Bruce Gartner has been playing music for over 50 years beginning with clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon in public school. As a child, Bruce’s father played mandolin and keyboard with a country band and those memories sparked a lifelong interest in playing traditional music. Bruce is adept with both mandolin and fiddle playing in the genre most commonly referred to as Old Time music. Additionally, Bruce plays traditional Irish music and has competed in all Ireland competitions in 2002 and 2003. Bruce is a member of the Old Time string bands “Rhythm Billies,” and the “Palooka Brothers.” He has played at festivals and taught workshops at Wheatland, Bliss, Alaska Folk Festival, and Hiawatha. The Rhythm Billies completed a tour of Ireland in the summer of 2011 playing American Old Time music.