posted by scottknick on Aug 29th, 2010
SWBMAI’s newest member band, the Mad City Jug Band, will perform an evening of jug band and hokum music at the Wild Hog in the Woods this coming Friday, Sept. 3rd, starting at 8:00 p.m.
The Mad City Jug Band was formed in December 2009 for the SWBMAI’s Got Talent show, where they won the Audience Favorite award. They were one of 20 bands to receive a coveted spot at the 2010 Battle of the Jug Bands in February. The band loves the jug band sound and is dedicated to preserving the classic repertoire from the 1920s, as well has the hits from the jug band revival of the 1960s.
Band members include Dave Bacholl (Bass); Arvid Berge (Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals); Denise Berge (Washboard); Beverly Hills (Kazoo, Guitar, Vocals); Scott Knickelbine (Jug, Banjo, Vocals); Amy McNally (Fiddle, Vocals) Dave Nance (Dobro, National Steel, Vocals); and Catherine Rhyner (Mandolin, Vocals).
Wild Hog In The Woods performances are held at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, 953 Jenifer St. in Madison. A $5 cover benefits the Wild Hog in the Woods.
posted by scottknick on Aug 25th, 2010
The band that has dominated the Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart for the past half year is coming to Madison’s Orton Park Festival, thanks to a grant from SWBMAI. The Carolina Chocolate Drops will perform at 7:00 pm Saturday, August 28.
The San Franciso Weekly raved: “The Carolina Chocolate Drops are something else. First, they’re black. Yes, African-American. What? You never heard of black country folksong? “Negro” string bands go way back. We’re talking pre-Civil War, pre-Revolution even, when African slaves brought the banjo to the colonies, paired it with the European violin, and voila! The first New World mashup: dance music, American style.”
And the New York Times wrote: “They dip into styles of Southern black music from the 1920s and ’30s — string-band music, jug-band music, fife and drum, early jazz — and beam their curiosity outward. They make short work of their instructive mission and spend their energy on things that require it: flatfoot dancing, jug playing, shouting.”
The Carolina Chocolate Drops will highlight the free, four-day festival, where talented local performers will join with celebrated musicians from around the nation and the world to create a musical tapestry of the highest order. Bluegrass and country bands performing include Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women (featuring dobro virtuoso Cindy Cashdollar), Getaway Drivers, Robert J and the Rowdy Prairie Dogs, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, and many more. International acts include Razia Said (NYC/Madagascar), and Monika and Christian Nieves (Puerto Rico). Click here for the full schedule.
Admission to the festival is free; are encouraged festival-goers to leave their coolers at home and support the free festival by purchasing food and beverages benefiting the Wil-Mar Center and Marquette Neighborhood Association.
posted by Jim Knobloch on Aug 9th, 2010
On Saturday, August 14, The Gibson Brothers will perform at the Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts in Marshfield.
The Gibson Brothers are the best brother duo to hit bluegrass music in years – maybe decades. Combining the high lonesome sounds of Bill & Charlie Monroe with the sweet harmonies of Phil & Don Everly, The Gibson Brothers apply great heart to the bluegrass music they so clearly love to make. Their newest album, Ring the Bell, continues their tradition of telling poignant, soulful tales of rural life.
“They have it all: lead vocals, brother-duet harmony, instrumental virtuosity, ensemble sensibilities, and great original material.” – Chris Stuart, Bluegrass Unlimited
Tickets are $15. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 show. To purchase advance tickets or for more information call 715-389-8999 or visit www.chestnutARTS.org. The Arts Center is located downtown at 208 S. Chestnut Avenue on the corner of 3rd Street and Chestnut Avenue.
Opening for The Gibson Brothers will be Forest Ridge, a favorite Central Wisconsin bluegrass band featuring Larry Finseth (guitar), Roman Stauber (mandolin), Mary Pimblett (upright bass), Bill Kroepel (banjo), and Gene Koch (fiddle).
