Heritage Music, Old Boots Music), Dave Alexander (and The Legends of Western Swing Band) (DAP), Derryl Perry (Lonesome Devil Records), Emma Mae Jacob, and more independent artists.
Studied under:
Bettie Freel (Aunt), Dick and ... Lisa Barrett, Dale Morris, Sr., Joe Carr, Alan Munde, Cary C. Banks (Maines Bros.) Booher Family (featuring Justin Booher, Rudy Booher, Johnny Gimble, & Mark O’Conner) - studying traditional fiddle, country, bluegrass, jazz and western swing.
Recording Credits:
John Swat, The Simmons Brothers, Scott Sean White, 100 Love Sonnets, Texas 114, Chelsea Lena, Bart Crow, Matt Moody, Texas Express!, Sarah Lawton, Sarah Martin, Chuck Thomas, The Dirk Wayne Band, Jim Brown, Jason & Denise, Mark Allen, Granbury Live Christmas, Justine Blazer, Matt Ramsey, and many more
Performance Honors:
Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Half-time Show Feat. LeAnn Rimes (2008 Performance)
American Western Artists Awards, Ft. Worth, Texas – Dave Alexander
AAFES & USO Tour for the troops – Italy, Spain, Germany, Andros Island, Cuba, Greenland
Bluebird Café, Nashville – Ben Floor; and Chelsea Lena & Sara Haze – Lightning Strikes Twice Tour
Ralph Stanley Tribute - Grand Ole Opry House - Jim Brown
Darryl Worley “Stomping Out Cancer” Benefit - Jim Brown
Northfield Church “Night of Hope” Benefit feat. Ricky Skaggs, Leanne Morgan - Northfield Band
Northfield Church “She” event with Meredith Andrews - Northfield Band
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Previous Clients

Artist Tours:
Tanya Tucker (Fantasy Records), Trent Willmon (Columbia, Compadre - Producer, Songwriter), Chelsea Lena (Universal Music Publishing - Writer; Topliner, Vocal Producer), Billy Arnold (3D Records, Kari & Billy, Drury Outdoors Channel), Johnny Lee (Asylum, Warner Brothers, Curb), The Roys (Rural Rhythm), Dan Roberts (“Beaches of Cheyenne” - Green Hill, Heritage Music, Old Boots Music), Dave Alexander (and The Legends of Western Swing Band) (DAP), Derryl Perry (Lonesome Devil Records), Emma Mae Jacob, and more independent artists.
Performance Credit (showcase, artist appearan ... ce, songwriter round, concert, etc.):
Billy Dean, Terri Clark, Darryl Worley, Gary Chapman, The Roy's, Georgette Jones, Marty Haggard, Jim Brown, Jimmy Parker, Jimmy Snyder, Charlie Louvin, Daryle Singletary, Leann Rimes, Razzy Bailey, Marcia Ball, Johnny Hiland, Terry McBride, John Rich, Jedd Hughes, Amanda Shires, Wade Bowen, Copperhead, Bart Crow, and Texas 114, Rodney Pyeatt, Brandon Rhyder, Dub Miller, Aaron Watson, Django Walker, Doug Moreland, Jason Boland, Stoney LaRue, The Burtschi Brothers, Mark David Manders, THE Jenee Fleenor, Tommy Nash, Randy “Snuffy” Elmore, Cindy Cashdollar, Bobby Boatright, Johnny Gimble, Bobby Flores, Rich O’Brien, Clint Strong, Billy English, Chuck Thomas, Maddye Trew, Sarah Martin, Sarah Lawton, Mikki Daniel, James Mitchell and many more.
Audio Credits: (Not a full list)
Bob Huston - Invincible (album); Billy Kuhn - Starting Again (album); Jim Brown - Simple Man (cover of Charlie Daniels Band); Braden Baugh - Miss Carolina; Jim Brown - The South's Gonna Do it Again (cover of Charlie Daniels Band); Frank Foster - The Way it Was (album); Jeff Dayton - Heart Shaped Harbor, Levin's Daughters; Chuck Thomas - Cigarettes and Whiskey, Wounded Warrior; Jason & Denise - Promised Land; Jim Brown - Jim Brown & twenty sixteen; Sarah Lawton - Sticks and Stones; Sarah Martin - Muddy Boots & Holiday With You; Frank Foster - The Way it Was; Analogue Dogs - Nashville to Jesus; Mark Allen - The Ballad of Mick Moonshine; Bart Crow - Bart Crow; Meltdown Morning - 100 Love Sonnets; Texas 114 - Farther; Granbury Live - A Blue Suede Christmas; Bob Huston - Things He Never Did, Grandpas Box of Dreams, No Truth Like a Liar
Video Credits: (Not a full list)
Dave Alexander and His Legends of Western Swing Band - Western Boogie
LeAnn Rimes - The Salvation Army Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day Half-Time Show Presentation “The Safest Place” with Dave Alexander Band and Orchestra - 2008
Jimmy Parker - Take Me Back
Jim Brown - Country Music Church, Honky Tonk Women Opry Debut
Trent Willmon - Emeril Live “Cookin’ With Spirits” Season 8, Episode 85 (6/17/05)
America’s Deadliest Storm: Galveston Island, 1900 - Film by Ken Mandel (written and composed solo score)
Khan Audio DI - Summer NAMM Nashville, TN 2019 demo
Composed and performed a solo score for the short film America’s Deadliest Storm: Galveston Island, 1900 by Ken Mandel;
Contributed to the review of Western Swing Fiddle, published in 2006. Mel Bay Teaching Method books, written by Joe Carr;
Play Fiddle Play, featured in the Winter 2002 edition of Fiddler Magazine - article about leading Aunt Bettie Freel’s legacy, written by Joe Carr. Read More

Suitable for

Anniversary Party Awards Ceremony Baby Shower Bachelor / Stag Party Bachelorette / Hen Party Birthday Party (Adult) Birthday Party (Child) Birthday Party (Teen) Bridal Shower Casinos Charity / Fundraising Event Christening Christmas Party Club Party Cocktail Party / Drinks Reception Community Event Concerts / Tours Conference / Meeting Corporate Event Dinner Party Engagement Party Festival / Outdoor Event Funeral/Memorial Service Graduation Party Grand Opening Party Halloween Party High School Reunion HM Forces/Army/Navy/Military Event Holiday / Theme Parks Hotel Event New Year's Eve Party Nightclub Event Nursing / Care Home Event Private Party Product Launch / Promotion Prom Night Quinceañera / Sweet 16 Party Restaurant / Bar / Pub Event Retirement Party School Event Session Work Social Club Trade Show / Exhibitions University / College Event Virtual Event Wedding Ceremony Wedding Cocktail/Drinks Reception Wedding Reception

Additional Information

Member of Nashville Musicians Association (AFM-Local 257)

Virtual Services Offer

Virtual Postcard

Have a special person in mind that loves music? I can perform as a soloist, duo, trio or full band and record a special song for you to send as a birthday greeting, miss you, love you, just saying hello, thank you, get well, etc. directly to their inbox in email, Facebook Messenger or Instagram!

Virtual Concert

I can put together a fun 45-90 minute concert featuring some of Nashville's best musicians, just for you! We can play your favorite cover songs, or put together an all original music set, a great way to have live music at your next family gathering, corporate event, awards ceremony, or other event! Available as a duo, trio or full band.