posted by dasspunk on May 1st, 2008
Two fabulous folks are featured at a barn dance this Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Folklore Village. Chirps Smith is one of the best old time fiddlers around and Dot Kent is a terrific dance caller. (Not to mention a fabulous Appalachian clogger).
The night begins with a potluck supper at 6:30 pm followed by music and moves that will get your feet moving and hearts groovin’. Chirps will be bringing some of his musical buddies for the band so get ready for a night filled with fantastic tunes and smiles!
Folklore Village (608-924-4000) is about 40 miles west of Madison and a few miles east of Dodgeville, 1/2 mile south of Hwy 18/151 on County Hwy BB. Google Map
posted by dasspunk on Apr 28th, 2008
By James Brockmith of The Liberty Bluegrass Band
posted by karensonn on Apr 23rd, 2008
That’s right, folks, SWBMAI is celebrating 25 years of bringing bluegrass to our community. To celebrate, we are sponsoring a special, one-of-a-kind, Bluegrass Boys Reunion Concert at Madison’s very own Sugar Maple Festival at Lake Farm Park. The Bluegrass Boys Reunion will take place on Saturday night, August 2nd. The musicians will include Mark Hembree on bass (from the Nob Hill Boys), Bob Black on banjo, and Tom Ewing on guitar, with special guest Mike Compton on mandolin. It will absolutely be a show not to be missed, and we are so thrilled it is going to take place in Madison!
The 1940’s lineup of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys has been termed the “original bluegrass band” with Bill on mandolin, Earl Scruggs on banjo, Lester Flatt on guitar, Chubby Wise on fiddle, and Howard Watts on bass. For more than half a century, several highly accomplished musicians played as Bluegrass Boys, and for many of them it was the highlight of their careers. Make sure to come and check out bluegrass in one of its purest forms around today at Sugar Maple.
posted by dasspunk on Apr 20th, 2008
Mental Detox Week - (formerly TV Turnoff (formerly TV-Free America)) serves as a reminder to cleanse the mental palate. For one week, April 21 to April 27, you are invited to celebrate in the analog world. Unplug, turn off the TVs, computers (Ed. - uh, this is blasphemy!), iPods, Blackberries, and cell phones. You don’t have to go cold turkey, just challenge yourself to cut back a little. In the evening, you watch your favorite show if you have to, but then you switch off, relax, read a book, take a walk, or maybe go for a pint with a friend.
It’s all about mental health. Recent studies have revealed a connection between our increasing use of a wide range of digital devices and growing stress levels and incidence of psychological disorders. Two out of three Americans suffer disconnection anxiety if they’re away from their gadgets even for a few minutes, and The American Journal of Psychiatry has classified excessive gaming, porn surfing, emailing, and text messaging as a compulsive impulse disorder. Unplugging for a week is a non-pharmaceutical method of protecting your sanity and well-being.
To Celebrate for mental detox week, John Fabke, host of “Pastures of Plenty” on WORT 89.9fm, will be doing a special all-live show from Mother Fools (1101 Williamson St, Madison) from 9am to noon on this Tuesday, April 22nd. The show will feature three excellent performers. You can join the fun at the coffeehouse or tune in on the radio. The guests will be:
- 9am-Award winning singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Tracy Jane Comer
- 10am-Midwestern fiddle master Chirps Smith
- 11am-Wisconsin treasures Bruce Bollerud and George Gilbertson (of the Goose Island Ramblers)
posted by IHeartGrass on Apr 10th, 2008
Bluegrass and Gambling – now there’s a combination! And if you’re looking for both in a north woods setting, you should mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26th. That’s when Don Rigsby and Midnight Call will be at the LCO Casino in Hayward.
Kicking the show off at 7:00 p.m. will be Hand Picked Bluegrass Band from Tomahawk. Don takes the stage at 8:00 pm. The music then moves to the lounge where Hand Picked will finish the evening (and hopes to talk a few members of the Midnight Call on stage to join them!). For more information, go to www.lcocasino.com
posted by dasspunk on Apr 7th, 2008
SpareTime Bluegrass Band will accompany Middleton school children in grades 1 though 5 at the Middleton High School for “An Evening of Front Porch Songs”. This is the choir recital, free to the public, and will begin about 6:15 p.m. on Monday April 7, 2008.
