SWBMAI Member Band the Henhouse Prowlers were recently honored with a coveted Chicago Music Award for Best Country/Western Entertainer, and now they’re headed for Madison’s High Noon Saloon.

The popular bluegrass quartet is playing at the High Noon Saloon this Friday, February 12, starting at 9:30 p.m. They’ll be joined by the St. Paul group Two Many Banjos.

2010 marked the 29th anniversary of the Chicago Music Awards, which has honored Chicago musicians ranging from George Solti to Kanye West. Stewart Mason of the All Music Guide writes, “The Henhouse Prowlers are a Chicago-based group of youngsters trying mightily to re-create the spirit and form of vintage bluegrass. . .a solid piece of contemporary bluegrass with its heart in the right place.”

The Alchemy Old Time Jam, which takes place on alternate Sundays, will now run from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The time slot is two hours earlier than the previous 5:00 to 7:00 pm schedule.

The jam, which is Madison’s only open old-time session, takes place at The Alchemy Cafe, 1980 Atwood Avenue in Madison.  It was founded two years ago by clawhammer banjo sorceress Lori Nitzel and is currently hosted by the far-less-talented Scott Knickelbine. The jam was featured last year in The Onion’s Decider section.

Old time sessions focus on traditional American fiddle and dance tunes, with most of the instruments playing in unison (with the exception of rhythm guitar).  Singing is rare and is usually used to punctuate the tunes. Typical melodies include Old Joe Clark, Flop-Eared Mule, Angeline the Baker, and Shove The Pigs Foot A Little Further In The Fire.

The next Alchemy Old Time Jam is this coming Sunday, February 14th,  starting at 3:00 pm. If you’d like to be added to the reminder list, email Scott Knickelbine at scottk@lcs-impact.com.

By Jon Peik

February’s first-Tuesday facilitated Beginner Bluegrass Jam will meet Tuesday, 2/2/10 from 7:30-9:00pm at the Germania parlor area (youth friendly) of The Up North Bar, 514 E Wilson St. Madison, near the Essen Haus at the corner of Blair and Wilson streets. There’s plenty of free parking behind the Essen Haus. Formal instruction and facilitation will run from approximately 7:30-8:30pm (as soon as I get there after my lessons at Spruce Tree Music)

This month we will start with the following songs. If we have time we will also go around the circle with song suggestions from you.

Take Me Back to Tulsa, key of G, (2 chords, G, D); My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mts, key of G, (2 chords, G, D); Crawdad Song, key of G (3 chords, G, C, D); Long Journey Home, Key of G, (3 chords G, C, D); Nine lb Hammer, Key of G, (3 chords, G, C, D); Cripple Creek, key of A, instrumental (3 chords, A, D, E); Sitting Alone in the Moonlight -key of G, waltz time (4 chords, G, C, D, & Gb).

Just a reminder of the Jim Hurst Concert and Guitar workshop January, 30. A few slots are still available for the workshop in the afternoon, so take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. And don’t miss the concert in the evening.

Concert: 8 pm at Mother Fools Coffee House, 1101 Williamson St., Madison, Wisconsin.

Workshop: 1 pm – 4 pm at the Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., Madison, WI.  Contact Julie Cherney at cherney@uwalumni.com or 608-244-2184 for more information and a registration form.

Grammy-winning bluegrass fiddler/vocalist Laurie Lewis and her mandolin-playing partner, Tom Rozum, will return to the High Noon Saloon this Saturday at 7:00 pm.  The event is being cosponsored by th Mid-Continent Railway Museum and WORT 89.9FM.

Since forming a musical partnership in 1986, when Tom first joined Laurie’s acclaimed band Grant Street, Lewis and Rozum have recorded 12 alblums and performed around the globe. These Grammy-nominated artists (for their 1995 album The Oak and the Laurel) are widely regarded as among the leading lights of modern bluegrass.

In their concerts, Lewis and Rozum pay homage to such eminent influences as Woody Guthrie, Hazel Dickens, Grandpa Jones and Bill Monroe, and add their own distinctive touches to traditional favorites. They also perform several of Lewis’ highly acclaimed compositions.

Tickets will are $14 in advance and $17 on the day of the show. More information at http://high-noon.com.

By Dave Nance

Hi everybody !  I’m writing to remind you: The 3rd Tuesday Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam, sponsored by SWBMAI (Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association), and hosted by yours truly, Dave Nance, will be held this Tuesday evening, January 19, 2010, at the Up North Bar at 514 E. Wilson St.

I’ll be there by 7:30 P.M., and  we’ll start the jam by 8:00 P.M.

What’s on tap this month:  “Chiming in on the Chorus.”  What’s that all about?  Bluegrass is not just about pickin’, it’s also about singin’.  But many people find it difficult to play their instrument AND sing at the same time, so the singing sometimes gets passed over. Which is too bad, because there’s really only one way to get better at playing and singing at the same time, and that’s doing it.  So let’s do it!

