Minnesota Bluegrass June 2015

MBOTMA Hot Line(to subscribe and for other information)612-285-9133 or 800-635-3037 [email protected]. Box 16408, Mpls, MN 55416www.minnesotabluegrass.org Twitter: @mnbluegrass Facebook: minnesotabluegrass

MBOTMA Board of DirectorsPresident: Peter Albrecht, [email protected] President: Jana Metge, 952-996-6490, [email protected]: Sandi Pidel Secretary: Mary DuShaneBoard Members: Term expires 2015: Marilyn Bergum, Gary Germond, Greg Landkamer, Quillan RoeTerm expires 2016: Alan Jesperson, Philip Nusbaum, David SmithYouth Representatives: Sarah Cagley, Catie Jo PidelFor meeting minutes and other Board business, go to: minnesotabluegrass.org/as_Board

MBOTMA StaffExecutive Director: Jed Malischke, 715-635-2479Administrative Assistant: Bea Flaming, 612-285-9133

Minnesota BluegrassEditor: JoAnne Makela, [email protected]: Mike Birkeland, Bob Bovee, John Chabot, Bob Dodd, Ann Iijima, James Kent, Jed Malischke, Phil NusbaumComing Up: Loretta SimonetY’All Come: Bill LindroosWordmark: Katryn ConlinPhotography: Tony Allison, Steve Chollar, Darwin Davidson, Maria Duff, Jen ShafferCover image: from crossovertouring.com/hot-rize

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Minnesota Bluegrass is published monthly by The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association™, a Minnesota nonprofit corporation, P.O. Box 16408, Mpls, MN 55416. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without writ-ten permission from the publisher. The publisher is not respon-sible for the loss or return of unsolicited photos, recordings, or manuscripts. ©2015 Minnesota Bluegrass. All rights reserved. ISBN 0891-0537.

Thank you, MBOTMA members

Sustaining:Rod & Barb AndersonPaul AshworthFred BoyerMark & Erdyne BriereBill & Ann BushnellSusan Christensen-WichmannDan & Marilyn CookBrian CornellBob & Vicki DalagerHal DavisDoug DuncanMary DuShaneMatt EdwardsGarry & Linda ElfstrandJennifer FaulknerMark & Kathleen FisherNathan Fjeld Jim FranczykWarren GumesonTimothy & Ginger HaalandMary & Fred Harms James HeligThomas Hollenhorst &

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June 2015Vol. 41No. 4Newsstand: $3Subscription: $35

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Membership as of May 1, 2015: 1,015

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Become a MemberThe Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association is open to everyone. Our members include people who love to listen to music and people who love to make music. As a member, you’ll be invited to participate in bluegrass and old-time music events and celebrations. You’ll receive discounted prices on admission to events and merchandise, and you’ll receive 12 issues of Minnesota Bluegrass magazine.

Becoming a member of MBOTMA is easy and affordable. Your membership will not only nurture your own interests, but help to ensure that the bluegrass and old-time music tradition is sustained and grows in Minnesota.

Funding for MBOTMA provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and private donors.

The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA) will host the annual Minnesota Bluegrass Duet Championships on Friday and Saturday September 4 & 5, 2015, at the West End Market stage of the Minnesota State Fair. These fun-to-see-and-hear music contests focus on roots-style acoustic music and are divided into two categories: vocal (with stringed accompaniment) on Friday and instrumental on Saturday. Contestants will perform selections in traditional acoustic old-time, bluegrass, country, or western swing style. There will be tough decisions for the judges, and great enter-tainment for 2015 Minnesota State Fair goers. Look for more information on contestant registration in future Minnesota Bluegrass issues, or contact [email protected].

Minnesota Bluegrass Vocal Duet Championship, Friday, September 4 The Minnesota Bluegrass Vocal Duet Championship will present vocal musical performances by two individuals for two voices accompanied by one or two acoustic stringed instruments. Entrants will perform selections in tradi-tional roots style: acoustic old-time, bluegrass, country, or west-ern swing. Entrants will prepare three vocal duet numbers: two numbers for the preliminary round, and one number for the championship round should the entrants be selected as finalists. Scoring will be based on vocal phrasing, singing and playing in tune, timing, instrumental skills, and presentation.

Minnesota Bluegrass Instrumental Duet Championship, Saturday, September 5 The Minnesota Bluegrass Instrumental Duet Championship will judge instrumental musical performances presented by two individuals with two acoustic stringed instruments. Entrants will perform selections in traditional roots style: acoustic old-time, bluegrass, country, or western swing. Performances will be instrumental with no vocals. Entrants will prepare four instrumental duet numbers: two for the preliminary round, and two for the championship round should the entrants be selected as finalists. Scoring will be based on instrumental creativity and phrasing, playing in tune, timing, instrumental skills, and presentation.

Roots Music picking and singing contests at the State Fair

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Cover

Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival 2015 Volume 1: Bluegrass Central!By Ann Iijima

As MBOTMA celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival will trace MBOTMA’s music from its roots to its newest branches, from veteran perform-ers to the new kids on the block. This month, Minnesota Bluegrass focuses on the festival’s bluegrass offerings. In July, its focus will turn to the festival’s old-time/traditional offerings, includ-ing both music and dance. In August, the spotlight will be on related musical genres and the wide variety of programs available off the Main Stage, including workshops, showcases, and programs for the kids.

Hot Rize: Reunited and it feels so good!

A few of you heard Hot Rize when they came through town last year. I missed them and afterwards heard a lot of: “I can’t believe you weren’t there; it was the best concert I’ve ever been to!” (The swelling on my forehead from banging it against the wall is nearly gone. Thanks for asking.) So I was thrilled to learn that Hot Rize will be joining us in August.

It didn’t take long after Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Nick Forster, and Charles Sawtelle first appeared onstage together in 1978 for the bluegrass music world to realize that the Colorado band, Hot Rize, was something special. And by the time they bowed off the stage as a full-time act in 1990, they’d not only climbed to the top of that world as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s very first Entertainers of the Year, but their stature was recognized across the board, with a nomination for a then-new bluegrass Grammy, a four-star album review in Rolling Stone, tours across four conti-nents, and a legion of up-and-coming, broad-minded young musicians ranging from String Cheese Incident to mando monster Chris Thile learning their songs and singing their praises.

The reasons for the acclaim were, and remain, obvious. Hot Rize’s music was and is equally informed by a taste for the music of Leadbelly and Freddie King, swing, old-time Appalachia and more, in ways that mirror the broad sweep of Bill Monroe’s influences. And while their respect for tradition was easy to hear, the fresh ele-ments they brought were enough to earn them the suspicion of some audience members—and the devo-tion of many more. So, when Hot Rize retired, it was natural for members to go on to distinguished careers of their own. Even so, Hot Rize turned out to be the band that refused to disappear. Rare reunion shows, like the 1996 one captured for the acclaimed So Long Of A Journey CD (2002), kept the flame burning, and when Sawtelle passed away in 1999, the surviving members brought guitarist Bryan Sutton on board for their occasional appearances, bringing their classic songs and captivating stage show to new generations.

It’s no surprise, then, that 24 years after their last studio album, the four-some brings an even deeper strength to bear on their new record, When I’m Free (Ten In Hand/Thirty Tigers), out September 30. And neither is it a sur-prise that, as it was in the beginning, the quartet felt compelled to bring some-thing new to the table.

“We’re too close as friends and long-time collaborators to let Hot Rize just lay fallow. We’ve watched bluegrass evolve in the past 25 years and, while we’ve all been a part of that evolution as individuals, now it’s time to bring a new Hot Rize statement to the world,” explains O’Brien. Pete Wernick agrees:

“In the years since we brought Bryan in, we would all talk about wanting to be a living, breathing, twentyfirst-century Hot Rize, which would mean developing a satchel of new material, then going around and playing it.”

With writing and rehearsals placing Hot Rize firmly back in their groove, recording When I’m Free took just five days at the solar-powered Studio at eTown Hall in Boulder. The musicians eschewed booths and headphones in favor of sitting in a circle and recording live off the floor—“the first time I’ve recorded like that since 1971,” muses Wernick. This organic approach resulted in an album that crackles with the energy of a Hot Rize live show.

Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers will join Hot Rize on our Main Stage! The band travels in the back of the Hot Rize bus and occasionally spells their employ-ers on stage. The foursome plays ’40s and ’50s country as well as you might expect from people who have listened to the same jukebox for most of their lives. There are people who say that Red Knuckles and Hot Rize are the same. No one knows where any of those people are now.(Main Stage: Saturday, August 8, 8:30 p.m. Source: crossovertouring.com/hot-rize)

Nick Forster, Pete Wernick, Bryan Sutton, Tim O’Brien. Photo: Crossover Touring

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Balsam RangeBalsam Range will show festi-

val-goers why and how it ran off with so many top honors last year from the International Bluegrass Music Association, including Entertainer of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year (Buddy Melton), and the Mentor Award (Tim Surrett, who apparently is nice as well as good).

It has been said that the loudest word in the world is your own name. It is who you are, it is how you have been identified to the world and it is a huge part of your self-perception. Place-names can create strong mental images and add building blocks of self-identity that underscore a treasured sense of “where I’m from” or “who I really am.” These powerful feelings of place to which mountain folk cling help define a sense of home shared by those who live there.

Such is the name Balsam Range to a group of five outstanding acoustic musi-cians and singers from North Carolina. For their band name, they thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county of Haywood, where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge, the Balsam Range.

The band’s fifth album, Five, made its Billboard Chart debut at #4 and remained on the Billboard chart for an impressive six weeks. Additionally, Balsam Range consistently tops radio airplay lists with its history of top singles.

Balsam Range is composed of five friends who all hail from Western North Carolina. Tim Surrett plays bass and occasion-ally shares his talents on the resonator guitar. A stellar fiddler, Buddy Melton is also one of the most gifted tenor voices in bluegrass and Americana today. With his envied guitar style, Caleb Smith, who is also a luthier, has been called “one of the top

young guns of guitar.” Darren Nicholson is an accomplished mandolin player and harmony singer with tremendous enthusiasm for American heritage music. Grammy Award winner Marc Pruett brilliantly complements the ensemble with the intuitive, traditional three-fin-ger style that has made him one of music’s most admired banjo players.

Elements of jazz, country, gospel, swing and old-time music are all infused into the fresh sound of this unique Southern band, its five distinct person-alities creating one remarkable musical experience.(Main Stage. Source: balsamrange.com)

Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray: bionic banjo

Eddie Adcock played with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, then with The Country Gentlemen, before teaming up with Martha to become the “biggest little band in bluegrass,” appearing on stages around the country, including on Austin City Limits. Tom Gray, another Country Gentlemen alum and formerly with the Seldom Scene and Legends of the Potomac, will reunite with Eddie and Martha.

In 2008, Eddie made headline news for something other than his picking prowess; his hands had developed a rhythmic shaking known as “essential tremor,” a nervous system disorder. Although not generally dangerous, the condition made it impossible for Eddie to play his banjo. He underwent deep

brain stimulation, a surgical procedure that placed electrodes in his brain to shut down the region causing the shaking. He had to be awake during the painful three-and-a-half hour procedure, and played his banjo to guide doctors in plac-ing the electrodes. “I knew when he hit the sweet spot, and that was it.”

Prescription Bluegrass said: “One of the most dynamic bluegrass-and-beyond string trios you’ll ever enjoy, Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray are join-ing together for several very special tours this year . . .. Excitingly original, warm and intimate, rooted in their traditional heritage while often cruising the strato-sphere, they always deliver the goods!” In 2011, together with a few notable friends, including Missy Raines, Gene Johnson, Wes Easter, and Pete Kuykendall, they recorded Many a Mile, a fine reprise of a number of Country Gentlemen songs.(Main Stage: Sunday, August 9, 11:40 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. Source: www.pxrec.com)

The High 48sFestivalgoers will be the lucky recip-

ients of a double-dose of the talented crew making up the High 48s: Eric Christopher (fiddle and vocals), Anthony Ihrig (banjo and vocals), Marty Marrone (guitar and vocals), Mike Hedding (man-dolin and vocals), and Rich Casey (bass and vocals). (Yes, that’s right, they all sing—and can they!) They’ll be hosting the pre-festival bluegrass instructional jam camp as well as appearing on the Main Stage.

Since forming in 2006, The High 48s have been making music that com-bines the soulful sound of classic blue-grass with a modern attitude, original songs, and a wide range of influences far beyond Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, and Flatt and Scruggs.

In a genre created and dominated by artists from the South, The High 48s were born and raised in the Upper Midwest. And in a music scene where playing standards is the norm, The High 48s are a band of songwriters who per-form their own material in addition to the “festival favorites.”

Balsam Range: Marc Pruett, Buddy Melton, Tim Surrett, Darren Nicholson, Caleb Smith

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The band takes their name from railroad slang for the boxcars originally used to transport troops on the front lines in WWI that could carry 40 sol-diers or 8 horses, and were later used in the US on fast-moving “hot shot” freight trains by train-hoppers looking for work during the Great Depression.

