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.
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.
What could be a more thoughtful gift this holiday season than a CD from one of the Midwest’s best bluegrass groups? When you buy an album from a SWBMAI member band, you not only give your friends and family outstanding entertainment with a unique “local sound,” you also help support the live bluegrass scene in Wisconsin.
Here are some terrific CDs selected by the bands themselves for this Holiday Buying Guide. Any one would make a splendid gift:
Henhouse Prowlers
Chicago bluegrass powerhouse The Henhouse Prowlers have a brand-new album out called A Dark Rumor. Find out why music blog Wildy’s World said “This is one of those albums that makes you want to run out and find what else The Henhouse Prowlers have done, and when the next new album might be expected. Check out The Henhouse Prowlers, a must-hear band.”
2009 WAMI Bluegrass Artist of the Year Liberty Bluegrass is offering two CDs this holiday season. The first is their debut album Life, Liberty Bluegrass and the Pursuit of Happiness, featuring their 2008 WAMI CD-Roulette winning cover of “Rank Stranger to Me.” Their latest CD is Goin’ Burlap, featuring four original songs and a cover of Lynard Skynard’s “Simple Man.”
Both CDs can be purchased for $10 each plus $2 S&H. During the holiday their online purchased CDs come with free gift wrapping! LBB’s on-line store is located at http://www.libertybluegrassband.com/LBB_Store.html
Alzen Family Bluegrass Band
Fans of gospel bluegrass will want to own some discs from the Alzen Family band. The group have three CDs available: On the Sea of Life, Let My Life Be a Light, and Traveling Through God’s World. CDs cost $15, plus $2 shipping. Available to listen and order on band website www.alzenfamily.com via PayPal. Those wishing to buy the old fashioned way may also order by phone at 715-749-3977, or send check or cash by mail to Alzen Family, 1016-110th Avenue, Roberts, WI 54023. Please specify which CD and quantity.
Round the Bend
Round the Bend’s self-titled debut album is a perennial favorite. Country music historian Bill Malone says “The diversity of styles is one of the most appealing aspects of the music heard here. . .You’re going to like what you hear.”
Copies are still available of Jeff Hickey’s MAMA-winning album, Loose Ends. Hickey, a gifted guitarist and singer/songwriter, died earlier this year from injuries sustained in a car accident, and the limited supply of CDs are being sold to benefit Jeff’s family. You can find out how to order a copy here: http://www.thirdhandcapo.com/jeff/index.html.
Illinois resident and brand new SWBMAI member Pamela Love Martz took top honors and $150 in cash at last Saturday’s “SWBMAI’s Got Talent” competition, with a soulful and classic-sounding rendition of “Too Late” by Hugh X. Lewis. The competition took place at SWBMAI’s 2009 holiday party at the Goodman Center in Madison.
Eight acts competed for cash prizes before an enthusiastic crowd. Winners were decided by an Applause-O-Meter at the end of the competition. In addition, a “Crowd Favorite” award was selected by by direct ballot of the audience.
A jug band consisting of Beverly Hills, Scott Knickelbine, Arvid Berge, Dave Nance and Frank Parks won the Second Place prize as well as the Crowd Favorite award with a spirited performance of “Blues in the Bottle.” Sandy Nowak, Dan Hildebrand, Jim Carrier, John Jirak, Mitch Rosefelt, Dale Ward and Natalie Grady won Third Place with a winsome, multimedia rendition of the bluegrass classic “Roses in the Snow.” Catherine Ryner and Jim Hodges won Honorable Mention for their duet on “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
The 2009 SWBMAI holiday party was the best-attended in recent years. Kudos to board member Sharon Manion for organizing the event, and for shooting this video of the winning acts!
Wisconsin native and East Troy Bluegrass Festival founder Melissa Sherman was recently named Composer of the Year at the 2009 Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards. The band which Sherman writes for and helps manage, Ontario-based Hard Ryde, won nearly all the instrumental player of the year categories, picking up awards for Banjo, Fiddle, Bass, Guitar and Mandolin. Hard Ryde’s front man, Doug de Boer was named the Entertainer of the Year.
“I was extremely proud to represent Wisconsin as I accepted my award,” Sherman told SWBMAI shortly after the awards ceremony. “My heart has never left Wisconsin and I truly miss and adore my Bluegrass family there!”
“I founded and still direct the East Troy Bluegrass Festival 17 years ago,” Sherman said. “I have been writing music since I was 16. Since living with my partner Doug and having this wonderfully talented band Hard Ryde in my life, I have finally found the right group to make my songs come alive! As a family we live the Bluegrass life. We have 5 family festivals here in Canada , along with my festival in East Troy. We host a winter series in the spring from Feb-April and produce the Bluegrass awards for Central Ontario. Hard Ryde is on the road constantly playing festivals both in the US and Canada.”
Watch Hard Ryde perform one of Melissa Sherman’s songs, “Turkeyville Road”
The IRS has granted our association 501(c)(3) status as a public charity. As part of the ruling, contributions made to SWBMAI after June 11, 2009 are eligible for tax deduction by the donor. So, what does the new tax status mean? SWBMAI:
$ . . . can now offer individual donors and corporate donors a tax deduction for their donations to us.
$ . . . is eligible to receive private foundation grants. Private foundations are required by law to distribute a minimum amount of money for charitable purposes. One way they fulfill this obligation is by making grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.
