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!

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.

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.

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)

You can get a head’s up on the band’s upcoming performances at their web site: http://www.sparetimebluegrass.com/

Shooting any video of your own this festival season? Don’t forget to let us know about it at swbmai@gmail.com!

Audie has enjoyed a long career in bluegrass music, and has received a multitude of honors and awards including: Male Vocalist nomination; IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year; a Grammy® nomination for “Best Bluegrass Album” and an IBMA nomination for Recorded Event of the Year for “A Tribute to Jimmy Martin: The King of Bluegrass.”

The rest of this year’s lineup features an exciting mix of great local and regional bluegrass bands.  Friday night’s lineup will include the Mecan River Ramblers and the Bluegrass Tribute Band.  On Saturday the music starts in the afternoon with Oak Street Ramblers.  The Ramblers are followed by the Old Tin Can String Band, the Pike Creek, the Spare Time Bluegrass Band, Truman’s Ridge, and headliner Audie Blaylock & Redline.

New this year, the Festival will host a Sunday morning Gospel lineup featuring Jerry Wicentowski & Lucky Break.  Also playing sets on Sunday are the Krause Family Band and the James Creek Road.

Once again, rough camping is available with a campfire jam, in our beautiful 15 acre Legion Park. The Festival is a short 20 minute drive south of Madison.  To learn more about the Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival please visit www.brooklynbluegrassfestival.com.
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Reminder: (3rd) TUESDAY NIGHT BEGINNER’S BLUEGRASS JAM
MAY 18, 2009 – 7:30 PM

Hey everybody! Here’s a reminder about this week’s (3rd) Tuesday Beginner’s Bluegrass Jam.

You’ll probably notice a theme when you look at these titles for songs I’ve picked to try out on this month’s Third Tuesday. That’s right, I’m doing some traveling. First, in May, out to the east coast; then, in June, out to Colorado. Matter of fact, I’ll be arriving back from the first one of my trips late on the afternoon of the next scheduled Third Tuesday jam, which will be May 18 — I expect to be in on time, but just in case the gods of travel don’t smile on me, don’t worry if I’m a little late…

Have any songs about traveling you enjoy, or would like to try? Bring ‘em along!

A Lonesome Road To Travel – 3/4 time, Key of D — chords: D D7 G A

Gotta Travel On – 4/4 time, Key of G — chords: G G7 C D

Mighty Dark To Travel – 4/4 time, Key of A — chords: A D E

Traveling This Lonesome Road – 4/4 time, Key of G — chords: G D

I Am A Pilgrim – 4/4 time, Key of D — chords: D D7 G A

(Live links to charts for these songs can be found at:
http://webpages.charter.net/dnance/songs/ )

February’s first-Tuesday facilitated Beginner Bluegrass Jam will meet Tuesday, 2/2/10 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. There’s 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)

This month we will start with the following songs. If we have time we will also go around the circle with song suggestions from you.

Take Me Back to Tulsa, key of G, (2 chords, G, D); My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mts, key of G, (2 chords, G, D); Crawdad Song, key of G (3 chords, G, C, D); Long Journey Home, Key of G, (3 chords G, C, D); Nine lb Hammer, Key of G, (3 chords, G, C, D); Cripple Creek, key of A, instrumental (3 chords, A, D, E); Sitting Alone in the Moonlight -key of G, waltz time (4 chords, G, C, D, & Gb).

Jon writes: “This month we will go around the circle with song suggestions from you-so please bring a song to suggest and share. Remember if you sing it, you get to pick the key.  Instrumentals are also welcome.”