In the winter of 2014, The High 48s honored their namesake by recording an album of train songs in Nashville with Grammy-winning engineer and producer Randy Kohrs. The album fea-tures songs from Greg Brown, Robin and Linda Williams, Becky Schlegel, Darrell Scott, Muddy Waters, and the 48s’ own Anthony Ihrig and Eric Christopher.

This album is the 48s’ sixth release and the culmination of many years of hard work. With band members who honed their bluegrass chops playing with Grammy-nominees Special Consensus and traditional bluegrass legend James King, as well as the many road miles logged since their 2008 win at the RockyGrass Band Competition brought them national recognition, the 48s have never sounded better.(Source: thehigh48s.com)

The Good IntentionsLed by Chris Silver, The Good

Intentions deliver traditional bluegrass with polish and drive playing songs from the bluegrass masters as well as material penned by Chris. They owe their suc-cess to the complimentary picking and singing skills of some of the best-known names in the area’s bluegrass scene.

Formerly of the bands Stoney Lonesome, Tangled Roots, and the Kate Mackenzie Band, Chris Silver plays fiddle and mandolin with a deep appreci-ation for traditional bluegrass music. His solos stretch beyond the bound-aries of bluegrass including hints of jazz, blues, and roots

music. Chris has amassed a credible sized discography featuring bluegrass, Americana, and global acoustic styles.

Banjo player Heath Loy enjoyed growing up in a “bluegrass music house-hold.” Heath’s fiddle playing father, Bob Loy, owned a music store in Rochester and was one of the founders of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association. Heath’s playing is rich with the styles of J.D. Crowe, Earl Scruggs, and Ralph Stanley. He also performs with his wife Becky Schlegel.

Guitarist Mike Cramer’s award-win-ning flatpicking technique has earned him championship titles in both the Minnesota State Fair Flatpicking Competition and Wisconsin’s Upper-Midwest Flatpicking Contest. Mike is a four-tool player who is as comfortable playing jazz standards as he is playing instrumentals from Bill Monroe. His technique is fluid and powerful.

J.D. Shaffer holds down the bass role with precision and tone. He sings tenor

in a clear and powerful voice, reveal-ing his training in classical and opera techniques. He has the unique ability to blend with any vocal style and his range seems limitless. He also sings lead vocals on a couple of the group’s contemporary tunes.(Source: thegoodintentionsbluegrass-band.com)

Ivory BridgeIvory Bridge is composed of friends

who share a mutual love of bluegrass music and who allow themselves the freedom to play from their experience of different styles to support whatever each song requires. The Ivory Bridge sound is respectful of individual member contri-butions while creating an original sound that is both familiar and new.

Most of their material is made from scratch with all of the band members contributing to the repertoire. This ver-satile band features solo, duet, trio and quartet vocal arrangements accompa-nied by instrumental solos, expertly placed fills, and the occasional instru-mental harmony.

Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and Dan Crary have all influenced Bill Liners’ clean, definitive guitar style. Ivory Bridge, Dick Kimmel and Co., Stoney Lonesome, The Couple Downstairs and Alaska’s Grass Plus have all ben-efited from Bill’s driving rhythm and superb leads and vocals. Bill is a mul-tiple winner of the Minnesota State Flatpicking Championship.

John Bodle (mandolin) has per-formed with Larry Rice, Endless

Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray. Photo: Darwin Davidson

The Good Intentions. Photo: Jen Shaffer

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Highway, and Acoustic Alliance. Having lived in Virginia and Florida, he now resides in the greater Twin Cities area. Del McCoury once offered to drive John down so he could audition with Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys.

Jim Tordoff ’s (banjo) sharp wit and bell-toned backup combined with his driving leads are something wonderful to hear. Jim also has shared the stage with such regional talents as Bill Hinkley and Judy Larson, Peter Ostroushko, the Bistodeau sisters, and national per-formers such as Vassar Clements, Frank Wakefield, Lionel Hampton, Marian McPartland, and Jabbo Smith.

Kathe Liners’ (bass) songwriting skills have been widely admired in the region since the release of the Stoney Lonesome compilation CD in 1997 titled after her original tune, “Loves Last Request.” The first Ivory Bridge CD

release, Chase My Blues Away, contains several of Liners’ original songs as well.

Porcupine Creek2014 Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-

Time Music Association’ Race for a Place winners Porcupine Creek is made up of young talented musicians inspired by the legends of bluegrass, with subtle influ-ence from the newgrass sounds of today. The band covers bluegrass and gospel favorites and mixes in a few original songs to please crowds of all ages.

Members of Porcupine Creek include Jake Ashworth on banjo; Ben Ashworth on guitar; Derek Birkeland on vocals, guitar, fiddle and mandolin; Holger Olesen on vocals and resonator guitar; Sarah Birkeland on vocals and bass; and Dulcie Ashworth on vocals and fiddle.

The band formed in 2012 when the Ashworth and Birkeland kids all decided to compete in a Family Area talent contest at the MBOTMA August festival. The group “Blue Chew” won the Saturday contest earning an oppor-tunity to play a song on the main stage as a tweener act. In November 2012, they changed their name to Porcupine Creek and Olesen joined the band in 2013. Their Race for a Place win at the MBOTMA Harvest Jam this past

November sealed their slot in this August Festival lineup.

BorderstoneBorderstone is a traditional bluegrass

and gospel outfit from Duluth. Led by the guitar/mandolin and “brother har-mony” duet Ryan Morgen and Nicholas Klee, Borderstone draws its musical influence from the 1940’s and 1950’s style of Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs. The group includes banjo player John Rainwater, fiddler Rachel Reichert, and bassist Nicholas Glass.

They currently perform around the Midwest and in 2014 became members of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association.

With tight vocal harmonies and sharp instrumentation, Borderstone is an exciting young band that hearkens back to days gone by.

Note: Having seen so many folks, all better writers than I, take a fall for plagiarizing even better writers, I’d like to admit, right up front, that much of this article is adapted or cribbed outright from the bands’ websites and other pro-motional materials. — Ann Iijima

Featuring THE HIGH 48’s, THE ROE FAMILY SINGERS, PORCUPINE CREEK, GIBSON MARTIN & I, SHADES OF GREY, HIGHGRASS HOPPERS

plus many more local musicians…

Held rain or shine in a rustic building. Camping & food concessions on site. Motels, shops, restaurants & provincial park within 1 mile. Visit our beautiful “Niagara of the North”, Old Fort William & “the Sleeping Giant”! For more info contact: Eddy Van Ramshorst email: [email protected] Toll free: 1-888-688-9582 www.kakabekafallsbluegrassfestival.weebly.com

The 6th Annual

KAKABEKA FALLS BLUEGRASS & OLD TYME FESTIVAL

(14 mi west of Thunder Bay, ON, Canada) JUNE 26, 27, 28, 2015

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Ivory Bridge

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Gail Heil passed away in May 2013, leav-ing an amazing musical legacy. She came upon old-time country music when she was in her late twenties, learning first to play backup on guitar and then sing in a string band. Within a few years she had mastered banjo, autoharp, dulcimer, and, ultimately, fiddle, the most difficult and engaging of the traditional instruments.

After moving to Minnesota in 1979, Gail was involved with starting the Monday Night Square Dance. That dance and the Lanesboro Barn Dance, which she began in 1995, continue to thrive. She taught scores of students to play fiddle, banjo, guitar, autoharp, and dulcimer, as well as how to call square dances and clog dance.

Performing professionally from 1980 on, Gail played the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Washington, Merlefest in North Carolina, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, San Diego Roots Festival, Ozark Folk Center, and many other large venues. But she also did shows in hundreds of schools, introducing a new generation to our American musical heritage, and played countless shows for senior citizens.

In 1999, Gail founded the Bluff Country Gathering, a music camp and festival dedicated to passing along American traditional music and dance. This event in Lanesboro, Minnesota, draws musical students and enthusiasts from all over the country.

This year, the Bluff Country Gathering is sponsoring a fiddle con-test in Gail’s honor. It will be held in the Community Center in Lanesboro on Saturday, July 18. Registration for contestants will begin at 9 a.m. and the contest will start at 10 a.m.

Contestants will compete in three divisions with a preliminary round and a final round in each. The Junior Fiddle (open to ages 17 and under) and Senior Fiddle (ages 60 and up) divisions will each have first, second, and third place prizes of $400, $200 and $100, respec-tively. Open Fiddle (any age) will have a $1000 first place prize, $400 for second, and $100 for third. Fiddlers may enter only one division; the entry fee is $20.

Gail Heil leaves a legacy of fine fiddlingBy Bob Bovee

This is a strictly old-time fiddle con-test. The judges will be accomplished fiddlers who understand this music and the judging criteria outlined in the rules. Rules are posted online at www.bovee-heil.com.

Tickets for the public are only $10 and it’s sure to be an entertaining day!

Other sponsors of the Fiddle Contest include Brewster’s Red Hotel in Lanesboro; Nethercut Law Office, Harmony, MN; Charles Hoffman Guitars and Acoustic Electric Strings, Minneapolis; Dave’s Guitar, Lacrosse, WI; and the Phelps-Little Family of St. Louis, MO.

The Bluff Country Gathering presents

The Gail Heil Memorial Fiddle ContestJuly 18, 2015 Lanesboro, MN

Strictly Old Time! Cash Prizes!

Lanesboro Community Center Admission: $10 at the doorInfo: 507-498-5452 www.boveeheil.com

Junior Division (17 and under) Senior Division (60 and over) Open Division (Any age)

Registration: 9–9:45 AMEntry Fee: $20

1st $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $1001st $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $1001st $1000, 2nd $400, 3rd $200

Contest begins at 10 AMRules at www.boveeheil.com

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The idea of “springing ahead” didn’t feel so good when the alarm went off at 4:15 a.m. But I quickly adjusted to an awak-ened state when our 17-year-old son, Derek, walked in the door.

Normally, his late (or, should I say early) arrival would cause an uproar in our house. But we weren’t home. We were at the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth, Minnesota at the MBOTMA Winter Weekend. Derek had been up all night jamming with friends.

MBOTMA weekends are the excep-tion to family curfew rules—as long as the kids adhere to the “buddy system.”

Early-morning wake-up calls are not the norm during festivals. And it didn’t help that this was the “spring ahead” Daylight Savings Time weekend. That meant one less hour of sleep. But we had an adventure waiting. It was time to hit the road. We had Naples, Florida, in our sights.

Picture two families: a total of four adults and 11 kids ranging from the ages of three to 18. Add a 31-foot Pleasureland Rental RV and you have 15 people (and a nearly equal number of musical instru-ments) piled into a Class C motorhome bound for a 4,000-mile round-trip jour-ney to the Sunshine State and back. We had eight days to pack it all in.

If you’re scoring at home, we exceeded the “sleep number” for the RV, but you’d be surprised how creative you can be when several members of your group are under four-feet tall. MBOTMA “Connections”

The two families on this journey had become (and still are!) good friends through MBOTMA. The Ashworth and Birkeland families see each other often at weekend festivals and account for five of the six members of the band Porcupine Creek: Ben Ashworth (guitar), Dulcie Ashworth (fiddle), Jake Ashworth (banjo), Derek Birkeland (guitar, fiddle, mandolin), and Sarah Birkeland (bass). Holger Olesen (resonator guitar) couldn’t make the journey but he and his family were with us in spirit.

We were off to Naples to visit MBOTMA friends and play a benefit concert arranged by Jon and Sharon Garon, owners of My Favorite Guitars. Sharon spearheaded the event to raise money for Grace Place, an organization that helps children and families over-come poverty.

We were also Naples-bound so two of the Porcupine Creek kids could play with MBOTMA members Bill and Kate Isles, who were touring in the area. A late start

Due to the priority of jamming and playing at the winter weekend, we didn’t quite have the RV completely ready to roll at 4:15 a.m. Sunday morning. By the time our bags were finally packed and we filled the 50-gallon tank with gas (gulp!) the clock read 10:02 a.m.

The 4,000-mile odyssey was under-way. “The Plan” was to alternate drivers, use the RV as a moving motel, and drive straight through to Naples. Google Maps said it would take 26 hours. We found that Google is overly optimistic. With road construction and unscheduled stops, it was more like 36 hours.

We had a few RV-movie-like adven-tures along the way. We had to stop and grab some water to manually “flush” because our fresh water holding tank (that we thought we had filled) was

empty. (Picture Robin Williams in the movie RV. That was us.)

Also, when you’re traveling in an RV, gas stops to fill a 50-gallon tank take awhile. When you add 15 people, who decide they need to use a real restroom; buy goods and services and otherwise loiter in a convenience store, it adds up to 25 minutes with every stop.

The adults, however, did enjoy the opportunity to move around while trav-eling, make meals on the fly, and stretch our legs for much-needed rest.

The kids enjoyed the flexibility of playing cards, stretching out, jamming, and listening to bluegrass and, dare I say, country music. The banter among the teenagers in the RV was, at least for this dad, priceless. It reminded me that God is merciful. Thankfully, most of us move beyond the mindset of a teenager.Are we there yet?