This week I’ve come up with some ideas for songs that all have repeating choruses that are great for singing along on.  Choruses are ideal for practicing your singing, for a number of reasons (including the repetition).  They’re also great for folks who are a little shy about their singing, because with everybody singing, everybody gets the anonymity of the herd! (Did you know that that’s why zebras, which live in dull brown grasslands, have that ridiculous black-and-white stripe thing going on?  Sure, it’s lousy camouflage if you’re trying to hide by yourself out on the grassland, but it’s great if you’re trying to hide in a herd of zebras!).  So, that’s why it’s gonna be important for EVERYBODY to sing!

Anyway, here are some “chorus” songs I’ll be ready to lead you in:

Angel Band
Banks Of The Ohio
Bury Me Beneath The Willow
Columbus Stockade Blues
I’ll Fly Away
Keep On The Sunny Side
Long Journey Home (aka Two Dollar Bill)
On And On
On My Mind
On My Mind
Our Last Goodbye

NOTE: I will bring along lyrics sheets that have the choruses of these (and other) songs.  I also really encourage you to bring your own ideas for songs with repeating choruses.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Tune into 89.9FM WORT to hear an interview with Jim Hurst by John Fabke Tuesday, 1/19 at 11:00 a.m. on John’s show Pastures of Plenty. Then tune in again on Friday, 1/29 at 11:00 a.m. for a live studio appearance by Jim on Chris Powers’ Mud Acres Bluegrass Show.

Don’t miss Jim Hurst’s concert January 30, at 8 pm at Mother Fools Coffee House, 1101 Williamson St., Madison, Wisconsin. And if you’re a flat-picker who needs a little fine-tuning, take advantage of the best flat-picker in bluegrass today at Jim’s guitar workshop on the 30^th from 1 pm – 4 pm at the Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer St., Madison, WI. Contact Julie Cherney at cherney@uwalumni.com or 608-244-2184 for more information and a registration form.

Two SWBMAI member bands will be featured in the lineup for the 9th annual United Way Benefit Concert.

SpareTime Bluegrass and The Oak Street Ramblers, along with The Cork ‘n Bottle String Band and children’s music peformer Dave Landau will present a benefit concert for United Way of Dane County on Sunday, February 14 at 1:00 p.m. at The Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Avenue, Madison WI. All of the performers are contributing their time and talent, and all proceeds will go to support United Way to advance the community’s Agenda for Change goals.

The annual concert has seen strong support from serious bluegrass fans. Admission for this family-friendly concert will be $10 for adults, and $5.00 for children 5-12 years of age ($20 maximum per family). Tickets may be ordered at www.barrymorelive.com.

By Dale Ward

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to SWBMAI and the bluegrass fans that supported Jefferson County Bluegrass Band. I have performed for 44 +years in bands playing rock “n” roll, country, country rock, polka and bluegrass. Bluegrass is without question my favorite genre of music. Bluegrass people, musicians and fans are the most true, friendly people I have ever come across.

In 2001 Cactus Club String Band asked me if I would learn to play banjo for them. For the next year or so I learned banjo with the help of a few lessons from John Pike. Then Brian Cate asked me to start a band with him and Chris Falkner who played banjo. I was going to play guitar but Chris had a friend who was playing guitar so I decided to teach my self mandolin. And that became Jefferson County Bluegrass Band.

After eight years we are disbanding after two members had to leave the band. I personally want to thank Chris Falkner, Doug Hodge and especially Brian Cate for their friendship and dedication and all the wonderful times spent together rehearsing, traveling and performing. Brian Cate and I will still be going out as Jefferson County Bluegrass Band from time to time on limited dates. Look for us at Dot’s sometime this early spring 2010.

Thanks everyone!

Are you serious about your New Year’s resolution of becoming a better guitarist?  Or has cabin fever got its grip on you?   Then take advantage of two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and member of the Grammy-nominated Claire Lynch Band Jim Hurst’s guitar workshop and concert Saturday, January 30.

“In a field known for great instrumental work, Hurst is as good as they come…His guitar playing is marked by pure abandon.”
- Country Standard Time

Workshop, $60
1-4pm at:
Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center
953 Jenifer St.
Madison, WI 53703
Phone (608) 257-4576
www.madison.com/communities/wil-mar

For workshop registration, call Julie Cherney at 608-244-2184, or email cherney@uwalumni.com Some workshop topics include flat-picking and finger-style guitar styles; rhythm and melodies, solos and improvisation, timing, tone, and taste; Practice techniques, time management; Emphasis on raising the enjoyment level.

Concert, $10
8 p.m. at:
Mother Fool’s Coffee House
1101 Williamson St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 259-1301
www.motherfools.com

Information about Jim Hurst can be found at www.jimhurst.com.