Raelynn Bodell, the Middleton Elementary music teacher who is leading the chorus has been emphasizing American folk music this year with the students. SpareTime was asked to come in and provide the musical accompaniment to the tunes. As Jim Robarts of the band said, “It gives us an opportunity to work in the schools and expose the students to acoustic instruments and music. Nothing bad can come of that.”
Middleton High School is at 2100 Bristol St, Middleton, WI
posted by dasspunk on Mar 3rd, 2008
This year’s SWBMAI Bluegrass Jamboree is just around the corner! Saturday, April 19th from 12:30 to 7pm at the High Noon Saloon, the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. hosts their annual fundraiser show. Come on down and pick a few with fellow members and help support Bluegrass music in Wisconsin. See some pictures from last years Jamboree.
Bring your instruments and jam from 12:30am to 3pm. Then sit back and enjoy some of the best Bluegrass in Wisconsin! This year’s jamboree features:
3pm John Fabke and the Lonseome Aces
4pm Sparetime Bluegrass
5pm Hand Picked Bluegrass w/ Paul Kienitz and Brian Ray
6pm Jefferson County
General Admission $12 ($10 for SWBMAI Members and Students with ID) Children under 12 FREE! The High Noon Saloon 701 E. Washington Ave, Madison, WI
SWBMAI Street Team:4pm Sparetime Bluegrass
5pm Hand Picked Bluegrass w/ Paul Kienitz and Brian Ray
6pm Jefferson County
Help spread the word about Bluegrass by printing and handing out a few posters in your neck of the woods! Posting a few at work, your local library, coffee shop, book store, restaurant, etc…. You can download the poster:
PDF (8.5″ x 14″ high quality) or JPEG (6″ x 11″ good quality).
SWBMAI would like to again offer their thanks the following folks for their generous contributions:
Paul Kienitz, Jon Peik, Sharon, Manion, Jim & JoAnne Robarts, John Fabke, Mike Schmidt, The International Bluegrass Music Association, Richelieu Banjos, MBOTMA, Bluegrass Unlimited, Good Stuff PR Co., The Shoe Box, Intelligentsia Coffee, Spruce Tree Music, Madison Music, Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective, The High 48s, Supreme Pizza, Above the Town, Rounder Records, Lanes Lutherie, BK Productions, Hand Picked Bluegrass, Jefferson County Bluegrass Band, Randy Wilson
Paul Kienitz, Jon Peik, Sharon, Manion, Jim & JoAnne Robarts, John Fabke, Mike Schmidt, The International Bluegrass Music Association, Richelieu Banjos, MBOTMA, Bluegrass Unlimited, Good Stuff PR Co., The Shoe Box, Intelligentsia Coffee, Spruce Tree Music, Madison Music, Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective, The High 48s, Supreme Pizza, Above the Town, Rounder Records, Lanes Lutherie, BK Productions, Hand Picked Bluegrass, Jefferson County Bluegrass Band, Randy Wilson
posted by dasspunk on Feb 27th, 2008
by Brian Ray
For the past couple of weeks I’ve had the good fortune to be running around Australia with mandolinist Mike Compton. This was especially nice as I missed the last few weeks of snow and cold, and instead, was enjoying Australia’s summer of blue skies and 80˚ weather. I joined Mike onstage for a few numbers each night and was able capture a bit of video from the show in Margaret River, Australia. To say the trip was absolutely fantastic is an almost criminal understatement!
posted by dasspunk on Feb 8th, 2008
With the forecast of snow, gusting winds, plummeting temperatures and white out conditions for Saturday night, we have to cancel the concert. We are looking into the option of rescheduling, but as of now have no dates. If you have purchased tickets, please call us at (608) 924-4000 to receive your refund.
Liz Carroll and John Doyle will be performing Saturday, February 9, at Folklore Village, 7:30 p.m. Liz is an All-Ireland Champion fiddler and a National Hertiage Fellowship recipient. John, is one of the original members of the Irish ensemble Solas, as well as an occasional member of Tim O’Brien’s band. This show is highly recommend, as are reservations (it’s currently almost sold out).
posted by dasspunk on Feb 4th, 2008
The award winning Nob Hill Boys will be performing at the historic Stoughton Opera House, 381 E. Main Street in Stoughton, WI on Friday, February 22nd at 7:30pm. This will be the first show of their 10th anniversary season! The Stoughton area group, The Llama Mamas will open the evening’s festivities.
Tickets are $12 and $14. To order tickets, call the Stoughton Opera House at (608) 877-4400 or visit the city’s official website, www.cityofstoughton.com







