Minnesota Bluegrass June 2015 by Minnesota Bluegrass

Hot Rize headlines Bluegrass Central! Inside:

June 2015

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

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

MBOTMA Board of Directors President: Peter Albrecht, henrypeteralbrecht@gmail.com Vice President: Jana Metge, 952-996-6490, singdancesavetheworld@gmail.com Treasurer: Sandi Pidel Secretary: Mary DuShane Board Members: Term expires 2015: Marilyn Bergum, Gary Germond, Greg Landkamer, Quillan Roe Term expires 2016: Alan Jesperson, Philip Nusbaum, David Smith Youth Representatives: Sarah Cagley, Catie Jo Pidel For meeting minutes and other Board business, go to: minnesotabluegrass.org/as_Board

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

Minnesota Bluegrass Editor: JoAnne Makela, editor@minnesotabluegrass.org Contributors: Mike Birkeland, Bob Bovee, John Chabot, Bob Dodd, Ann Iijima, James Kent, Jed Malischke, Phil Nusbaum Coming Up: Loretta Simonet Y’All Come: Bill Lindroos Wordmark: Katryn Conlin Photography: Tony Allison, Steve Chollar, Darwin Davidson, Maria Duff, Jen Shaffer Cover image: from crossovertouring.com/hot-rize Submit content or request advertising guidelines at: editor@minnesotabluegrass.org. 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 written permission from the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for the loss or return of unsolicited photos, recordings, or manuscripts. ©2015 Minnesota Bluegrass. All rights reserved. ISBN 0891-0537.

Thank you, MBOTMA members Membership as of May 1, 2015: 1,015

Patrons:

Peter Albrecht Tony & Barbie Andreason Tony & Ann Anthonisen Mary Arntson Lenny & Colleen Baltus Gary & Karen Bartig Ron & Kathy Blade Kenneth Bloch Ann & Barry Brooks Doug Chasar Paul Christianson Gary & Janet Cobus Katryn Conlin Laura Cooper Bob & Marilyn Dodd Brian Etling & Rebecca Lautenschlager William Fancher Jerry Frank Darrell & Marilyn Fuhr Tom Furrer Jon & Sharon Garon Gary & Jae Germond David Glatt Dale & Diane E. Gruber Michael & Paula Hildebrandt

Sustaining:

Rod & Barb Anderson Paul Ashworth Fred Boyer Mark & Erdyne Briere Bill & Ann Bushnell Susan Christensen-Wichmann Dan & Marilyn Cook Brian Cornell Bob & Vicki Dalager Hal Davis Doug Duncan Mary DuShane Matt Edwards Garry & Linda Elfstrand Jennifer Faulkner Mark & Kathleen Fisher Nathan Fjeld Jim Franczyk Warren Gumeson Timothy & Ginger Haaland Mary & Fred Harms James Helig Thomas Hollenhorst & Karin Kraemer David Holm Dick & Sue Hopperstad Ann Iijima & Myles Bakke

David Johnson Howie & Maggie Jorgenson Linda Kjerland Russell Lane Maxine Larson Richard Luckeroth Rolf & Lisa Lund Rodger McBride & Mabel Houle Douglas & Georgene Nesheim Katy Olson & Ron Roller Harold Pederson David & Betty Pfeiffer David Rogers Tom & Cathy Schaefer Thomas & Barbara Schommer Tom & Margaret Schuveiller Penelope Scialla David Tousley & Margaret Brandes Donna Velasco Steve Vincent & Jill Weese Rebecca Wagner & Dan Forsythe Tim Wankel Jane & Dobson West Jim Whitney John Wilcox Donald Jacques Chris Juettner Alan & Geriann Kagan Matthew Kaster Jim Lally Lloyd & Beverly LaPlant David Lee James Lee Steve & Elaine LeVasseur Bob Lundeen Rudy & Jeanne Marti Bill Merrill Chad Mezera Ben Monk James Natwick Dennis & Jan O’Brien Dominic Orrico Bob Ostlund Dan Robinson Leo & Ann Rosenstein Rick Sanders Marty & Carol Schirber Wendy Schoen Howell Smith Lynn & Carolyn Thorson R. & Elizabeth Vaughan David & Bonnie Warner Mark & Danelle Wolf

Roots Music picking and singing contests at the State Fair 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 entertainment for 2015 Minnesota State Fair goers. Look for more information on contestant registration in future Minnesota Bluegrass issues, or contact info@minnesotabluegrass.org. 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 traditional roots style: acoustic old-time, bluegrass, country, or western 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.