The worst part of the road trip on the way down, occurred just north of Tampa Bay on I-75. The interstate was under construction and it looked more like a parking lot than a freeway. It was a dis-couraging stretch of asphalt.

We finally pulled into the Garon’s at 10:15 p.m. Monday, March 10—36 hours after our departure from Minnesota. The first thing the kids (at least all the kids under 15) did was jump in the Garon’s pool. I’m not sure what the other

Spring break odyssey to My Favorite Guitars By Mike Birkeland

The Ashworth and Birkeland kids piled into an RV for a 4,000-mile musical journey.

11June 2015


adults did, but it took less than minute before I said yes to Jon’s offer of a glass of Merlot. It was a small reward for a weary traveler. Dump dilemma

Our first full day in Florida put us full-tilt into logistics mode. The dads assumed that responsibility (think Chevy Chase in the Vacation movies).

We had rental cars to pick up and the RV needed to find it’s reserved home at the nearby Collier-Seminole State Park. We also had to drop a couple of kids off to play an afternoon gig with Bill and Kate at the park.

Thankfully, the ever-gracious Mr. Isles also coached us through our first experience at the campground dump sta-tion where we had issues with a cracked sewer hose. If you saw the movie RV, you know the scene we were fearfully close to repeating. Fortunately, Bill had the equipment and experience to help us through it.

Day One in Naples concluded with the benefit concert for Grace Place. Porcupine Creek was the headline band. And the group of teenagers, still fresh off their November Race for a Place win at MBOTMA’s Harvest Jam, didn’t disap-point the crowd.

Bill and Kate Isles also joined “the kids” at the concert, along with this writer and our family band, Sarah Mae & the Birkeland Boys. Jon Garon and Naples super crooner David Estes rounded out the evening of bluegrass music. Nearly $1,000 was raised to bene-fit kids and families in need. White sand and . . .

The benefit concert was the focal point of the trip, but we also had other priorities to tend to over the remainder of our four-day Florida turnaround. We especially liked trading the snow in Minnesota for Naples’ white sand beaches.

We also found that in Florida, bass fishing is nearly as sacred as college football. And Jon’s expert fishing advice netted the boys a few hefty largemouth bass on the little lakes just down the street from his home.

We made time for plenty of music for the remainder of our stay. The Bill

and Kate Isles Band played to an enthu-siastic crowd of campers at the state park Wednesday evening. They invited Porcupine Creek and Sarah Mae & the Birkeland Boys to play a few tunes. Minnesota-style bluegrass, folk, and old-time music went over big at the campground.

The final music event of the week took place at Jon and Sharon Garon’s home on Thursday evening. Our courte-ous hosts invited the neighborhood—as well as a few new fans from the Grace Place benefit concert—over for dinner and music on Thursday. The house con-cert turned out to be the highlight of the week.

In addition to all the musicians already mentioned, we were joined at the Garon “pickfest” by several members of another Minnesota MBOTMA family, the Ophovens from Grand Rapids. The Ophovens were in town visiting a friend, Karysse Trandem. Karysse, is a doctor by day and a gifted singer and performer on the side. Her version of Etta James’ signature song, “At Last,” brought the house down.

With all the great music, improvi-sation, creative energy, and Elizabeth Ophoven’s breakneck-speed mandolin breaks, it was a night to remember. And a house concert not soon to be equaled. Homeward bound

By the time Friday rolled around, our minds were back in travel mode. We would be leaving for home early Saturday morning, so after one last trip to the beach, and an enjoyable last supper with the Garon’s, we packed the RV for the 2,000-mile odyssey back home.

Among those final errands was one last trip to Jon’s store. Paul Ashworth and I had been eyeing a couple of sweet-sound-ing Martin’s hanging on the wall at My Favorite Guitars, including a custom MBOTMA D-15 designed by Mark Kreitzer.

As fate would have it, we came home with two more instruments than we left with. We hit the road with a lifetime

of memories packed into a whirlwind journey and an overstuffed RV.

We made it back to Minnesota around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. If you’re still keeping score, that’s a total of eight days and seven nights with 15 people, one RV, and a lot of great music.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. We would take more time though—both for the road trip itself as well as our stay in the Sunshine State. It was a bit like a 200-beats-per-minute breakdown that comes to an end too soon.

We expect a summer filled with bluegrass festivals, jam circles, camp-fires and old-fashioned fellowship with the many friends we’ve made through the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association.

And, for as much fun as we had on our Florida adventure, we won’t have to travel 4,000 miles to find good friends to pick with. So, until we see you along the Bluegrass Trail, pick early, pick late, pick often. And if it works for you—try pickin’ in an overstuffed RV. The memo-ries will last a lifetime.

About the author: Outside the reality of life, Mike Birkeland is a song-writer, bluegrass musician, and writer. He’s the “old guy” in Sarah Mae & the Birkeland Boys. sarahmaeandthebirkelandboys.com. Photos: Mike Birkeland

House concert with hosts Sharon and Jon Garon.

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13th Annual Traditional Bluegrass &

Gospel Music Festival July 10-11-12, 2015

Vernon Co. Fairgrounds *Highway 14/61/27 *

*Viroqua, WI * *Watch for signs*

For more info contact: Wayne Sherry P.O. Box 323

Viroqua, WI 54665 (608) 606-4105

Viroquabluegrass.org

Monroe Crossing Barton’s Hollow

The Punches Family Sawtooth Brothers

and The DisChords

Minnesota Association of Songwriters

Songwriting Workshop Series

Jon Vezner

Schmitt Music 2906 W. 66th St.

Edina, MN 612 238 9930

Minnesota native Jon Vezner is a Grammy-winning Nashville songwriter who has written hits for such top-level artists as Kathy Mattea, Martina McBride, Janis Ian, John Mellenkamp, Nanci Griffith and Faith Hill. Vezner has a gift for writing universal themes based on stories about the people in his life.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

1 - 4:30 pm$25 at the door

www.mnsongwriters.org

Jon arrived in Nashville in 1983. He has much to share about what he’s learned, having experienced the many changes that have occurred in the music business since then. Jon will tell participants about those changes and about his writing process, creating demos, and all the creative decisions that make a song successful. Come learn from an expert!

Concert June 13, 7-9 pm atUnderground Music Cafe

1579 Hamline Ave., St. Paul $10 suggested donation

Minnesota Association ofSongwriters

15June 2015


Paul Duff: mandolin maker in the land of OzBy James Kent

Based near his native Perth, Western Australia, Paul Duff lives about as far as you can get from the home of bluegrass and still be on earth. Yet, his instru-ments have been shipped worldwide and are recognized by world-class bluegrass players, such as Mike Compton and Skip Gorman.

Australia is literally a half world away from the home of bluegrass music. Is there a special Australian affinity for the music?

I think Australians pick up on blue-grass being real music—there’s nothing superficial about it. A plaintive cry from any culture is a plaintive cry. Like the blues, bluegrass has very few frills and deals with real issues and hard times and universal themes. When I was 19, and had never played an instrument, I happened into a pub in Fremantle, Australia—physically, the opposite side of the planet from Kentucky—and there was a bluegrass band playing and I walked out saying, “I’m going to play that music.” Maybe there was a heritage connection. Many Australians come from Scots-Irish ancestry, convict stock. My mom and dad are from Glasgow and maybe there’s a link there.You’re an active musician with Bluegrass Parkway. How do you balance the demands of being a musician and the demands of being a luthier?

I make my living from building instruments, and it is where I am most disciplined about time and precision. But I play for fun, not for making a living, and I’m lazy about practicing. We work hard at rehearsal once a week. It’s very important for me to understand the ele-ment of playability and to develop my ear as a builder. It affords me an extra level of detail to focus on. We’re lucky to play all over Australia and tour in the US. [In 2014,] we toured four weeks in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina. My wife, Maria, is from Lexington, Kentucky. She’s in the

band and is a classically trained bassist. She played with the Western Australian Symphony for 12 years but now concentrates on teach-ing Suzuki Violin.Did you apprentice to a builder, or do you have apprentices?

No apprenticeship of note. I worked for a while at Flatiron in Bozeman, Montana, doing little tasks that needed to be done. But mostly I learned from the school of experience. After I built a few instruments, I met [fellow Australian] Steve Gilchrist. He always has been an incredibly open and helpful person. I see him as a mentor, and look to his work as the stan-dard in build quality and consistency. He’s west of Melbourne—basically as far from me as San Diego is from Atlanta. It’s a long bus ride, so we don’t see each other much, except at festivals. It’s taken me a long time to learn. I do all my own carving, using a pantograph to rough it out, then all hand carving. It takes a long time to develop those skills. I haven’t taken any appren-tices because I like being in control of all the elements. Right now I’m able to make 12 instruments a year in three batches.Did you have a most important teacher?

Experience has been my most important teacher. I would put Steve Gilchrist as my most important influ-ence, as a mentor whom I would like to be like. Steve has said you can know how to do something but that doesn’t mean you can do it. You look at French polishing and have five books telling you five ways to get to the end. Steve said you just have to dive into the pool and get to the other side yourself. He’s not being

cagey. French polishing is all technique, not technology. You can’t read a book on technique and have it mastered. You have to just gain your experience.On the cover of his album, Rotten Taters, Mike Compton is holding a Duff. He usually plays a Gilchrist or Gibson. How did he come to pose with a Duff?

I’ve known Mike for a long time and love his playing. I think we first met in Australia during a tour that Steve Gilchrist had organized. I caught Mike once after a show in Ashville, and I had an instrument with me. He liked it alright. Years later I helped organize another tour of Australia and I saw him again at a concert and had a good look at his instruments and realized that the tone bar mass was much smaller in his instruments than in mine, which made

Paul Duff playing his F5. Photo: Tony Allison

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me rethink the height, taper and profile of my tone bars. In 2006, I was a luthier at the Monroe mandolin camp when Mike was there and he played one of my (newer) instruments and liked it a great deal, which was the ultimate compliment since Mike chases tone. He was looking for a good mandola.

Mike normally plays a Gibson or one of several Gils, and I didn’t want to tread on Steve Gilchrist’s turf. It turned out Steve was too busy to do mandola, so I made it for Mike. The photo came about when Mike was in Australia, and I dragged him into the studio. He had asked me to build an F5, which he played on the album. My tone bars were lighter by then, especially in the center where the bridge sits over them. I cut down the height, and made the tapers longer. The tone became fatter and rounded and the volume increased. It was incredible.Some of the chatter on Mandolin Cafe says “Paul turned a corner in 2006/2007,” with instruments reach-ing a new level of quality. What do you think they mean by this?

That was when I changed the mass of the tone bars.Do you build any X-braced instruments?

From 1990 to early the 2000s my instruments were X-braced. In about 2003 I changed to tone bar. Steve (Gilchrist) and I agreed that tone bar mandolins will develop further and continue to develop, whereas X-braced instruments hit earlier and once they reach a certain point, stop developing.You make a point of not using any CNC equipment. How far do you carry that—no power tools? Why do you take this approach?

I don’t take a completely medieval approach; I do use power tools such as routers. For carving I use round-bottom planes and scrapers and a Dremil tool. I like to have my hands on the wood. After rough out, I spend two hours with finger planes to get the top profile and use a scraper only in the last part of the shaping. I like to have the final say with my hands. I carve the entire inside by hand. It takes longer, but I like to feel the flexibility and stiffness and tap tone the

whole time. I like to tap and hear ring. My approach is to build to tonal qual-ity not to measurement. For every top, I can create a good response. I search for mid-range when I’m creating the most responsive area—open D up to G. Everything falls into place if they get going.

I start with a strong mid-range, the top end really strong and bright with a good cut—but no roundness or fatness in the note. With playing, the top end gets fatter, rounder, and little sweeter. Almost like it is softer to the ear but strong. I think all notes develop with playing. The mandolins I gave Mike developed in midrange and bottom. Mike plays a lot there, and I think the way you play will influence how notes develop. Instruments that sit idle close up.Do you have any “production” instru-ments, or do all involve some degree of customization?

Both. My standard spec instrument is a Loar copy. Nowadays, most people want a Loar tone that is balanced across the instrument. They occasionally ask for a custom inlay. I cut my own inlays by hand and can meet any demand. There are the usual variations such as a radiused or flat fretboard, a scalloped fingerboard extension and abbrevi-ated pick guard. I do my variation to the fingerboard extension as standard spec unless a cus-tomer asks for the traditional Loar style or something customized.You’re recognized for your inter-pretation of the Loar F5, which many luthiers study. What is the essence of your interpretation?

What I’m trying to achieve is a strong, fat mid-range, a good chop, with the top being throaty, fat, and round. The focus is pronounced. They

don’t need high action to get volume or pop.It appears that none of your woods come from Australia. How big a deal is the inconvenience of importing wood, or not being able to harvest your own?

