The Nob Hill Boys are an established bluegrass unit whose commitment to tradition is clear in every aspect of their per- formances. This award-winning band has produced three CDs and entertained audiences all across the Midwest for the past six years in venues of all sizes from coffeehouses to festivals to a performance on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. The group’s four fine singers take a traditional approach with a nod to the standard repertoire of the past, but also bringing obscure gems and fine original material to light. The Nob Hill Boys also are fortunate to feature some of the finest instru- mentalists in the Upper Midwest. Those of you looking for a hot banjo number, a driving fiddle breakdown or superb flat picking guitar will not be disappointed .

Harriet Park is located along Mary Lou Street, Arthur Street, Westlawn Avenue and Harriet Street on the Verona’s  north side.

Family-friendly activities highlight the Gandy Dancer Festival, which is presented by the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and the Village of Mazomanie.  New this year is a “History Detectives” activity organized by Bobbie Malone of the Wisconsin Historical Society.  Children will have the opportunity to learn about riding and working on trains by interacting with a panel of old-timers who actually did it.  There will be music especially for kids by Dave Landau at noon and 2:30, a real-life gandy dancer demonstration by Dave Lee and incidental juggling by Jacob Mills.  Horse-drawn wagon rides, the mini-train for kids and historical displays at the public library (former Milwaukee Road depot), the Mazomanie Historical Museum and the Mazomanie Regional Heritage Center will round out the day.  Food and beverages will be readily available from local civic groups and businesses,

This event is supported by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission with additional funds from the American Girl’s Fund for Children, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, and the Overture Foundation.

Gandy Dancer Festival

Westland Promenade (Brodhead Street at the railroad tracks), Mazomanie, Wisconsin

Saturday, August 21, 2010 – 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., rain or shine

Admission is free – contributions to Mid-Continent Railway Museum are warmly appreciated.

11:00 a.m.        Queens of Harmony, African-American Gospel

12:30 p.m.        Above the Town, Bluegrass

2:00 p.m.          The DitchLilies, American roots music

3:30 p.m.          Cork’n Bottle String Band, Bluegrass

5:00 p.m.          Harmonious Wail, Gypsy swing and jazz

6:30 p.m.          Lonesome River Band, Bluegrass

Further information is available at http://midcontinent.org.

Patti Graham (dobro), Tony Hozeny (mandolin), and Mark Peterson (guitar) have spent many years playing and singing bluegrass and traditional country music. Their sound comes straight from the heart and features high lonesome vocals and harmonies, a driving beat, and tight instrumental passages. For more on Northern Comfort’s schedule see their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/northerncomfrt

You can get a head’s up on the band’s upcoming performances at their web site: http://www.sparetimebluegrass.com/

“It’s by far the best room in Chicago to see acoustic (or any) music,” the band proclaimed in a recent release.  ” There isn’t a single bad seat in the house and the acoustics are pristine.”

Opening for the Prowlers will be songwriter and clawhammer banjoist Mark Dvorak, one of the performers traveling with the Weavers tribute band Weavermania.

Go here to buy tickets online:  http://www.oldtownschool.org/concerts/2010/7/

You can also call them at 773-728-6000.

Shooting any video of your own this festival season? Don’t forget to let us know about it at swbmai@gmail.com!

SWBMAI member band Truman’s Ridge will be hosting a release party to celebrate the new Long Way Home CD.

The party will be at The House Café, 263 E. Lincoln Highway (route 38), Dekalb on Friday, June 11, from 6:00-8:30pm.

The band will perform music from Long Way Home and some other favorites. The band’s banjoist, Bruce Wallace, promises, “There will be cake!” For more information on the band’s upcoming schedule, see their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/trumansridge

Robert L. Doerschuk of All Things Strings says, “Missy Raines harbors different priorities. She has chops to burn, but that’s not as important to her as finding the right note, dropping it in the pocket, and either letting it ring or clipping it short to let the silence speak in the aftermath.”

Her band on this tour includes Ethan Ballinger, a protege of Matt Flinner, Dominick Leslie, and Robert Crawford on drums. See missyraines.com for much more info about Missy and her hot band.

For reservations and directions to the concert, call Jim or Nancy Nikora at 608-233-0150 or e- mail Nancy at nancy@blue-note.com. Make your reservations now as seating is limited.

Bobbie plays mandolin, and Bill plays guitar as they blend their old-time duet harmonies and sing traditional or more recent traditionally-flavored songs. The duo combine an encyclopedic knowledge of traditional country music with an authentic old-time vocal style. Bill Malone is the author of  Country Music USA, the first definitive history of country music, and hosts a weekly radio show on WORT community radio.

Prairie Coffeehouse offers live, acoustic music in the smoke-free, alcohol-free fellowship hall at Spring Prairie Lutheran Church, located at the intersection of County Highways C and DM in Keyeser, Wisconsin (near DeForest). There is no cover charge. The venue relies on freewill donations for performers and refreshments.