June 2015

The 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, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be invited to participate in bluegrass and old-time music events and celebrations. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll receive discounted prices on admission to events and merchandise, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

Individual $35

Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, events discounts for one person, and a free classified ad.

Family $50

Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, up to four discounted tickets per event, and a free classified ad.

Add $18 for First Class or foreign postage to individual or family membership

Band $75

Sustaining Level $100

Patron Level $150

Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, advance booking information for MBOTMA events, a free classified ad, and listings in the MBOTMA member band directory in print and on our website. Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, first-class postage, events discounts, two free concert tickets, and a free classified ad. Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, first-class postage, events discounts, four free concert tickets, and a free classified ad.

Go to minnesotabluegrass.org and select the Membership tab to join online and pay with PayPal. Or mail in your personal information and payment to: MBOTMA P.O. Box 16408 Minneapolis, MN 55416

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

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.

Become a Member

Call 800-635-3037 or 612-285-9133 for details or if you would like to join by phone.

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 performers 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, including 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.

June 2015

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

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 continents, 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 Nick Forster, Pete Wernick, Bryan Sutton, Tim O’Brien. for tradition was easy Photo: Crossover Touring to hear, the fresh elements they brought were enough to earn them the suspicion of “In the years since we brought Bryan in, some audience members—and the devowe would all talk about wanting to be tion of many more. So, when Hot Rize a living, breathing, twentyfirst-century retired, it was natural for members to Hot Rize, which would mean developing go on to distinguished careers of their a satchel of new material, then going own. Even so, Hot Rize turned out to around and playing it.” be the band that refused to disappear. With writing and rehearsals placing Rare reunion shows, like the 1996 one Hot Rize firmly back in their groove, captured for the acclaimed So Long Of recording When I’m Free took just A Journey CD (2002), kept the flame five days at the solar-powered Studio at burning, and when Sawtelle passed away eTown Hall in Boulder. The musicians in 1999, the surviving members brought eschewed booths and headphones in guitarist Bryan Sutton on board for their favor of sitting in a circle and recording occasional appearances, bringing their live off the floor—“the first time I’ve classic songs and captivating stage show recorded like that since 1971,” muses to new generations. Wernick. This organic approach resulted It’s no surprise, then, that 24 years in an album that crackles with the after their last studio album, the fourenergy of a Hot Rize live show. some brings an even deeper strength Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers will to bear on their new record, When I’m join Hot Rize on our Main Stage! The Free (Ten In Hand/Thirty Tigers), out band travels in the back of the Hot Rize September 30. And neither is it a surbus and occasionally spells their employprise that, as it was in the beginning, the ers on stage. The foursome plays ’40s quartet felt compelled to bring someand ’50s country as well as you might thing new to the table. expect from people who have listened “We’re too close as friends and longto the same jukebox for most of their time collaborators to let Hot Rize just lives. There are people who say that Red lay fallow. We’ve watched bluegrass Knuckles and Hot Rize are the same. No evolve in the past 25 years and, while one knows where any of those people are we’ve all been a part of that evolution now. as individuals, now it’s time to bring a (Main Stage: Saturday, August 8, 8:30 new Hot Rize statement to the world,” p.m. Source: crossovertouring.com/ explains O’Brien. Pete Wernick agrees: hot-rize)

