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

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.”

You can purchase the disc through CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheHenhouseProwlers . Or you can download the album on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/album/a-dark-rumor/id343345267?v0=9989&ign-mpt=uo=1 .

Liberty Bluegrass 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.”

You can listen to clips and purchase the CD at http://roundbend.com/cdinfopage.htm.

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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.

As many of you already know, Madison guitarist and singer-songwriter Jeff Hickey died yesterday morning, July 14, of injuries sustained in a car accident. All of us in the SWBMAI family send our condolences to Jeff’s family.

Jeff’s close friend, Maine musician Harvey Reid, is organizing a way to pay tribute to Jeff and help his family out in this time of need. He writes:

“I just returned from Wisconsin where did the best I could to say goodbye to Jeff and to help clean up the unfinished projects and details of his complicated, free-lance life style. In doing so I have come upon what I think is a perfect way to remember him and pay tribute to a fine man. Among the things in his house are a few hundred copies of his quite marvelous solo CD “Loose Ends” that he made at my studio in 2003. It is just Jeff playing guitar and singing, and it deservedly won the Madison Best Acoustic CD of the year award. I think it is a powerful recording, and one of the finest and most durable things he has left behind.  There was only one pressing of 1000 discs of it, and it is not clear if there will ever be another pressing done.

“I would like to lead an effort to encourage all those who loved him or enjoyed his company to express their condolences in a way that is consistent with Jeff’s lifelong love of music and participation in the underground “indie” music economy. Rather than sending something like flowers–

1) Buy his CD, or several…
2) Write a note to Terry or about Jeff — you can send it to me as an email or a PDF. I might try to put them up on a web or Facebook page, and maybe Terry or the kids can make a book out of them.”

You can find full instructions for buying a copy of Jeff Hickey’s “Loose Ends” and sending a message to his family at http://www.thirdhandcapo.com/jeff/