I come to the USA and seek wood. Old Standard Wood in Missouri is my supplier. I drive there and hand-pick 40 or 50 sets—about enough for four years of instruments. It takes about three months to ship it to my shop in Fremantle.How do you tell the difference between a good piece of wood and a great one?

John [at Old Standard Wood] has excellent quality red spruce, and I tap each piece, and look at variation in grain, and how it lies in the billet. Instruments made with strong, stiff Adirondack spruce, with very wide grain, have been tone monsters. I like a bit more flexibility—not too stiff. Nice wide grain near the edge, with good grain width distribution. Buyers usually leave it up to me. People do sometimes ask for a nice wide grain out on the edge. I’m always looking for sugar maple and use red maple if I can find it hard and stiff (red maple is softer than sugar maple but has wide variation). With maple I look for density and a good ring.

French polishing Beck’s F5. Photo: Maria Duff

17June 2015


I’m not that quantitative about density. I don’t measure it by machine. It’s the feel when I press my nail into it. My usual wood combination is red spruce and sugar maple, or red spruce and red maple, for both F and A models. The tonal variation between A and F comes from body shape and depth, not tone wood choice.In 2010, Gruhn Guitars took on distribution of your mandolins. How important a development was this?

Having a dealer provided a little financial security. In 2009 Christie Carter took one of my instruments to George [Gruhn] and she was confident she could move them. That was the beginning—she got me in there. Gruhn still takes my instruments but my main distributor now is Carter Vintage, since Christie and Walter went out on their own. I’m not sure how she discovered my instruments. She may have heard of me through Mike Compton or Steve Gilchrist. She knew I was coming to town and asked me to let her know when I was around.What is your idea of the perfect instrument?

I don’t think there necessarily is ‘the perfect instrument’. People’s tastes change and what is wonderful for one person, doesn’t suit another. In relation to building the perfect instrument: I

don’t think I’ll ever do that because as I build more and more instruments, my eyes, ears and hands become more attuned to the super-fine details of each mandolin. I might see or hear something that irritates me about an instrument I’ve built but no one else sees or hears what I’m talking about. They don’t notice but I do. This is what keeps me going to the bench every morning I suppose.What in your childhood do you think helped prepare you for work as a luthier?

I’ve always been handy with things. I had no unique wood-working skill, but I could get things done. In year 8 wood-working class I had to design and build something. I thought I would do a ship’s wheel out of hardwood. I worked up the design and took it to the teacher and he said, “You want this to be 5 feet in diameter?” I supposed I had grand designs. When I was done, I told my mum I had to bring it home. She said “just bring it home on your bike.” She didn’t realize it weighed a ton and I had to bike with it round my neck. Wood-working became an infatuation, like music did. Music got me into it.As a builder, where does your inspi-ration come from?

Knowing that I haven’t got it yet—and there is still a beautiful reward at the end. I still perch an instrument on

a chair and sit and look at it. There is something perfectly balanced about the asymmetrical design of the F. The timber is so beautiful and tonal quality is a great reward. Once I’m gone, there is something left that some young person will ask, “Who built this?” This is a pretty good legacy to have.What is the most important advice you give customers?

I offer lots of advice to customers in many different areas of the build. Radiused or flat fingerboard is just one of the areas. I don’t try to talk people out of having a radiused fingerboard if they want one, but if they’re not sure and ask advice relating to playability and balance then that’s the most common aspect I discuss with them. What I’ve learned is that ease of playing comes mostly from that V-profile on the neck. Ergonomically, the V fits perfectly to the hand. I feel a radius fingerboard creates an imbalance in the chop, with more power going to A and E strings.What’s next for Duff mandolins?

Christie Carter has asked me to do a16-inch L5 Lloyd Loar guitar, an arch-top. I’ve done a half-dozen K5 mando-cellos, so I know how to carve those. I’m really excited to be doing this, experi-menting with X-bracing, but guitars will be a sideline. I want to keep investigating Loar mandolins.

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Premium Guitars, Amplifiers, and Repair

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August 6th-9th, 2015 - El Rancho Mañana Richmond MN, 30 Minutes W of St Cloud (I-94 Exit #153 at Avon, 9 mi S on County 9)

It’s The Year of Dance & Have We Got A Dance For You! Come & Enjoy Our Huge Wooden Dance Floor

Under The Big Dance Tent. Be There & Be Square!

Friday Old-Time Barn Dance with The Bootlickers

Dance with The Bucking Mules Honky Tonk Dance with Bernie King & The Guilty Pleasures

Saturday

Clogging with The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers Cajun Workshop with The New Riverside Ramblers

Dance with Rooster Riot & Caller Terrence Smith Old-Time Square Dance with The Jumpsteady Boys

Cajun Dance with The New Riverside Ramblers

And More To Come!

Plus 20 Other Bands Beautiful Main Stage Shaded Seating Area 35 Hours of Concerts Showcases Children’s Activities Over 20 Workshops Plenty of Campground Jam Sessions 30 Merchant & Food Booths

Campground with Showers & Beach Shuttle Transportation A Welcome & Safe Environment Kids Are Free!

Thu-Sun Camping Package – Admission Thu thru Sun plus camping Thu, Fri, & Sat nights, $95 Gate, $85 Adv, $75 Mmbr Adv Single Day Tickets - Admit 1 day, no camping, $20 Thu or Sun Gate, $30 Fri or Sat Gate, $25 Adv or $20 Mmbr Adv (any day)

800-635-3037 www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Presented by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association and made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

19June 2015


August 6th-9th, 2015 - El Rancho Mañana Richmond MN, 30 Minutes W of St Cloud (I-94 Exit #153 at Avon, 9 mi S on County 9)

It’s The Year of Dance & Have We Got A Dance For You! Come & Enjoy Our Huge Wooden Dance Floor

Under The Big Dance Tent. Be There & Be Square!

Friday Old-Time Barn Dance with The Bootlickers

Dance with The Bucking Mules Honky Tonk Dance with Bernie King & The Guilty Pleasures

Saturday

Clogging with The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers Cajun Workshop with The New Riverside Ramblers

Dance with Rooster Riot & Caller Terrence Smith Old-Time Square Dance with The Jumpsteady Boys

Cajun Dance with The New Riverside Ramblers

And More To Come!

Plus 20 Other Bands Beautiful Main Stage Shaded Seating Area 35 Hours of Concerts Showcases Children’s Activities Over 20 Workshops Plenty of Campground Jam Sessions 30 Merchant & Food Booths

Campground with Showers & Beach Shuttle Transportation A Welcome & Safe Environment Kids Are Free!

Thu-Sun Camping Package – Admission Thu thru Sun plus camping Thu, Fri, & Sat nights, $95 Gate, $85 Adv, $75 Mmbr Adv Single Day Tickets - Admit 1 day, no camping, $20 Thu or Sun Gate, $30 Fri or Sat Gate, $25 Adv or $20 Mmbr Adv (any day)

800-635-3037 www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Presented by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association and made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

The Bluegrass Review in Minnesota Check www.bluegrassreview.com for a complete station list.

Station Day Time

KLQP-FM, 92.1 Madison Monday 8 PM

KMSU-FM, 89.7 Mankato; 91.3 Austin Sunday 10 AM

KBEM-FM, 88.5 Minneapolis Saturday 11 AM

KSRQ-FM, 90.1 Thief River Falls Sunday 11 AM

KQAL-FM, 89.5 Winona Saturday 9 AM

KDDG-FM, 105.5 Albany Saturday 9 PM

WTIP-FM, 90.7 Grand Marais Thursday 10 PM

KUMD-FM, 103.3 Duluth Saturday 4 PM

KRWC-AM, 1360 Buffalo Sunday 5 PM

KOJB-FM, 90.1 Cass Lake Sunday 6 PM

KSCR-FM, 93.5 Benson Sunday 6 AM

Bluegrass Saturday MorningBy Phil Nusbaum

InterviewsThe Bluegrass Review of June 6 features an interview with Jack Lawrence that was recorded in 2014. Jack has been through our town a number of times in recent years, frequently doing shows with Jon Garon. Jack served as accompanist to the late Doc Watson who influenced his guitar style. Their shared playing style created guitar music that was coherent and very rich.

I’d held back approaching Jack since Doc’s death to give him the space to stretch his wings in case he wanted to create an identity that was less in the shadow of Doc Watson. However, it came out during the interview that he was not concerned with escaping from Watson’s shadow. Jack figures that he will always be linked to Doc. He is confident that the acoustic music audi-ence enjoys his work on its own, and is proud of the association with Doc Watson.

The proof is in the pudding, of course. The post-Doc Watson Jack Lawrence still shares stylistic traits with Doc, but his compositions and interpreted material bears the Jack Lawrence stamp. In the interview, Jack talks about his history with Doc and also about how he “makes up” tunes, as he would put it.

Also in June, look for an interview with Geoff Shannon of Minneapolis. Geoff is perhaps best known as a guitarist and accompanist of Mary Henderson. But he is also a composer of new old-time banjo tunes. Many of Geoff ’s banjo tunes occupy the space between traditional and modernistic. Later in June, he will talk about composing and play some of the tunes for us.

Business SupportThe Bluegrass Review is supported by a combination of grants and business supporters. To promote your business locally, statewide, or nationally through the Bluegrass Review, contact Phil Nusbaum (651-245-1527; [email protected]). For promotion through Bluegrass Saturday Morning, your contact is Kevin Barnes (612-668-1735; [email protected]).

Farmer’s MarketsThis piece is written a short time before the first broadcast from a farmers market of the year. I hope we’re able to do more. It’s a chance to greet and thank listeners. I would have to say, too, that there is no better KBEM-FM vibe than the one that exists at a Farmer’s Market broadcast. If you are free at any of the live Farmer’s Market shows, please consider coming out. Everybody has a good time.

Bluegrass Review supporters• Cooperstands instrument stands, www.cooperstand.com • Hoffman Guitars www.hoffmanguitars.com (hand crafted Hoffman guitars, authorized Martin repairs)• John Waddle Violins www.waddleviolins.com (dealer of international & domestic, new & old violins, bows, cases)• Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association www.minnesotabluegrass.org (membership organization supporting bluegrass experiences)

Weekly PlaylistsBluegrass Review playlists are located at www.bluegrassreview.com. Just use the “playlists” link you’ll find at the top of the page. Then click on “archives.”

Bluegrass Saturday Morning playlists are located at www.jazz88fm.com.

The Bluegrass Review is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Attention All BandsIf you want to sell your music,

you need a good band. If you want to sell your band,

you need good smiles!

Lloyd “Doc” Wallin, D.D.S. Cosmetic DentistryBurnsville, MN 55337 952-892-5050

(Free Consultation for MBOTMA Members)

20 June 2015

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BLUEGRASS BANDSAlternate Route, Jerry Knopik, 651-208-5565, [email protected] Alzen Family, Brad Alzen, 715-749-3977, [email protected] Stevenson & Highwater, Art Stevenson, 715-884-6996, [email protected] Picking, Jon Garon, 612-839-2277, [email protected]’s Hollow, Ian Kimmel, 507-766-3529, [email protected] Family Singers, Peter Benson,, [email protected] Juke & The Last Resort, Mark Jukich, 218-390-7342, [email protected] Boys, Daniel Fish, 763-434-2734, [email protected] Groove, David Smith, 952-974-5121, [email protected] Hazard, Hannah Johnson, 651-500-0747, [email protected] Wolf, Shirley Mauch, 612-724-1482, [email protected], Ryan.Morgan, 715-781-2989, [email protected] River Ramblers, Marty Solmon, 218-850-8715, [email protected] Fever, Jeanie Wyttenbach, 507-635-5625, [email protected] Creek Bluegrass, Tom Monsen, 952-466-2089, [email protected] Ridge, Mark Clark, 319-389-1535, [email protected] Lester, Lincoln Potter, 651-483-0469, [email protected] Kimmel & Co, Dick Kimmel, 507-359-1163, [email protected] Line Bluegrass, Darin Manson, 641-895-9401, [email protected] Fish Heads, Kim Curtis-Monson, 218-729-5326, [email protected], Harvey Riekoff, 262-497-3024, [email protected] Family, Anna Froemming, 320-453-2393, [email protected]

The Good Intentions, Chris Silver, 651-491-4013, [email protected] Family Band, Loren Halvorson, 507-345-7431, loren@ birchcovesoftware.comHand Picked Bluegrass, Joe Cronick, 715-966-6463, [email protected] High 48s, Eric Christopher, 651-271-4392, [email protected] Bridge, Jim Tordoff, 612-759-5987, [email protected], Jed Malischke, [email protected] Kalisch Family, Sandy Kalisch, 507-744-3348, [email protected] Wilkie’s Dream, Robbi Podrug, 612-562-8402, [email protected]’s Countrymen, Lorn Schultz, 715-495-5275, [email protected] King’s Highway, Eddy Van Pamhorst, 807-630-9914, gemvan@ tbaytel.netThe Kingery Family, Christy Kingery, [email protected] Lonesome Tradition, Tim Roggenkamp, 218-568-5559, [email protected] Long Shots, Sophie Galep, 715-233-0181, [email protected] Time Gone, Ben Manning, 651-388-7383, [email protected] Kreitzer Band, Mark Kreitzer, 612-724-7334, [email protected] Middle Spunk Creek Boys, Al Jesperson, 612-727-2489, [email protected] Blue, Kelton Parrish, 651-697-0209, [email protected] Crossing, Art Blackburn, 763-213-1349, [email protected] Man’s String Band, Nic Hentges, 612-387-0196, [email protected] Lights Bluegrass, Mary Campbell, 320-679-3094, [email protected] Posse, Arlette Solom, 218-463-0710, [email protected] Family Band, Molli Ophoven, 218-327-2058, [email protected]

