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.

The Lonesome River Band and SWBMAI Member Band Above the Town will provide the musical highlights for the fourth annual Gandy Dancer Festival on the Promenade in historic Mazomanie, Wis. this Saturday, August 21.  Free and open to the public, this popular family event is truly a day-long festival featuring an array of activities with something of interest for every family member.

Headlining this year’s music festival is the Lonesome River Band. The band’s career spans 25 years and includes multiple awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. And their current album, “No Turning Back”, was number one on Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine’s Top 15 Album Chart for an impressive three months.

Show times for the musical performances on the main stage are:

• Queens of Harmony (African-American Gospel) – 11:00am
• Above the Town (Bluegrass) – 12:30pm
• The DitchLilies (American Roots Music) – 2:00pm
• Cork ‘n Bottle String Band (Bluegrass) – 3:30pm
• Harmonious Wail (Gypsy Swing, Jazz) – 5:00pm
• Lonesome River Band (Bluegrass) – 6:30pm

Programs and show times in the Exhibits tent are:

• Dave Landau (music for kids) – 12:00pm
• Bobbie Malone (history detective program for kids) – 1:00pm
• Dave Landau (music for kids) – 2:30pm
• Meet the Headliners: Lonesome River Band – 3:00pm
• Bluegrass Jam led by Above the Town – 3:30pm
• (bring your own instrument and sit in with the pros)
• Mid-Continent Railway Museum store – all day.
• Gandy Dancer Festival T-shirt sales – all day

Also taking place around the Promenade:

• Jacob Mills (Juggling) – times vary.
• Dave Lee (Gandy Dancer demonstration) – all day.
• Museum for the Milwaukee Road – all day.
• Mazomanie Historical Society – all day.
• Food and beverages by local vendors and service clubs – all day

Activities along Brodhead Street include:

• Center For Movement Arts (open studio) – all day
• Cornerstone Carriages (Hay wagon rides) – 1:00pm – 3:00pm.
• Cross Plains Lion’s Club (Mini-Train) – all day.

By Dave Nance

This is a reminder that the 3rd Tuesday Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam, sponsored by SWBMAI (Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association), and hosted by yours truly, Dave Nance, will be held this coming Tuesday evening, August 17, 2010.   I’ll be there by 7:30 P.M.

Unfortunately, the Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam is losing its space in the Germania Parlor of the Up North Bar.  The bakery is going to be kept open later, and so the space is no longer available.

For the month of August, we will be allowed to continue, but we will meet in Banquet Room K in the Essen Haus, right next door.  To get to this location, you should enter thru the Essen Haus entrance and look for Banquet Room K.

Beginning in September, we will be homeless (sniff!) – unless we can find a new space somewhere. At this Tuesday night’s festivities, we can discuss ideas for finding a new space.

Please note: The management and staff of Essen Haus/Up North Bar have been very generous in allowing us to use the Germania Parlor space for the last year at no charge. Please thank them when you see them.

____________________________________________________________________________

SONG IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK:  I guess the topical theme is pretty obvious.  Sigh.  Oh, well, let’s sing while the singin’ is good!  Charts for these songs can be found at my Tuesday Night Beginners’ Jam webpage at http://webpages.charter.net/dnance/songs/ .

All The Good Times Are Passed And Gone – 3/4 time, Key of G  – chords:  G  C  D
Gotta Travel On – 4/4 time, Key of G – chords:  G   G7   C   D
I Ain’t Got No Home In This World Anymore – 4/4 time, Key of A – chords:   A   D   E
I Am A Pilgrim – 4/4 time, Key of D -  chords:   D  D7   G   A
I’m Comin, Back But I Don’t Know When – 4/4 time, Key of A – chords  A   D   E
Wayfaring Stranger -  4/4 time, Key of  Em — chords  Em    Am   B7   C   G

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
_____________________________

By Mary Helmke

Dear Fellow Jammers, Friends and Members,

We have been having a lot of success with our Tuesday Jams. A lot of people attending – thank you!