Following the show, Forest Ridge will host an informal bluegrass jam. Everyone is invited, musicians and listeners alike. Bring your instruments!
posted by scottknick on Jul 21st, 2010
SWBMAI member band the Nob Hill Boys will give a free concert tomorrow night, July 22, at Harriet Park in Verona, WI, starting at 6:00 pm.
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.
posted by scottknick on Jun 23rd, 2010
SWBMAI Member Band Northern Comfort makes its debut at the Memorial Union Terrace in Madison on Thursday, June 24, starting at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
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
posted by scottknick on Jun 17th, 2010
SWBMAI member band The Henhouse Prowlers are celebrating their sixth anniversary with a special concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Saturday, July 17th starting at 7:30 p.m.
“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.
posted by scottknick on Jun 6th, 2010
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
posted by scottknick on Apr 22nd, 2010
Door County’s historic White Gull Inn will be the venue for a concert by the popular Chicago-based bluegrass group The Special Consensus Wednesday, April 28th. Fans can combine the concert with a special prix fixe dinner and even an overnight stay.
The Special Consensus has been touring the US and internationally. It has appeared on The Nashville Network “Fire On The Mountain” show, toured for three seasons as 4/5 of the cast in the musical Cotton Patch Gospel (music and lyrics by Harry Chapin), and released fourteen recordings.
The Special Consensus repertoire features original compositions by band members and professional songwriters (such as “Dusk ‘Til Dawn” and “Margarita Breakdown”). The repertoire also includes traditional bluegrass standards (songs by Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, etc.) and songs by artists from other musical genres (such as “Blue Skies” by Irving Berlin).
Tickets for the 8pm show are $15. An optional Pre-concert Dinner served at 6 PM will feature Chicken Marsala with shitake mushrooms, green onions, and linguine, garlic herb Focaccia, spring greens salad, rhubarb torte for dessert. Fixed price is $18.95.
Several room packages are available for concert goers who would like to linger in Fish Creek. These include a Spring two-night package (includes a free dinner) and a three-nights-for-the-price-of-two package. For those who can only stay the night of the concert, The White Gull Inn offers a special package which includes two free tickets to the concert with a one night stay.
To buy concert tickets, make dinner reservations or take advantage of one of the room packages, call the White Gull Inn toll free at 800-624-1987. Orders are taken daily between 7:30 AM and 8:30 PM.
Editor’s Note: The Special Consensus will also be playing at Folklore Village in Dodgeville April 30, starting at 7:30 PM. More information here.
best way to buy concert tickets, or make dinner reservations that night, or take advantage of one of the packages is to call our toll free number, 800-624-1987. We answer it daily between 7:30 AM and 8:30 PM.
posted by scottknick on Apr 13th, 2010
Come see seven-time IBMA bass player of the year, Missy Raines, and her band, the New Hip, perform in an intimate setting, Sunday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. This incredible musician has surrounded herself with the best up and coming talent to form a band that creates a fusing of bluegrass virtuosity, jazz-tinged groove and a song-driven sensibility.
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.
posted by scottknick on Apr 9th, 2010
Bobby Osborne and Bill Malone will feature in a great evening of bluegrass entertainment tonight, April 9, at Madison’s Overture Center.
Bill Malone, Madison’s encyclopedia of American music, will talk on the Rotunda Stage at 6:45 about the origins and meaning of bluegrass music along with special comments about the Osborne Brothers. A few recorded selections of songs will illustrate Malone’s main points. Comments and questions from the audience are welcome.The session is free.
That’s sure to put you in the mood to head upstairs to Capitol Theater at 8:00 for the American Bluegrass Masters Tour, starring Bobby Osborne. In addition to leading a family steeped in musical legacy in its own right, Bobby is the last living person who actually performed alongside the great Bill Monroe. Come for the living history or just the foot-stompin’, knee-slappin’ rhythms.
Tickets for the Bobby Osborne concert may be purchased on line at the Overture Center web site or by calling the Overture box office at 608-258-4141.
SWBMAI’s newest member band, the Mad City Jug Band, will perform an evening of jug band and hokum music at the Wild Hog in the Woods this coming Friday, Sept. 3rd, starting at 8:00 p.m.