The Platte Valley Boys, Ron Colby, 651-458-0804, [email protected] Creek, Sarah Birkeland, 218-624-1781, [email protected], Bonnie Hallett, 320-485-3310, [email protected] of the Prairie, Sarah Cagley, [email protected] River Band, Chuck Lahr, 563-927-2457, [email protected] Bog Stompers, David Darnell, 218-260-6546, [email protected] Mae & The Birkeland Boys, Wendy Birkeland, 218-624-1781, [email protected] Bluegrass Band, MJ Moravec, 507-990-6456, [email protected] Grass, Katy Valine, 651-982-0599, [email protected] Street, Sherri Leyda, 763-972-2341, [email protected] Stringsmiths, Chris Landstrom, 715-671-3772, [email protected] Junction, Karen Radford, 612-623-0261, [email protected], David Anderson, 952-474-0981, [email protected] Woodpicks, Joel Kezar, 218-681-2148, [email protected]

OLD-TIME STRINGBANDSBob & Lynn Dixon, Lynn Dixon, 612-377-6819, [email protected] Bovee, 507-498-5452, [email protected] Bootlickers, Irina Rossi, [email protected] Eelpout Stringers, Karl Burke, 651-784-7323, [email protected] Gritpickers, Rob Daves, 612-822-0085, [email protected] Benny, David Furniss, 651-699-0557, [email protected] Roe Family Singers, Quillan Roe, 612-599-0266, [email protected] River Ramblers, Eric Hatling, 715-772-4421, [email protected]

MBOTMA Member Bands

21June 2015


Tickwood String Band, Doug Wells, 218-736-4469, [email protected] Tune Jerks, Bob Douglas, 651-778-1395, [email protected] Goose Chase Cloggers, Jim Brooks, 612-419-4576, [email protected] The Other Eye, David Gourhan, 651-674-8668, [email protected]

RELATED GENRE BANDSAlabaster Falls, Julie Kaiser, 218-308-3131, [email protected] Banjo, Richard Swanson, 651-338-1349, [email protected] Sorrows, Robert Coleman, 612-801-4660, [email protected] Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund, Brian Wicklund, 651-433-4564, [email protected] Flaming, Benji Flaming, 612-326-6521, [email protected] King & The Guilty Pleasures, Bernie King, 763-242-6943, [email protected] & Kate Isles, Bill Isles, 218-340-4404, [email protected] Gospel Trio, Timothy Johnson, 763-464-3481, [email protected] Yodel #9, John Whitehead, 651-641-0752, [email protected] Dad, John Soderberg, 612-441-7382, [email protected] Grass, Matt Johnson, 612-462-3546, [email protected]’s Jammers, Barb Carlson, 763-784-7881, [email protected] & Loretta, Loretta Simonet, 612-781-9537, [email protected] Cajun Band, Doug Lohman, 612-306-3490, [email protected] D Harvey & the Ultrasonic Duo, Donald Harvey, 608-781-3456, [email protected] North, Louise Wiermaa, 218-590-7654, [email protected] Flemming Fold, Sandra Flemming, 952-758-7522, [email protected] Legg Fish, Mick Garrett, 320-279-1868, [email protected]

The Gated Community, Sumanth Gopinath, 612-332-2006, [email protected] Tree, Bill Cagley, 651-636-9542, [email protected] Hacklewrappers, Mark Rubbert, 612-387-8189, [email protected] Klatt & The Cat Swingers, Jack Klatt, 612-270-9079, [email protected] & Rose Band, John Vincent, 218-766-1925, [email protected] Mueller & Friends, Karen Mueller, 612-270-4740, karen@ karenmueller.comMcInnis Kitchen, Susan Spencer, 218-391-4735, [email protected] Duo, Mary DuShane, 612-724-5341, [email protected] Moss Piglets, Ian Gamble, 651-644-0810, [email protected] Banjo, Ellen Stanley, 612-281-1364, [email protected] Triangle, Emily Wright, 612-275-4701, [email protected] Riverside Ramblers, Eric Mohring, 612-724-4687, info@ newriversideramblers.comNo Grass Limit, Sandi Millar, 763-439-3515, [email protected] Bees, Renee Vaughan, 651-295-4200, [email protected] and Then, Daniel Fish, 763-786-2524, [email protected] Near Sandstone, Michael McGregor, 612-998-8647, michael@ hellobooking.comPeter Ostroushko, 612-529-2884, [email protected]’ Up Steam, Dale Martell, 612-387-0152, [email protected] Chain, Boyd Blomberg, 218-370-0910, [email protected] Nelson, 651-353-3370, [email protected] Corner, Jeanne Marti, 763-559-7552, [email protected] R Dugan, Shawn Dugan, 952-737-7705, [email protected] Skin & Bones, Holle Brian, 612-822-6593, [email protected]

Sherry Minnick & Jackson Buxton, Sherry Minnick, 651-644-8682, [email protected] Skally Line, Frederick Keller, 320-245-6799, [email protected], Soren Olesen, 218-634-2800, [email protected] Sinkers, Chris Boone, 651-274-3054, [email protected] Beans, Chick Pea & Garbonzo, Roger Cuthbertson, 612-474-2476, [email protected] At Birth, Rick Anderson, 651-230-2431, [email protected] & L Schwartz & Family, Linda Schwartz, 701-659-3154, [email protected] Trio, Jay Forney, 218-681-8172, [email protected]’d Out, John Trelstad, 701-212-0015, [email protected] Hamilton, 612-508-0768, [email protected] Weasels, George Rothenberger, 612- 724-6911, [email protected] Bellied Sapsuckers, Joe Hart, 414-439-2004, [email protected]

Musicians Wanted: The Gloryland Gospel band seeks female soprano & alto, and bass guitar or lead guitar. We are an all-volunteer Music Ministry band that performs 2–3 times per month. Rehearsals Mondays, 6:30–7:30pm, in Eden Prairie. Check our website www.glorylandgospelband.com. Respond to [email protected].

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Y’All Come Looking for a place to play with others? Jams are open to the public, but musi-cal tastes and etiquette vary from place to place. A call is recommended before your first visit.

If you find out that a jam is no longer happening or does not fit its description, let us know. And update your own jam or send us details about new ones at [email protected].

Happy Jamming!

MINNESOTA

Blaine: Culvers, 10550 Baltimore St NE, 763-784-7881. Barb: 763-784-7881. Sponsored by MBOTMA; all levels welcome. Bluegrass. Sat. 1:30–4pm

Brainerd: Coco Moon Coffee Bar, 601 Laurel St, 218-825-7955. Bluegrass. 1st, 3rd & 5th Thu. 6:30–8pm

Clear Lake: Travelers on the Mississippi, 11290 80th Ave SE, 320-743-3133. Dick Pickens: 406-868-9205. Bluegrass, Gospel; amps permitted. May–Sep, 3rd Sat. 6–9:30pm

Duluth: Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake, 805 Superior St, 218-728-1192, sirbens.com

◆ Bluegrass. Wed. 7–9pm ◆ Celtic. Thu. 7–9pm

Fergus Falls: The Spot, 220 W Lincoln Ave, 218-998-2551, thespotpaniniandwine.com, Bob Johnson: 218-736-6198, [email protected]. Celtic. 3rd Thu. 7–9pm

Westridge Mall, 2001 W Lincoln Ave, 218-739-4439, Bob Johnson: 218-736-6198, [email protected]. Acoustic; “1st Sunday Mall Jam”. 1st Sun. 1–5pm

Ham Lake: Glen Cary Lutheran Church, 155531 Central Ave NE (Hwy 65), 612-366-1359, [email protected]. Bluegrass, Country, Gospel; community dinner at 6pm. 2nd Fri. 6:30–9pm

Ham Lake Senior Center, 15544 Central Ave NE (Hwy 65). Maxine Larson: 763-434-6750

◆ Country, Bluegrass, Old-Time & Horns. 2nd Thu. 7–10pm

◆ Acoustic & amplified. 3rd Tue. 1–4pm

MINNEAPOLIS: Blackbird’s Music, 3445 Cedar Ave S, 612-326-5745, blackbirdsmusicstore.com.

◆ Bluegrass. Thu. 7–9pm ◆ Adult learners; $5 fee. Tue. 6:30–8pm

Driftwood Char Bar, 4415 Nicollet Ave S. Jug Band Jam hosted by Fat Chance. 1st Tue. 7:30pm

Elliot Park Recreation Center, 1000 14th St E, [email protected], www.TCUkeClub.com. Sponsored by MBOTMA; $5 suggested donation. Ukulele, Blues, Jazz, Swing. 1st & 3rd Tue. 6–8pm

Kenwood Park Community Center 2101 Franklin Ave. [email protected], www.TCUkeClub.com. Sponsored by MBOTMA; $5 suggested donation.

◆ Instruction provided 6pm. Ukulele, Bluegrass. 2nd & 4th Mon. 7–9pm

◆ Instruction provided 6:30pm. Ukulele, Americana. 1st & 3rd Thu. 7–9pm

Kieran’s Irish Pub, 330 2nd Ave S, 612-339-4499, kierans.com. Irish. Sun. noon–2pm

Walker Community United Methodist Church, 3104 16th Ave S, 612-209-5311, [email protected]. Roy’s Jam, Bluegrass. Last Mon. 7–10pm

West Bank School of Music, 1813 S 6th St, 612-333-6651, [email protected]. Bluegrass; led by Bill Cagley, $5 fee. 3rd Sun, 2–4pm

Monticello: VFW, 713 Cedar St,, 763-807-6431, [email protected]. Acoustic & amplified. May–Nov, last Sun. 2–5pm

Northfield: Contented Cow, 302B Division St, 507-663-1351, contentedcow.com

◆ Northern Roots. Mon. 7:30pm ◆ Acoustic. Tue. 7:30pm

Oakdale: Silver Lake Methodist, 5399 Geneva Ave N (Century Ave), 651-777-2920, [email protected]. Acoustic. 3rd Sat. 10am–noon

Red Wing: Winter Farmer’s Market, Sargent’s Nursery, 3352 N Service Dr. Dave: 651-388-3847. Old-time. Nov–Mar, Sat. 9am–noon

Richfield: Homestead Pickin’ Parlor, 6625 Penn Ave S, 612-861-3308, homesteadpickinparlor.com

◆ Slow fiddle tunes; all bluegrass instruments welcome. 1st, 3rd, 5th Mon. 7–9pm

◆ Flatpicking Guitar. Thu. 7–9pm ◆ Beginning Bluegrass, $1 donation for

leader. 2nd & 4th Tue. 7–9pm ◆ Advanced Bluegrass. Sat. 3–6pm ◆ Fiddle tunes, intermediate level; all

Bluegrass Instruments welcome. Wed. 7–9pm.

◆ Folk Jam. 1st, 3rd, 5th Tue. 7–9pm

Rochester: Peace UCC, 1503 2nd Ave NE, peacechurchucc.org. Pat Lehey: 507-261-7128. Bluegrass. Fri. 6:30pm

Rogers: Rogers Community Center, 21201 Memorial Dr. Dave Christen: 612-859-5847, [email protected]. Potluck at 4pm. Acoustic & amplified. 1st Sun. 1–6pm

Roseville: Ken’s Market, 788 Cleveland Ave SW, Doug Chasar: 612-802-0833, [email protected]. Acoustic. Mon. 6:30–8:30pm

Rushford: Good Shepard Home, 800 Home St. Roberta Albertson: 507-864-8109, [email protected]. Bluegrass. Nov–Mar, 3rd Sun. noon–5pm

Saint Cloud: Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr. Ken Hoest: 320-260-3348. Acoustic & amplified. 1st Tue. 6:30–9pm

23June 2015


Sartell: The Legends at Heritage Place, 673 Brianna Dr. Gary Loomis: 320-223-2537, [email protected]. Acoustic. 4th Tue. 6–9pm

Spring Valley: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 805 S Broadway. Roberta Albertson: 507-864-8109, [email protected]. Bluegrass. Nov–Mar, 1st Sun. noon–5pm

SAINT PAUL: Burn Ward Coffee Unit, 945 West 7th St. Doug Chasar: 612-802-0833, [email protected]. Acoustic; call for space availability. Thu. 6:30–8:30pm

Dubliner, 2162 University Ave, 651-646-5551, thedublinerpub.com

◆ Sea Shanties. 2nd Mon. 7:30pm ◆ Traditional Irish (advanced).