A lot of good music – thanks again. And fine instructors to help make this an extra special feature offered by the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association.

As Blanche DuBois said, ‘…I have always depended on the kindness of strangers’. So it is with our Tuesday jams. These jams have always been housed through the kindness of businesses in the area. They have allowed us to be there, making music and having fun, for no charge. The Association cannot begin to thank these wonderful proprietors enough for their generosity, especially in such difficult financial times.

The beautiful Germania is no longer available to us. The Lakeside Bakery /Deli has had the opportunity to extend their hours of business and need the space for customer seating in the Germania.

In the meantime, the management of the complex is allowing us space in the Essen Haus (Room K) for the remainder of August. This is a kindness are very grateful for.

But this leaves the jam ‘homeless’ as of September 1.

We are already short on Board Members and so are turning to you for assistance in finding a place where we can continue these jams.

Tuesdays were chosen originally because the first Tuesday has been when Jon Peik is in town and can stop after a day of teaching at Spruce Tree. The remaining local instructors have rearranged their schedules to accommodate this teaching opportunity each month.

The Place we would like to relocate to:

• Need not be fancy or even have food/beverage service. All we ask is that we can bring in our bottles of water.

• Needs to have enough lighting to see, bathroom facilities, heat and if possible, air conditioning. Or windows with screens.

• Chairs would be nice, but if that is not possible, we can each bring our own.

• Needs parking relatively convenient.

It would be nice to have it in Madison, so bus service can be utilized, but if this is not possible – we can probably work things out amongst ourselves.

It would be preferable to have this haven at no charge. Or it can be placed for discussion with the Board – which will have the final decision.

We have less than a month to find somewhere – if we want to keep these popular jams going, we all need to work together.

Please send suggestions, ideas, etc. to me at helmkemary6@gmail.com or call 608-838-4852. Please leave a message if I cannot pick up. I will present all responses to the SWBMAI Board.

Thank you,
Mary Helmke
Secretary, SWBMAI

By Mary Helmke

You want to do some jamming? You want to have some fun?

On Saturday and Sunday, September 4th and 5th, the SWBMAI is hosting music in the Pavilion at the Rock River Thresheree in Edgerton.

Jamming will be from 10am to 12pm and again from 3pm to 5pm on both days. For an added extra special treat, we will be having Member Bands playing – 3 each day – from 12-3pm! A sampler for folks who may not know about our music. Mark this event on your calendars and watch for updates!

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our association table – selling our raffle tickets, giving folks Membership Forms and just plain meeting people and having a nice time. Let me know if you want to join in the fun: Mary Helmke helmkemary6@gmail.com or 608-838-4852.

By Jon Peik

This month’s first-Tuesday facilitated Beginner Bluegrass Jam will once again be held at the Germania parlor area (youth friendly) of The Up North Bar, 514 E Wilson St. Madison, near the Essen Haus at the corner of Blair and Wilson streets. Plenty of free parking behind the Essen Haus.

Formal instruction and facilitation will run from approximately 7:30-8:30pm (as soon as I get there after my lessons at Spruce Tree Music)

The Jam is sponsored by the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association. A $5 donation is requested, but not required. Check out www.swbmai.org for all things bluegrass in Wisconsin!

This month we will highlight the key of A and start with the following songs and then go around the circle with song suggestions from you (in any key you’d like). So bring a song to sing or suggest.

• 9 lb Hammer, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
• Bury Me Beneath the Willow, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
• I Saw the Light, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
• My Home’s across the Blue Ridge Mountains, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
• She’ll Be Comin Round the Mountain, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
• Cripple Creek, Key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)

Tuesday jam Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=263735051942

By Dave Nance

Hey all, this is a reminder about this week’s (3rd) Tuesday Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam, to be held this coming Tuesday, July 20, at 7:30 PM   I’ve pulled together some song ideas, and I have the charts in .pdf  format this month.  Also, here are some links to nice youtube versions of these songs -just click thru to see (& hear!) ‘em.

