SWBMAI member band (This is the) Squirrel Hunters played their debut show this past Sunday at the Roxbury Tavern in Roxbury, WI and will play this weekend at the Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival. This self described “traditional Bluegrass co-op” is based around Madison and includes members from other area Bluegrass bands: Bob Batyko and Lorie Docken, from the Sparetime Bluegrass Band; brothers Brian and Sean Ray, from the Brothers Ray; and Mr. Paul Kienitz, from the Nob Hill Boys.

From the band’s bio: “We make regular musical forays outside the protective walls of Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs, but always with caution, and never without a long rifle.”

The band’s debut was capped by Tom, owner and proprieter at the Roxbury Tavern, cooking up a delicious squirrel stew for the boys (and Lorie). There are some pictures from the show including stew shots! There is also video of the event available on the band’s website and on YouTube… case in point:

Dot’s Tavern is well known to the folks down around Belleville, WI. It’s been in operation for more than 60 years. You won’t find it online or google maps… but you’ll find it in the basement of an old house if you turn off HWY 69 onto Henry Rd. in Basco, Montrose, WI.

I found it last night for the first time… but it won’t be the last! Hand Picked Bluegrass and Jefferson County Bluegrass Band where playing and it was quite the time. I took a few pictures with my phone. I apologize for the quality, but you’ll get the idea from them.

A fine time was had by all at this past Saturday’s Bluegrass Picnic Jam. There were some new faces as well as old… beer, pizza and pickin’ were all on the menu! Our new SWBMAI T-shirts also made an appearance…

We’d like to thank the Capital Brewery and the Roman Candle Pizzaria for their contributions to the event. Feel free to take a peek at some of the photos up in the photo section. If you missed it this year, you’ll have your chance to come again next year!

Here are some pictures from the Greendale Banjo and Fiddle Contest this past Saturday. The weather was great and the folks watching were very entertained. The Liberty Bluegrass Band provided a short performance and a jam followed the contest.

Congratulations to the contest winners:

The banjo winner was Dan Waltham of Hales Corners, WI
The fiddle winner was Ben Sanders of New Berlin, WI

The Jamboree was a great success this year! There was a lot of fabulous music and many thanks must go out to our Members, Donors, Bands, Volunteers and Board members!

Feel free to take a peek at some pictures from the show! If you’d like, you can comment here on the show and/or send us your own pictures you’d like to share. As always, please contact us if you have any questions and thanks again everyone for supporting local Bluegrass!

While preparing for this year’s Bluegrass Jamboree (which is only a few weeks away!), we ran across these pictures from the 2006 Jamboree. Last year’s Jamboree was a great time. Beautiful weather for jamming on the patio, a large variety of items to choose from for the raffle and the best Bluegrass music in one day in one place for 7 hours. Thank you everyone, for making this a great day for our once a year fund-raiser.

And we are going to do even better this year!

Come and enjoy the fine hospitality of the High Noon Saloon, the tasty music from EIGHT BANDS, all day! Raffles, all day, offering quality items donated for just his occasion - a hand-made suede mandolin strap, gift certificates from all over Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, CDs from our Member Bands and so much more. Not only that, but the Ultimate Bluegrass Quilt will be on display at the Jamboree and you will see why we are so thrilled by this creation. All this and the chance to jam on the patio, visit with old friends, meet new ones and have a fun day of Bluegrass Music with the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association - all this and more on April 21 from Noon to 8 pm. All of this at the low, low (low) price of $10.00 at the door and young ‘grassers come in free with their adult mentors.

Take a peek at some photos from the Winter Bluegrass Show at the Cuda Cafe. The show was this past Saturday and the joint was jumpin’! The Cuda is just a short drive down the beltline from Madison and makes for a great Bluegrass venue. Keep an eye out for future shows at the Cuda on our calendar.

There are a few pictures from Winter Bluegrass Weekend this last weekend in Plymouth, MN. It was a great fest and fine time was had by all. The jams went on till the wee hours and there was obviously more picking that photo taking…