Fri. 6–9pm

Underground Music Cafe, 1579 Hamline Ave N, 651-644-9959, undergroundmusiccafe.com

◆ Roots Music (Bluegrass, Old-time, Country). 1st, 3rd Tue. 7–9pm

◆ Cajun. 1st, 3rd Sat. 11am–1pm

Taylors Falls: Memorial Community Center, 312 Government St. Brian Pigott: 651-465-5551, [email protected]. Acoustic & amplified. Mon. 6–9pm

Wyoming: Wyoming Methodist Church, 5459 E Viking Blvd, 651-464-7442, [email protected]. Acoustic, Gospel. 2nd & 4th Thu. 7–9pm

WISCONSIN

La Crosse: Southside Neighborhood Center, 1300 6th St S. Ron Sackett: 608-498-0020, [email protected]. Bluegrass, Gospel. Sep–May, 2nd Sun. 12–4:30pm

Menomonie: Christ Lutheran Church, Elm & Wilcox Streets. Donna Harschlip: 715-673-4885. Mountain Dulcimer; other acoustic instruments welcome. Tue. 1–3pm

Rice Lake: First Lutheran Church, 15 E Sawyer St, 715-458-0181, [email protected]. Acoustic, Bluegrass, Gospel. Sep–May, 2nd Sat. 6–9pm

River Falls: Farmers Market, 2nd & Locust. Ben Toppel: 715-688-3112, [email protected]. Old-time; bring a chair. Tent is available, but may not occur if it rains. Jun–Oct, Sat. 9am–noon

Funktion Junction Antiques and Local Goods, 125 North Main St. Ben Toppel: 715-688-3112, [email protected]. Old-time. Nov–May, Sat. 9am–noon

Star Prairie: This Old Store, 301 Main St. Jerry: 751-248-4800. Acoustic. Tue. 2–9pm

Minnesota Bluegrass August 2015

Articles, Ads, Coming Up, and News Clips

Deadline: July 1, 2015Send to:

[email protected]

NORTH DAKOTA

Fargo: Red Raven Expresso Parlor, 916 Main Ave. Bob Johnson: 701-478-7337, [email protected]

◆ Celtic. 4th Thu. 7–9pm ◆ Old-Time. 2nd Thu. 7–9pm

Valley City: Barnes County Historical Society, 315 Central Ave N. John Andrus: 701-721-8296. Bluegrass. Sep–May, 2nd Sat. 1–5pm

Internationally renowned Irish musi-cians converge for a lively weekend of traditional Irish music at the Eighth Annual Minnesota Irish Music Weekend (MIM) June 12–14, 2015, at the Center for Irish Music, 836 Prior Avenue North in Saint Paul. With fiddles, whistles and accordions in tow, featured artists include Cherish the Ladies founder and leader Joanie Madden; the “All Ireland” award-winning musicians Mick, Louise and Michelle Mulcahy from County Limerick, Ireland; founding singer of

Minnesota Irish Music Weekend June 12–14Cherish the Ladies Bridget Fitzgerald; and Boston fiddler Sean Clohessy.

The event offers workshops and lectures for children, teens and adults, a free Friday night “Great Session Experience,” and a Saturday night con-cert featuring all six visiting artists.

New for 2015 is a one-day Irish Trad Immersion Camp for intermediate-level students ages 9–12 looking to expand their skills and learn new tunes. The Teen Program offers a rare opportunity for youth ages 12–19 to study with the renowned Irish artists. The beginner’s

program is especially designed for those just getting started in Irish music.

In addition to hands-on music work-shops and lectures, MIM offers the Friday evening Great Session Experience, a free event bringing together the Twin Cities Irish music community with six simultaneous sessions, including one dedicated to song. The Saturday evening concert features all six of the visiting artists.

Pricing for workshop and concerts can be found at www.centerforir-ishmusic.org/mim/.

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PRE-FESTIVAL INSTRUCTIONAL CAMPS Prior to the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival

at El Rancho Mañana Campground on August 6-9 BLUEGRASS JAM CAMP WITH THE HIGH 48S

The members of The High 48s, Eric Christopher (fiddle), Marty Marrone (guitar), Mike Hedding (mandolin), Rich Casey (standup bass), and Anthony Ihrig (banjo), will host a three-day bluegrass instructional jam camp.

This camp is for beginners and intermediate level players and will include individual instrument instruction plus group playing and harmony singing dynamics. The camp will culminate with a short stage presentation for all participants on Thursday evening. What a great way to start a festival weekend. Tuesday August 4th (after 6PM) through Thursday August 6th, 2015. $95 registration fee before July 15th, $120 after that date. Pre-registration advised. Class size limited to 12 students per instructor. For more information or to register call 800-635-3037 email to [email protected].

OLD-TIME STRINGBAND CAMP WITH THE BUCKING MULES

The members of The Bucking Mules will host a two day old-time band instructional camp on Wednesday August 5th and Thursday August 6th 2015. Joesph Decosimo (fiddle), Luke Richardson (banjo), Meredith McIntosh

(bass), and Karen Celia Heil (guitar) will be teaching intermediate and advanced level old-time musicianship. Students will learn some basics of old-time music as well as a few new tunes. They’ll receive instruction on their individual instrument, as well as some experience playing with others. And all in a relaxed, positive and inclusive environment. The camp begins at 9AM Wed and continues through 6PM Thurs. $80.00 registration fee before July 1, $95 after that date. Class size will be limited to twelve students per instructor. For questions or to register call 800-635-3037 email to [email protected].

For more information or to register: 1-800-635-3037 [email protected]

607 W Lake St Minneapolis MN 612.827.1726

JuneFRI 12 – Becky Schlegel SAT 13 – Bill Giese & The PedestriansFRI 19 – Pat Donohue & Dan Newton SAT 20 – Chris Silver & The Good IntentionsFRI 26 – Mississippi Hot ClubSAT 27 – Jon Garon & Assisted Picking

JulyFRI 10 – Pushing Chain SAT 11 – Porcupine Creek FRI 17 – Detroit Don King (blues band) SAT 18 – Colin O’Brien (soloist in the spirit of John Hartford)SAT 25 – Bernie King & The Guilty PleasuresFRI 31 – The Mosspiglets

Music starts at 8pmFind updates on Facebook

www.dulonospizza.com

A to G Music, Osseo, MN, 763-420-5500All Strings Attached, Minneapolis, MN, 763-542-9542Blackbirds Music, Minneapolis, MN, 612-326-5745Cadenza Music, St. Paul, MN, 651-644-3611Christian Eggert Violins Duluth, Duluth, MN, 218-726-1970Christian Eggert Violins Fargo, Fargo, ND, 701-280-7017Classical Guitars Etc., Apple Valley, MN, 952-322-1310Dave’s Guitar Shop, La Crosse, WI, 608-785-7704Eclipse Music, West St. Paul, MN, 651-451-8878Evans Music, White Bear Lake, MN, 651-429-0236Fein Stringed Instruments, St. Paul, MN, 651-228-0783The Guitar Shop, Rosemount, MN, 651-344-8177Haas Musical Instrument Repair, Arden Hills, MN, 651-631-8820Hobgoblin Music, Red Wing, MN, 651-388-8400Hoffman Guitars, Minneapolis, MN, 612-338-1079Homestead Pickin’ Parlor, Richfield, MN, 612-861-3308Kenny’s Music, Grand Forks, ND, 701-772-8670Kezar Music Company, Thief River Falls, MN, 218-681-2148Main Street Music, Elk River, MN, 763-441-1753Marguerite’s Music, Moorhead, MN, 218-233-7546Mr. Mark Music, Anoka, MN, 763-421-5455My Favorite Guitars, Naples, FL, 239-530-7425Nelson Music, Erhard, MN, 409-939-3062Piano Circle, Bloomington, MN, 952-881-6165The Podium, Minneapolis, MN, 612-767-2800Rhapsody Music, Mankato, MN, 507-387-2562Rocktown Music, Waite Park, MN, 320-257-7676Scheitel’s Music, Mankato, MN, 507-387-3881Simply Violins, New Hope, MN, 763-535-7055Tone Music, Owatonna, MN, 507-451-5196Waseca Music Co., Waseca, MN, 507-835-2980

Friends of Minnesota Bluegrass Music Stores

www.LakesBluegrassFestival.com

Featuring the Best in National & Regional Bluegrass Bands!

[email protected]

August27-30, 2015

Pine River, MNCass County Fairgrounds

Festival ScheduleGates Open Tues., 3pm

Wed. Night Old Time Dance

Main StageThu. 5 - 11pm

Fri. & Sat. 11am - 11pmSun. 10am - 2pm

WorkshopsFri. & Sat. 10am -5pm

Plus camping, jamming, workshops, food & more!

10th Annual

Ticket Information & Purchase Available Online

Tommy Brown & County Line Grass

Special Consensus

Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Nightflyer

The Sawtooth Brothers

The Lonesome Tradition

The Platte Valley Boys

9 Time IBMA Fiddler of the Year!

Winner of 2 IBMA Awards in ‘14!

Celebrating 10 Years!

Shaffers Lost 40The Berge FamilyPorcupine Creek

No Grass LimitSarah Mae & the Birkeland Boys

Becky Buller

Nominated for IBMA Songwriter of the Year ‘14!

Also Playing:

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Presented by MBOTMA

Bluegrass Jam Camp With The High 48s, Tuesday–Thursday, August 4–6, 2015, El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, MN. The members of The High 48s will host a three-day bluegrass instructional jam camp prior to the start of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival. This camp is for begin-ners and intermediate level players and will include individual instrument instruction plus group playing and harmony sing-ing dynamics. $95 registration fee before July 15, $120 after. For more information or to register: 800-635-3037 or [email protected]. Bucking Mules Old-Time Band Camp, Wednesday & Thursday, August 5–6, 2015, El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, MN. The members of The Bucking Mules will host a two-day old-time band instructional camp for intermediate and advanced level old-time musicians. Students will learn some basics of old-time music as well as a few new tunes. $80 regis-tration fee before July 15, $95 after. For more information or to register: 800-635-3037 or [email protected]. Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, August 6–9, 2015, El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, MN. Four-day outdoor music and camping festival with stage shows, dances, workshops, showcases, children’s shows, demonstra-tions, crafts, and good food in five stage areas. 2015 performers will include a Hot Rize Reunion with Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers, Entertainers & Vocal Group of the Year Balsam Range, Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray, Red Molly, The Jumpsteady Boys, The Bucking Mules, and many more. $20 to $30 daily at the gate or $85 for all four days in advance includ-ing camping ($79 before March 1). Additional discounts for MBOTMA members. For information or tickets call 800-635-3037 or visit www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org.

Harvest Jam Acoustic Music Experience, November 20–22, 2015, Marriott Minneapolis West Hotel, 9960 Wayzata Blvd, St. Louis Park. 10th annual event will feature stage shows Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. The Race For A Place Band Contest on Saturday, the Saturday Banquet Dinner, Kip’s Live Open Mic in Kip’s Irish Pub throughout the weekend, workshops, musical exhibitors, Sunday morning gospel show, and lots of jam sessions. 800-635-3037 or www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org. Lodging: Marriott, 952-544-4400, ask for the special Minnesota Bluegrass rate.

MBOTMA Calendar of EventsConcerts and events presented or supported by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music AssociationThe following events are presented by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA) or supported in part by MBOTMA, and made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Supported by MBOTMA

RecFest Bluegrass Festival, July 23–26, 2015, Recreation Park, 2nd St. NW, Milaca, MN. The 6th annual festival, with Shaffer’s Lost 40, The Long Shots, Pride Of The Prairie, Barton’s Hollow, Biscuit Boys, Northern Lights, Mathison Family Fiddlers, Sarah Mae & The Birkeland Boys, and The Halvorson Family. Admission $25 weekend + $30 per camping unit. 320-237-2657 or www.milacarecfest.com. Produced by Milaca Parks & Rec and supported in part by MBOTMA.

Scott County Fair Bluegrass Festival, Sunday, July 26, 2015, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m., Scott County Fairgrounds, 7151 190th St. W., Jordan, MN. Church service with music by Mary Lou & The Rusty Strings at 10:30 a.m. followed by The High 48s, Blue Drifters Duet, and The Roe Family Singers. Admission $10 for parking. For more information 952-492-2436 or www.scottcountyfair.com. Supported in part by MBOTMA. Caponi Art Park Bluegrass Festival, Sunday, September 13, 2015, 12–6 p.m., Theater In The Woods, Caponi Art Park, 1220 Diffley Rd., Eagan, MN. A community celebration featur-ing music, clogging, children’s activities, and food trucks in a beautiful outdoor venue. Adults $20; Age 6-12 $5; Under 5 free. For more information: 651-454-9412, www.caponiartpark.org. Produced by the Caponi Art Park & Learning Center and supported in part by MBOTMA.