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Balsam Range is composed of five friends who all hail from Western North Carolina. Tim Surrett plays bass and occasionally 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, Balsam Range: Marc Pruett, Buddy Melton, Tim Surrett, Caleb Smith, who is Darren Nicholson, Caleb Smith also a luthier, has been called “one of the top Balsam Range young guns of guitar.” Darren Nicholson Balsam Range will show festiis an accomplished mandolin player val-goers why and how it ran off with and harmony singer with tremendous so many top honors last year from enthusiasm for American heritage music. the International Bluegrass Music Grammy Award winner Marc Pruett Association, including Entertainer of brilliantly complements the ensemble the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, Male with the intuitive, traditional three-finVocalist of the Year (Buddy Melton), and ger style that has made him one of the Mentor Award (Tim Surrett, who music’s most admired banjo players. apparently is nice as well as good). Elements of jazz, country, gospel, It has been said that the loudest swing and old-time music are all infused word in the world is your own name. It into the fresh sound of this unique is who you are, it is how you have been Southern band, its five distinct personidentified to the world and it is a huge alities creating one remarkable musical part of your self-perception. Place-names experience. can create strong mental images and (Main Stage. Source: balsamrange.com) add building blocks of self-identity that underscore a treasured sense of “where Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom I’m from” or “who I really am.” These Gray: bionic banjo powerful feelings of place to which Eddie Adcock played with Bill mountain folk cling help define a sense Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys, then with of home shared by those who live there. The Country Gentlemen, before teaming Such is the name Balsam Range to a up with Martha to become the “biggest group of five outstanding acoustic musilittle band in bluegrass,” appearing on cians and singers from North Carolina. stages around the country, including on For their band name, they thoughtfully Austin City Limits. Tom Gray, another and respectfully adopted the name Country Gentlemen alum and formerly of a majestic range of mountains that with the Seldom Scene and Legends of surround part of their home county of the Potomac, will reunite with Eddie and Haywood, where the Smokies meet the Martha. Blue Ridge, the Balsam Range. In 2008, Eddie made headline news The band’s fifth album, Five, made for something other than his picking its Billboard Chart debut at #4 and prowess; his hands had developed a remained on the Billboard chart for rhythmic shaking known as “essential an impressive six weeks. Additionally, tremor,” a nervous system disorder. Balsam Range consistently tops radio Although not generally dangerous, the airplay lists with its history of top condition made it impossible for Eddie singles. to play his banjo. He underwent deep 6

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 placing 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 joining together for several very special tours this year . . .. Excitingly original, warm and intimate, rooted in their traditional heritage while often cruising the stratosphere, 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 48s Festivalgoers will be the lucky recipients 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 (mandolin 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 combines the soulful sound of classic bluegrass 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 perform their own material in addition to the “festival favorites.”

June 2015

Formerly of the bands Stoney Lonesome, Tangled Roots, and the Kate Mackenzie Band, Chris Silver plays fiddle and mandolin with a deep appreciation for traditional bluegrass music. His solos stretch beyond the boundaries of bluegrass Eddie & Martha Adcock with Tom Gray. Photo: Darwin Davidson including hints of jazz, blues, and roots The band takes their name from music. Chris has amassed a credible railroad slang for the boxcars originally sized discography featuring bluegrass, used to transport troops on the front Americana, and global acoustic styles. lines in WWI that could carry 40 solBanjo player Heath Loy enjoyed diers or 8 horses, and were later used in growing up in a “bluegrass music housethe US on fast-moving “hot shot” freight hold.” Heath’s fiddle playing father, Bob trains by train-hoppers looking for work Loy, owned a music store in Rochester during the Great Depression. and was one of the founders of the In the winter of 2014, The High 48s Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music honored their namesake by recording Association. Heath’s playing is rich with an album of train songs in Nashville the styles of J.D. Crowe, Earl Scruggs, with Grammy-winning engineer and and Ralph Stanley. He also performs producer Randy Kohrs. The album feawith his wife Becky Schlegel. tures songs from Greg Brown, Robin and Guitarist Mike Cramer’s award-winLinda Williams, Becky Schlegel, Darrell ning flatpicking technique has earned Scott, Muddy Waters, and the 48s’ own him championship titles in both the Anthony Ihrig and Eric Christopher. Minnesota State Fair Flatpicking This album is the 48s’ sixth release Competition and Wisconsin’s Upperand the culmination of many years of Midwest Flatpicking Contest. Mike is a hard work. With band members who four-tool player who is as comfortable honed their bluegrass chops playing with playing jazz standards as he is playing Grammy-nominees Special Consensus instrumentals from Bill Monroe. His and traditional bluegrass legend James technique is fluid and powerful. King, as well as the many road miles J.D. Shaffer holds down the bass role logged since their 2008 win at the with precision and tone. He sings tenor RockyGrass Band Competition brought them national recognition, the 48s have never sounded better. (Source: thehigh48s.com)

June 2015

Ivory Bridge Ivory 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 contributions 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 versatile band features solo, duet, trio and quartet vocal arrangements accompanied by instrumental solos, expertly placed fills, and the occasional instrumental 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 benefited from Bill’s driving rhythm and superb leads and vocals. Bill is a multiple winner of the Minnesota State Flatpicking Championship. John Bodle (mandolin) has performed with Larry Rice, Endless

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

The Good Intentions Led 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 success to the complimentary picking and singing skills of some of the best-known names in the area’s bluegrass scene.

in a clear and powerful voice, revealing 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: thegoodintentionsbluegrassband.com)

The Good Intentions. Photo: Jen Shaffer 7

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 performers 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.