$ . . . is eligible for lower postal rates on third class bulk mailings through the US Postal Service.
$ . . . will not pay federal corporate income tax except on income derived from unrelated business income. With this exemption, an organization can save 15% – 35% of its taxable income.
$ . . . in most instances, will not pay state property taxes, corporate income, franchise, excise, use, and sales tax.
The bottom line: SWBMAI donors save money, SWBMAI can develop new sources of operating revenue, and we can put more of that money directly to work encouraging the preservation and growth of bluegrass music in Wisconsin.
This year we’re unveiling the first ever SWBMAI’s Got Talent! talent show competition at the big Holiday Party at the Goodman Center December 5. The competition kicks off at 6:30. Participants have a chance at winning cash prizes: $150 for 1st, $100 for 2nd, $50 for 3rd or one of our $25 Honorable Mentions. All main prize winners will be determined by audience applause using the iPhone’s Applausometer.
But there’s one more prize left. A hat will be passed all day for the winner of the Audience Favorite award which will be decided by paper ballot. You’ll receive it at the door.
If you want to participate in the talent show, be sure to register early. There is a limited number of slots available on a first come, first served basis. You can register by calling board member Sharon Manion at (608) 424-3408 or by e-mailing SWBMAItalentshow@gmail.com.
Bob Black on banjo and Paul Kienitz on fiddle will play all of the tunes from the classic album Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe,” which has been called “one of the best bluegrass records of all time.” Black was the banjo player on the original recording. The band will play a variety of songs and tunes as well in the second set.
The special live tribute will be performed Friday, November 6th at Mother Fool’s Coffehouse in Madison and Saturday, November 7th at the Richland Auditorium.
Bob Black is a master of the five string banjo and a veteran of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. He has also performed with Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Emmylou Harris, Norman Blake and Rhonda Vincent and played the Grand Ole Opry. Paul Kienitz is one of the finest traditional bluegrass fiddle players in the upper Midwest. Paul has been a long standing member of the award-winning Nob Hill Boys and was a featured performer with a reunion of Blue Grass Boys at the 2008 Sugar Maple Festival.
Bob and Paul will be joined by Mark Hembree on bass (veteran of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys as well, the Nashville Bluegrass Band and the Dreadful Snakes with Bela’ Fleck and Jerry Douglas). Brian Ray on mandolin (This is the Squirrel Hunters) and John Fabke on guitar (Nob Hill Boys) will complete the line-up for this special Tribute.
Saturday, November 7, Richland Center City Auditorium, 182 N. Central Ave., Richland Center, WI., 7:30pm.
Advanced Tickets: Auditorium Antiques, 182 N. Central Ave., Richland Center, WI Info: 608-649-3456.
*A portion of the proceeds goes to RCPAC (Richland County Performing Arts Council) to fund the Auditorium Rehabilitation Project.*
Tickets: $10.
SWBMAI member band Round the Bend will celebrate 10 years of making outstanding bluegrass with a performance atThe Frequency this Thursday, October 29, from 5:30-8pm. There will be a $5 cover charge.
Round the Bend fiddler Fred Newmann writes: “We play a mix of bluegrass, old-timey, and Western swing, and like to feature all band members vocally and instrumentally – our web site has lots of sound clips. Sherry is the main lead singer, and most of the 3-part harmonies center around Don, Sherry and Carolyn. Patrick and I like to sing on the more hard drivin’ tunes. We create our own arrangements and solos, but we’re not ashamed of copying arrangements from recordings of musicians we admire…even take pride in doing it.”
We’ve got four pairs of tickets to the fabulous Bluegrass Caravan this coming Friday and Saturday, and we’re going to give them away to SWBMAI members. But to claim your pair, you need to email me right now!
The Bluegrass Caravan is a fast-paced show featuring The Henhouse Prowlers, Liberty Bluegrass Band and The High 48s.We have one pair of tickets for the Friday, Oct. 9 show in Milwaukee, and three pairs of deluxe box seats for the Saturday, October 10 show in Baraboo. To claim a pair, you need to email me right away at swbmai@gmail.com and let me know you want one! The first one to respond gets their pick of performances, and the next three to respond get their pick of what’s left! See the article below for more information on the Bluegrass Caravan!
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.
Chicago bluegrass powerhouse The Henhouse Prowlers have a brand-new album out called A Dark Rumor. Find out why music blog Wildy’s World said “This is one of those albums that makes you want to run out and find what else The Henhouse Prowlers have done, and when the next new album might be expected. Check out The Henhouse Prowlers, a must-hear band.”
Fans of gospel bluegrass will want to own some discs from the Alzen Family band. The group have three CDs available: On the Sea of Life, Let My Life Be a Light, and Traveling Through God’s World. CDs cost $15, plus $2 shipping. Available to listen and order on band website 
Round the Bend’s self-titled debut album is a perennial favorite. Country music historian Bill Malone says “The diversity of styles is one of the most appealing aspects of the music heard here. . .You’re going to like what you hear.”
Bob Black on banjo and Paul Kienitz on fiddle will play all of the tunes from the classic album Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe,” which has been called “one of the best bluegrass records of all time.” Black was the banjo player on the original recording. The band will play a variety of songs and tunes as well in the second set.
SWBMAI member band Round the Bend will celebrate 10 years of making outstanding bluegrass with a performance at