29June 2015


Coming Up331C: 331 Club, 331 13th Ave NE, Mpls, 612-331-1746, www.331.mn3Cr: Three Crows Cafe, 225 N River St, Delano, 763-972-3399, www.thethreecrows.comACA: Acadia Cafe, 329 Cedar Ave, Mpls, 612-874-8702, www.acadiacafe.comAGr: Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, 394 S Lake Ave, Duluth, 218-723-0075, www.amazinggraceduluth.comAPHC: “A Prairie Home Companion,” Minnesota Public RadioAST: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main St, Mpls, 612-379-3138, www.astercafe.comBTC: Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, 888-244-8368, www.bigtop.orgBoDD: BoDiddley’s Pub and Deli, 129 25th Ave S, St. Cloud, 320-252-9475CED: Cedar Cultural Center, 415 Cedar Ave S, Mpls, 612-338-2674, www.thecedar.orgCJ: Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave, St Paul, 651-330-4685, www.thecelticjunction.comCrH: Creek House Concerts, New Brighton, 651-633-5353, www.creekhouseconcerts.comDAK: Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Mall, Mpls, 612-332-1010, www.dakotacooks.comDUL: 607 W Lake St, Mpls, 612-827-1726, www.dulonos.comDuG: Dunn Brothers on Grand, 1569 Grand Ave, St. PaulEAG: Eagles Club, 2507 E 25th St, Mpls, 612-729-4469, www.Mplseagles34.org

Venue abbreviations

June 2—Tuesday• Monroe Crossing, Bluegrass Tuesdays,

Warren County Courthouse Square, Indianola, IA

June 3—Wednesday• The Gated Community, AST, $5, 9pm• Monroe Crossing, Way Station

Concerts, Unitarian Church of Lincoln, Lincoln, NE

FITZ: Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E Exchange St, St Paul, 651-290-1200, www.fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.orgGINK: Ginkgo Coffeehouse, 721 N Snelling Ave, St Paul, 651-645-2647, www.ginkgocoffee.comGKb: Grand Kabaret, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 507-359-9222, www.thegrandnewulm.comHB: Harriet Brewing, 3036 Minnehaha Ave, MinneapolisHOB: The Loft at Hobgoblin Music, 920 State Hwy 19, Red Wing, 877-866-3936, www.stoneyend.comHOPK: Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, 952-979-1111, www.hopkinsartscenter.comKIP: Kieran’s Irish Pub, 85 6th St N, Mpls, 612-339-4499, www.kierans.comKRAM: Kramarczuk’s Deli, 215 E Hennepin Ave, Mpls, 612-379-3018, www.kramarczuks.comOAK: Oak Center General Store, 67011 Hwy 63, Lake City, 507-753-2080, www.oakcentergeneralstore.comROCK: Rockwoods, 9100 Quaday Ave NE, Elk River, 763-222-4353, www.nograsslimit.com/RockwoodsCalendar.htmlSHL: Sheldon Theatre, 443 W 3rd St, Red Wing, 800-899-5759, www.sheldontheatre.orgTAP: Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Ave S, Mpls, 612-722-2914, www.tapestryfolkdance.orgUMC: Underground Music Café, 1579 Hamline Ave N, Falcon Hts, 651-644-9959, undergroundmusiccafe.comZUM: Crossings at Carnegie, 320 East Ave, Zumbrota, 507-732-7616, www.crossingsatcarnegie.com

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONSJune 20Stone Arch Bridge Festival, Mpls. A weekend of art and music on the Minneapolis Riverfront. Details at www.stonearchbridgefestival.com. Bob & Lynn Dixon, City Pages Bridge Stage, 11:15am

June 6Headliners, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades Free downtown block party in Richland Center, WI. Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, 4:30pm. More at www.ocoochapalooza.com

June 11–13Blue Ox Music Fest, Hosted by Pert Near Sandstone. 3 days of music near Eau Claire, WI. Yonder Mountain String Band, Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, Infamous Stringdusters, and many more. www.blueoxmusicfestival.com

To post gigs and events to this calendar, request the link to our online submission form to [email protected]

June 4—Thursday• Claudia Schmidt’s Birthday Bash with

Dean Magraw, GINK• Mark Kreitzer, International Fiddle

Camp, International Peace Garden, 10834 Peace Garden Drive, ND

• Pushing Chain, ROCK, 7:30pm• Swamp Poppas, EAG, 7:30pm

June 5—Friday• Crooked Grass, Driftwood Char Bar,

4415 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls, 7pm• Kris Delmhorst, Bryant Lake Bowl

Theater, 10pm, Presented by CED• Mark Kreitzer, International Fiddle

Camp, International Peace Garden, 10834 Peace Garden Drive, ND

• Mary DuShane and Nick Jordan - Moonlight Duo, Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake St, Mpls, 5:30pm

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June 5—Friday• Monroe Crossing, Tallgrass Music

Festival, Skiatook, OK• Pushing Chain, Castle Danger Brewery,

17 7th St, Two Harbors, MN, 7pmJune 6—Saturday• Contra Dance with Pig’s Eye Landing,

TAP, 7:30pm• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan -

Moonlight Duo, Mill City Farmers Market, 704 S 2nd St, Mpls, 11am

• Monroe Crossing, Tallgrass Music Festival, Skiatook, OK

• Nordic Bees, American Swedish Institute, Sweden’s National Day Celebration, 11:30am

• Pushing Chain, Streetcar Kitchen & Pub, 232 Chestnut Ave, Carlton, MN, 7pm

• Singleton Street, Dayblock Brewing Company, 1105 Washington Ave S, Mpls, 8:30pm

• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Free, down-town block party in Richland Center, WI. Headliners, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. More at www.ocoocha-palooza.com, 4:30pm

June 7—Sunday• The Fish Heads, Beaner’s Central, 324

N Central Ave, Duluth, 218-624-5957, Pete Fest, multiple bands, great food, great folks and you get to meet PETE! www.bigfishtunes.com, 5pm

• Nordic Bees, Live from Studio J, www.nordicees.com, 6pm

• Summer Concert for Kids, featuring Bunny Clogs, Clementown, Roe Family Singers, CED, Benefit for Southside Family Nurturing Center, 11:30am

June 9—Tuesday• Sawtooth Brothers, Centerville Music

in Park, Hidden Spring Park, 1601 LaMotte Dr, Centerville, MN, 6:30pm

June 10—Wednesday• Dick Kimmel & Jerilyn Kjellberg,

Gaylord, MN, Music on Main, 5pm• Bob Bovee & Pop Wagner, Spring

Grove Park, Spring Grove, MN, 6pmJune 11—Thursday• Ivory bridge, Oakdale Public Library,

1010 Heron Ave N, Oakdale, MN, 651-730-0504, 6:30pm

• Monroe Crossing, Northwoods Friends of the Arts Concerts, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 124 Fifth Street SE, Cook, MN

• The Pine Hill Project: Lucy Kaplansky & Richard Shindell, CED, 7:30pm

• Southside Aces, EAG, 8pmJune 11–13• Blue Ox Music Fest, Hosted by Pert

Near Sandstone. 3 Days of music near Eau Claire, WI featuring: Yonder Mountain String Band, Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Infamous Stringdusters, Pokey LaFarge, Hackensaw Boys, and many more. Various ticket packages available from www.blueoxmusicfes-tival.com

June 12—Friday• The Barley Jacks, Heritage Square Park,

Wabasha, MN, 7pm• Chris Silver Band, Day Block Brewery,

1105 S Washington Ave, Mpls, 9pm• The Gated Community w/Church of

Cash, HB, $6 cover, 7pm• Porcupine Creek, Northwoods

Bluegrass Festival, Rusk County Fairgrounds, Ladysmith, WI, northwoodsbluegrassfestival.com, 7pm

• Pushing Chain, Bluefin Grill, 9pm• The WoodPicks, Northwoods Bluegrass

Festival, June 12-13, 2015, Rusk County Fairgrounds, U.S. Hwy 8, Ladysmith, WI, 715-532-7328

June 13—Saturday• The Barley Jacks, Somerset

Amphitheater, Somerset, WI, 9pm• Bob Bovee & Pop Wagner, CrH, Creek

House concert by reservation only, 7pm• Contra Dance with Pat O’Loughlin &

Friends, TAP, 7:30pm• The Fish Heads, Northwoods Bluegrass

Festival, Rusk County Fairgrounds, Ladysmith, WI, www.northwoodsblue-grassfestivall.com, 11am

• The Good Intentions, Loring Park Music Festival, Mpls, 5:45pm

• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan - Moonlight Duo, University Baptist Church, 1219 University Ave SE, Mpls, $15, 612-331-1768, 7pm

• Nordic Bees, Nisswa-stämman: Scandinavian and Scandinavian/American folk music festival, www.nisswastamman.org, 11am

• Porcupine Creek, Northwoods Bluegrass Festival, Rusk County Fairgrounds, U.S. Hwy 8, Ladysmith, WI, 10am

• The Purdy River Band, Tirrill Park Bandshell, Manchester, IA, 5pm

• Pushing Chain, Great Northern Radio Show, Grand Marais, Venue & time for live show TBA, listen at KAXE & KBXE (Northern Community Radio): Grand Rapids at 91.7 FM, Bagley at 90.5 FM, Brainerd at 89.9 FM, and Ely at 103.9 FM

• Singleton Street, Fulton Farmers Market, 4901 Chowen Ave S, Mpls, 11am

• Jon Vezner Songwriting Workshop, Schmitt Music Recital Hall, 2906 W 66th St, Edina, mnsongwriters.org, 1pm

June 14—Sunday• Blue Groove, Excelsior Art on the Lake,

Excelsior MN, 12pm, The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber will host its 35th annual Art on the Lake on June 13 & 14. Free parking & shuttle from Mtka. High School, more info at excel-sior-lakeminnetonkachamber.com/art-on-the-lake

June 15—Monday• Sawtooth Brothers, Harmony for Mayo,

Peace Plaza, Rochester, MN, 12pmJune 16—Tuesday• Jillian Rae, Riverview Cafe, 3753 42nd

Ave S, Mpls, 612-722-7234, www.theriv-erview.com, 8pm

• Sawtooth Brothers, Bluegrass Tuesdays on Court House Square, Indianola, IA, 6:30pm

June 17—Wednesday• Bob & Lynn Dixon, Nokomis Farmers

Market, 5167 Chicago Ave S, Mpls, 4pm • Dick Kimmel, Helvetia Winery,

Hillsboro, OR, 5:30pmJune 18—Thursday• Dirty Spoon with Dick Kimmel, Sam

Bond’s Garage, Eugene, OR, 9pm• DL Cajun Band, EAG, 7:30pm• Pushing Chain, Floyd’s Bar, 1758

Arboretum Blvd, Victoria, MN, 6pmJune 19—Friday• Bob Bovee & Tim Foss, Dreamacres

Farm, Co Hwy 8, Spring Valley, MN, 507-352-4255, Summer Solstice Barn Dance with old time squares. Calling by Ann Carter, 7pm

• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan - Moonlight Duo, Brookside Bar & Grill, 140 Judd St, Marine on St. Croix, 651-433-1112, 5pm

31June 2015


• Monroe Crossing, 49th Annual Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, Beanblossom, IN

• New First Night with Peter Yarrow and The Blue Canvas Orchestra, BTC, 7:30pm

• The Platte Valley Boys, Musky Fest, Hayward, WI, Annual City-Wide Festival, Parade, Fishing Contest, Coronation, Multiple Bands, 11am

• Pushing Chain, North Folk Winery, 43150 Blackhawk Road, Harris, MN, 651-674-7548, 3:30pm

• Singleton Street, Schram Vineyards, 8785 Airport Rd, Waconia, 5:30pm

June 20—Saturday• Bob & Lynn Dixon, Stone Arch Bridge

Festival, City Pages Bridge Stage, Mpls. A weekend of art and music. Details at stonearchbridgefestival.com, 11:15am

• Big Top Opry, BTC, 7:30pm• Catfish Keith, CrH, 7pm• Contra Dance with Fiddle Buddies,

TAP, 7:30pm• DL Cajun Band, Mill City Farmers

Market, 2nd St next to Guthrie Theater, Mpls. Great vendors, lunch available, live music 11am to 1pm

• Gordon Lightfoot, State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave, Mpls, 800-982-2787, 8pm

• The Good Intentions, DUL, 8pm• Monroe Crossing, A Slice of Bluegrass

House Concerts, Brashler Barn, Lockport, IL

• Nordic Bees, American Swedish Institute, Midsommar Celebration, 1:30pm

• Prairiegrass, Breakfast On The Farm, Waverly, MN, 701-429-1666, 9am

• Pushing Chain Quartet, Excelsior Brewing, 3rd St, Excelsior, MN, 6pm

• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Trempeauleau Hotel, 150 Main St, Trempealeau, WI, 8pm

