Anastasia's Fault performs at Fort Caspar festival with enthusiasm for education

by Christi Marsico
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 12:48 PM MDT

The family that plays together stays together stands true for the Beesons.

They began playing as a family band 2-1/2 years ago as Anastasia's Fault. The group will play twice at the Fort Caspar Frontier Festival on Saturday, July 26, performing at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Fort Caspar Frontier Festival is open to the public with free admission. The event offers historical entertainment for the whole family, celebrating its theme this year as "Impressions on Wyoming" with an array of activities and demonstrations.

The group plays old-time fiddle and gospel music, as well as bluegrass and Celtic and ld time gospel music.

The band’s name, Anastasia's Fault, came about because Anastasia Beeson, 16, refused to play the clarinet calling them "slobber horns."

Instead, she was drawn to fiddle music. Anastasia took a fancy to dressing up, as well as the fiddle, and soon the whole family started to join in playing a variety of instruments.

Sibling rivalry may drive the whole thing, according to their father Paul Beeson who also plays the mandolin.

Momma plays bass when it comes to this family band. Rhondasue, the mother of the three musicians, backs the family with her bass cello.

Angie, 17, plays guitar and fiddle while J.D., 15, plucks the banjo. In addition to the fiddle, Anastasia favors the mandolin.

"Playing music is something we can take with us as we get older," Angie said.

The family has a close bond due to playing music, which allows them to communicate in a different dynamic, following rhythm and beats, making eye contact and observing body language.

The Beesons also have learned "jam etiquette," which is a term they use when it comes to passing songs in a group of musicians.

In describing their family band, J.D. noted he enjoys meeting people and traveling around; Anastasia summed it in one word, "involved."

Angie said the family is "very close," and Rhondasue noted she feels "blessed." Paul referred to his house of family musicians as "unique."

"These kids have wonderful opportunities and talent and abilities that blow me away," Rhondasue said.

Performing across the state, their favorite blue grass songs to play are "Blackberry Blossoms," "Cajun Cookin'" and "Clench Mountain Back Step."

Anastasia has written a song, "Wild Wyoming Winds," for which her older sister has arranged the chords.

If the weather permits, the family will dress in pioneer outfits for their performance at the Fort Caspar Frontier Festival.

They are excited to play old-time music and educate others about the older songs, portraying the event as "quality time keeping good music alive."

Whether Anastasia's Fault is playing at home or in public, this is one family that enjoys keeping their love for laughing, living and music in full swing.

IF you go...

Fort Caspar Frontier Festival presentation schedule

Saturday, July 26. Free admission and open to the public

10 a.m. Anastasia' Fault (old-time music)

11 a.m. Elinore Pruitt-Stewart by Lynne Swanson

Noon Commemoration Ceremony

12:30 a.m. Medicine Show by Bruce Berst

1 p.m. John C. Fremont by Fred Krebs

2 p.m. Phrenology Reading by Trey Corkern

3 p.m. All Together Now Just Fiddling Around

4 p.m. Cattle Kate by Amanda Forbes of Painted Past

5 p.m. Anastasia's Fault (old-time music)

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