Blue Moon Of Kentucky – 3/4 time, Key of A – chords:  A  A7  D  E   [version, in C, by: Bill Monroe]

Down The Road – 4/4 time, Key of G — chords:  G   Em    D  (my chart’s in “A” – but let’s do it in “G“)       [version, in G, by: Dwight Yoakam]

If I Lose – 4/4 time, Key of A – chords:  A   D   E       [youtube version, in B, by: Ralph Stanley]

Jimmie Brown The Newsboy – 4/4 time, Key of G – chords:  G   D     (my chart’s in “A” – but let’s do it in “G“)   [version, in G, by: Flatt & Scruggs]

My Home’s Across The Blue Ridge Mountains – 4/4 time, Key of G – chords:  G    D     [version, in F, by: The Carter Family]

Trouble In Mind – 4/4 time, Key of G – chords:  G   G7  C   D        [version, in E, by: Johnny Cash]

I’d be glad to hear any suggestions or requests you may have for any additional songs you’d like to try out or work on.  You can send them to me by return e-mail, or by going to my contact page page.  Or just bring your ideas on Tuesday!

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

The Lonesome River Band will headline the 4^th Annual Gandy Dancer Festival on Saturday, August 21 in Mazomanie.  Sammy Shelor, a four-time IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, leads the band along with Andy Ball (mandolin), Brandon Rickman (rhythm guitar), Mike Anglin (bass), and Mike Hartgrove (fiddle).  They will appear at an informal “meet the headliner” session at 3:00 p.m. and there will be a Bluegrass jam led by Above the Town at 3:30.  The complete main stage music schedule is listed below.

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.

As our primary fundraising activity this year, SWBMAI is conducting a Wisconsin Class A raffle for valuable prizes generously donated by area businesses and private individuals. Raffle tickets are available in different colors for a chance to win specific prizes:

Blue Tickets – Fiddle ($525 value, with bow and case) donated by Lane Venden (www.laneslutherie.com) plus two violin lessons with Wisconsin State Fiddle Champion, Shauncey Ali.

Yellow Tickets – Paul Woolson Guitar (www.WoolsonSoundCraft.com) – $3000 value, solid Koa body, spruce top with case – plus four guitar lessons by Bob Westphal.

Green Tickets – Your choice of: Hand-sewn quilts donated by Sharon Manion & Mary Jo Brechtl; Digital video recorder ($150 value) donated by Bruce Brechtl; Hand-braided leather mandolin strap ($100 value) donated by Debra Amesqua; or Two mandolin lessons with Simms Delaney-Pottoff. First green ticket drawn wins choice of prizes, second green ticket gets choice of remaining prizes, etc.

Raffle tickets – $5 each or five for $20 (in any combination of ticket colors) – may be purchased from members of the SWBMAI Board of Directors and key volunteers at area jams and festivals. Tickets are also available at Lane’s Lutherie (4269 W. Beltline Hwy) in Madison. The drawing will be held at 8:00 P.M. on December 6, 2010, at the Dry Bean Saloon (5264 Verona Road) in Madison during the Monday Night Jam and Open Mic. Thanks for your support and good luck in the SWBMAI Raffle!

You need not be present to win. Raffle winnings are taxable income and subject to reporting as required by law. Purchase of raffle tickets is not tax-deductible.

By Jon Peik

Here’s the info for this month’s first-Tuesday facilitated Beginner Bluegrass Jam.

Tuesday, 7/6/10 from 7:30-9:00pm at the Germania parlor area (youth friendly) of The Up North Bar, 514 E Wilson St. Madison, near the Essen Haus at the corner of Blair and Wilson streets. Plenty of free parking behind the Essen Haus.

Formal instruction and facilitation will run from approximately 7:30-8:30pm (as soon as I get there after my lessons at Spruce Tree Music)

The Jam is sponsored by the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association. A $5 donation is requested, but not required.

This month we will start with the following songs and then go around the circle with song suggestions from you. So bring a song to sing or suggest.

She’ll Be Comin Round the Mountain, Key of G (3 chords, G, C, & D)

You Are My Sunshine, Key of G (3 chords, G, C, & D)