June 21—Sunday• Bob Bovee, Grey Eagle Public Library,

Grey Eagle, MN, 1pm• Bob Bovee, Swanville Public Library,

Swanville, MN, 4pm• Catfish Keith Workshop, CrH• Geena and Jesse, GINK, 7pm• Monroe Crossing, Three Lakes Center

for the Arts, 1760 Superior St, Three Lakes, WI

• The Kimmel Trio (Seth, Ian, & Dick), Sam Bond’s Garage, Eugene, OR, 8:30pm

• Mother Banjo, George Green Park, 1551 7th Ave, Anoka, MN, Free Father’s Day Concert, 7pm

• Papa John Kolstad, Falconer Vineyards, 3572 Old Tyler Rd, Red Wing, 6pm

June 22—Monday• Pushing Chain, National anthem at

Twins v. White Sox, Target Field, 7pmJune 23—Tuesday• The Good Intentions, Wall

Amphitheater, University of Wisconsin River Falls, 7pm

• Sawtooth Brothers, Plainview Community Center, Concert with Pie and Ice Cream Social, 7pm

June 24—Wednesday• Dick Kimmel, Drift Inn, Yachats, OR,

6:30pmJune 25—Thursday• Blue Groove, ROCK, 8pm• Curtis & Loretta, Salo Park

Amphitheater, 39th Ave NE, St. Anthony Village, 7pm

• Minnesota Blue, Hause Park, North Saint Paul, Outdoor concert in the park. Bring your folding chair or blan-ket, 6:30pm

• Shanties & Shipwrecks, BTC, 7:30pm• Rockin’ Pinecones, EAG, 7:30pmJune 26—Friday• Monroe Crossing, Art in the Park,

Robinson Park, Pine City, MN, 6:30pmJune 27—Saturday• Contra Dance with Moonlight Trio,

TAP, 7:30pm• Danny O’Keefe, CrH, 7pm• The Flemming Fold, Red Lake County

Fair, Red Lake County Fair, Oklee, MN• Monroe Crossing, Crossings at

Carnegie Presents, The State Theatre, 88 E 4th St, Zumbrota MN, 8pm

• Moonlight Trio: Mary DuShane, Adam Granger, Nick Jordan, TAP, contra dance, 7:30pm

• Sawtooth Brothers, Bluegrass Americana Weekend, Central Park, 145th St W, Rosemount, MN, 8pm

• Singleton Street, Fitgers Brewhouse, 600 E Superior St, Duluth, 10pm

June 28—Sunday• Carver Creek, Harkin Store, 66250 Co

Rd 21, New Ulm, MN, 1pm

• Curtis & Loretta, Kingfield Farmers Market, 4310 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls, 10am

• Singleton Street, Lyndale Lutheran Church, 8012 Co Road 6, Maple Plain

July 1—Wednesday• Bob Bovee, Rochester Public Library,

101 2nd St SE, Rochester, MN 10am• No Man’s String Band and Pride of the

Prairie, HB, Cuttin’ Grass is a music series hosted by the No Man’s String Band at Harriet Brewing. Returning in 2015 for every Wednesday in July, join us to hear some of the best bluegrass and old time music around! 7:30pm

• Patchouli, Bandshell between East & West Ave, Red Wing, 7pm

July 3—Friday• Gaelic Storm, BTC, 7:30pm• Sawtooth Brothers, Meet Me Under the

Bridge, Wabasha, MN, 7pmJuly 4—Saturday• Bob & Lynn Dixon, Prior Lake Farmers

Market, Main Street, Prior Lake, MN, 9am

• The Moss Piglets, Brookside Bar and Grill, 140 Judd St, Marine on St Croix, MN, 3pm

• The Ultrasonic Duo, Riverfest, July 1–4, E Veterans Memorial Dr, La Crosse, WI, Lots of bands, 11am

• Sawtooth Brothers, North Morristown 4th of July Celebration, North Morristown, MN, 12pm

July 5—Sunday• Sawtooth Brothers, Music in Park,

Salem Lutheran Church, 1340 County Road 5, Longville, MN, 5pm

• Singleton Street, Dayblock Brewing Company Brunch, 1105 Washington Ave S, Mpls, 11am

July 8—Wednesday• Dick Kimmel, Music in the Park,

Rugbe, ND, 7pm• No Man’s String Band, HB, 7:30pmJuly 9—Thursday• Arlo Guthrie, BTC, 7:30pm• Pushing Chain, ROCK, 7pm• Sarah Mae & the Birkeland Boys,

South St. Louis County Fair, Proctor Fairgrounds, Duluth, 1pm

• Wayne Hamilton, Elk River Farmers Market, 716 Main St, Elk River, MN 3:30pm

32 June 2015

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On June 23, two of the most in-demand artists in roots music, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, will take center stage with their self-titled debut album on Red House Records. After decades of marriage and seven years working closely with Levon Helm—Campbell as bandleader and producer (winning three Grammys for his work) and wife Williams as singer—their first album together features eight originals and three covers honed at Helm’s legendary Midnight Rambles.

“It was the most pure musical expe-rience I’ve ever had,” Campbell says of their time with Helm. “It gave me the template for how to make music for the rest of my life: no egos, no agenda, no petty stuff. I got inspired to write more songs for Teresa and me to sing.”

The lovefest of guests on Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams sweet-ened the pot considerably: Amy Helm’s voice melding with Larry and Teresa’s on the gorgeous Grateful Dead hymn “Attics Of My Life,” Little Feat keyboard-ist Bill Payne’s rollicking touch on sev-eral tracks, and Levon himself appear-ing on “You’re Running Wild,” a tune made famous by the Louvin Brothers, now given an Orbison touch (originally recorded during Levon’s Dirt Farmer sessions). Finally, it all dovetailed into place.

In addition to his Grammy wins with Helm, Campbell has won the Lifetime Achievement Award (2008) and Instrumentalist of the Year Award (2013) from the Americana Music Association.

With Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, this duo not only brings a lot to the table, they bring the table itself – plus the house, the still, the church, the marriage bed, the sawdust covered floor, and abiding, unconditional love, all car-ried in two voices harmonizing across hills, hollers, porches, and fire escapes. Those close harmonies ride atop music made in a mountain refuge, far from the madding crowd, connected to a spirit that lives on in song.

Campbell and Williams will tour the country this spring and summer For more information contact Ray Padgett ([email protected]) or Matt Hanks ([email protected]) at Shore Fire Media.

Grass Clippings LaPlant Instrumentsmaker of fine

mandolins & guitars

Buy - TradeSell - Repair

(stringed instruments)

31751 LaPlant RoadGrand Rapids, MN 55744

218-326-4456

Food vendors will be on site • Horse and carriage rides available

Sponsored By:MPRB/Loring Park, Citizens for a Loring Park Community, Friends of Loring Park

Loring Kitchen & Bar, Loring Corners, Joe Kaplan, Joe Whitney, 19 Bar, City of Minneapolis/NCR, and several individuals and businesses!

For more info email us at [email protected]

FEATURING:The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers • The Little Thunderbirds

Frank Hornstein & Friends • St. Anthony Main • TrakiJoyful Noize • The Good Intentions Bluegrass Band

Brady Perl • Patty & the Buttons • Blue HazardDiversity Street Dancers

Sat., June 13th, 2015Noon - 8pm

FREE

Historic and Unique

Loring Corners Historic and UniqueHistoric and UniqueHistoric and UniqueHistoric and UniqueHistoric and UniqueHistoric and UniqueHistoric and UniqueHistoric and Unique

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33June 2015


6625 Penn Ave. S.Richfield, MN 55423

(612) 861-3308www.homesteadpickinparlor.com

[email protected] you can find us on Facebook

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Mandolin Headquarters

Making the world safe for discerning fans of Traditional Music since 1979

We have mandolins in stock to suityour abilities and needs, from begin-ner to pro! A-Models or F-Modelswith many brands to choose from.

We carry those lines that we havefound during our 35 years to be themost reliable and best sounding.Choose from Rover, Kentucky, Loar,Michael Kelly and Weber.

• Over 20 mandolins in stock• Set up to your specifications

in-house• Strap buttons installed on all

mandolins purchased

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34 June 2015

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ARMADILLO SOUND & DESIGN

Serving MBOTMA for over 25 years.

Complete production services, sound and lights.

Custom speaker cabinets, road cases, amp racks.

Complete studio and live multi-track

recording with Protools©.

You know Doug’s attention to detail in the live concert…

Let him help you craft your next recording project.

612-306-3490 [email protected]

35June 2015


Tuesday, June 2, 2015

6 pmIndianola Bluegrass Tuesdays Summer ConcertsWarren County Courthouse Square

Indianola, IA 515-975-0409

Wednesday, June 3 7 pmWay Station ConcertsUnitarian Church of Lincoln, 6300 A Street

Lincoln, NE 402-540-0015

Friday, June 5 8 pm Tallgrass Music Festival3020 W 133rd Street North

Skiatook, OK 918-261-3443Saturday, June 6 2 & 7 pm

Thursday, June 11 7 pmNorthwoods Friends of the Arts ConcertSaint Mary’s Catholic Church, 124 Fifth Street South

Cook, MN 218-750-1989

Friday, June 12 7 pm Edge Center for the Arts, 101 Second Avenue Bigfork, MN 218-743-6670

Friday, June 19 Time(s) TBA Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival5163 State Road 135 Bean Blossom, IN 812-988-6422

Saturday, June 20 5 pmA Slice of Bluegrass House Concerts at the Brashler Barn 17560 South Gougar Road

Lockport, IL 815-838-1549

Sunday, June 21 7 pm Three Lakes Center for the Arts, 1760 Superior Street Three Lakes, WI 715-546-2299

Monday, June 22 6 pmMusic on the GreenHeritage Hill State Historical Park, 2640 South Webster Avenue

Green Bay, WI 920-448-5150

Friday, June 26 6:30 pmArt in the Park ConcertsRobinson Park

Pine City, MN 651-925-6739

Saturday, June 27 8 pmCrossings at Carnegie PresentsState Theatre, 88 East 4th Street

Zumbrota, MN 507-732-7616

Check out our new CD “Because you asked ”at monroecrossing.com

Go to www.MonroeCrossing.com for detailed information on all our concerts! Booking: Art Blackburn, 844-monroeX or 763-213-1349, [email protected]

Concerts & Events Coming Up in June

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from Minnesota Fiddle Tunes Project

Minnesota Waltz

9

Violin

played: i a a b a a b a a b

MSFA SloJammers The Minnesota State Fiddlers Association have been transcribing and learning the tunes from the Minnesota Fiddle Tunes CD project. They hold a monthly slow jam for fiddlers to learn old-time, Irish, Scandinavian, Canadian, and Cajun tunes.

Each month, a MSFA volunteer teaches from the group’s repertoire. The rest of the time is spent in a “circle” jam session with the tunes slowed down so that everyone can participate. From beginner to accomplished musician, anyone who wants to work on fid-dling, as well as guitar, mandolin, and other non-fiddle players who want to benefit from the slower tempos to learn how to accom-pany fiddlers are welcome to join.

MSFA members will participate on June 28, 2015, in Smitty’s Amateur Fiddle Contest, Spud Fest in Big Lake, Minnesota, regis-tration at noon. In September, join them for jamming at the Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka, Minnesota, look for dates and times on their website: http://www.fiddlemn.com/. You can also find here additional transcribed tunes and more information on the Minnesota Fiddle Tunes Project on the site.

Mary Pat Kleven organizes the SloJammers and the transcription project. Minnesota Blugrass thanks her and the SloJammers for providing the charts on these pages. Find more information and purchase the CD at: http://minnesotafiddle.blogspot.com/p/minne-sota-fiddle-tunes-project-cd.html.

10:30 Church Service With music by Mary Lou and the Rusty Strings

11:30am 6:00 pm Music

Also at the Scott County Fair on Sunday July 26th: Draft Horse Show (largest in the Midwest) 4 & 8 Hitches 1:00 pm Miracle of Birth see births of calves, piglets, sheep and kid goats Variety of other entertainment

Check Scott County Fair website in June for exact schedule-‐-‐-‐scottcountyfair.com

Roe Family Singers

Includes: banjo, autoharp, guitar, Appalachian clogging, good-‐time, old-‐time hillbilly band, sounds from barn-‐dances, fiddle pulls, and county fairs with the rock & roll passion of youth

Blue Drifters Duet

Phil Nusbaum and Steve Howard sure know how to pick a mean guitar. They play a mix of bluegrass, blues, and jazz.

The High 48

Winners: Rocky Grass Band Competition, Lyons, CO First place, Minnesota State Duet Championship

Blue Grass Festival Scott County Fair Sunday July 26, 2015

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDTwin Cities, MN

Permit 343

MINNESOTA BLUEGRASS & OLD-TIME MUSIC ASSOCIATIONP.O. BOX 16408Mpls, MN 55416

TIME VALUE DATA

Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers will serve up some jukebox favorites along with their alter egos Hot Rize at this year’s Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival in August. See the story, page 5. Photo courtesy of Crossover Touring

Minnesota Bluegrass June 2015

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Transcript of Minnesota Bluegrass June 2015