November sealed their slot in this August Festival lineup.

Porcupine Creek 2014 Minnesota Bluegrass & OldTime Music Association’ Race for a Place winners Porcupine Creek is made up of young talented musicians inspired by the legends of bluegrass, with subtle influence 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 opportunity 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

Borderstone Borderstone is a traditional bluegrass and gospel outfit from Duluth. Led by the guitar/mandolin and “brother harmony” 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 promotional materials. — Ann Iijima

Ivory Bridge

The

7th Annual

KAKABEKA FALLS BLUEGRASS & OLD TYME FESTIVAL (14 mi west of Thunder Bay, ON, Canada)

JUNE 26, 27, 28, 2015



Featuring



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

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: gemvan@tbaytel.net Toll free: 1-888-688-9582 www.kakabekafallsbluegrassfestival.weebly.com 8

June 2015

Gail Heil leaves a legacy of fine fiddling By Bob Bovee

Gail Heil passed away in May 2013, leaving 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 contest 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, respectively. 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.

This is a strictly old-time fiddle contest. The judges will be accomplished fiddlers who understand this music and the judging criteria outlined in the rules. Rules are posted online at www.boveeheil.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 Contest July 18, 2015

Strictly Old Time!

Lanesboro, MN

Cash Prizes!

1st $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $100 1st $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $100 1st $1000, 2nd $400, 3rd $200

Registration: 9–9:45 AM Entry Fee: $20

Contest begins at 10 AM Rules at www.boveeheil.com

Lanesboro Community Center Info: 507-498-5452 June 2015

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

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

Admission: $10 at the door www.boveeheil.com

Spring break odyssey to My Favorite Guitars

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

By Mike Birkeland

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 awakened 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 exception 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 instruments) piled into a Class C motorhome bound for a 4,000-mile round-trip journey 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. 10

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

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 overcome 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 underway. “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 adventures 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 traveling, 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 discouraging 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 June 2015

June 2015

and Kate Isles Band played to an enthuof memories packed into a whirlwind siastic crowd of campers at the state journey and an overstuffed RV. park Wednesday evening. They invited We made it back to Minnesota Porcupine Creek and Sarah Mae & the around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. If you’re still Birkeland Boys to play a few tunes. keeping score, that’s a total of eight days Minnesota-style bluegrass, folk, and and seven nights with 15 people, one RV, old-time music went over big at the and a lot of great music. campground. Would we do it again? Absolutely. The final music event of the week We would take more time though—both took place at Jon and Sharon Garon’s for the road trip itself as well as our stay home on Thursday evening. Our courtein the Sunshine State. It was a bit like a ous hosts invited the neighborhood—as 200-beats-per-minute breakdown that well as a few new fans from the Grace comes to an end too soon. Place benefit concert—over for dinner We expect a summer filled with and music on Thursday. The house conbluegrass festivals, jam circles, campcert turned out to be the highlight of the fires and old-fashioned fellowship with week. the many friends we’ve made through In addition to all the musicians the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time already mentioned, we were joined at the Music Association. Garon “pickfest” by several members of And, for as much fun as we had on another Minnesota MBOTMA family, our Florida adventure, we won’t have to the Ophovens from Grand Rapids. The travel 4,000 miles to find good friends Ophovens were in town visiting a friend, to pick with. So, until we see you along Karysse Trandem. Karysse, is a doctor the Bluegrass Trail, pick early, pick late, by day and a gifted singer and performer pick often. And if it works for you—try on the side. Her version of Etta James’ pickin’ in an overstuffed RV. The memosignature song, “At Last,” brought the ries will last a lifetime. house down. With all the great music, improviAbout the author: Outside the sation, creative energy, and Elizabeth reality of life, Mike Birkeland is a songOphoven’s breakneck-speed mandolin writer, bluegrass musician, and writer. breaks, it was a night to remember. And He’s the “old guy” in Sarah Mae & the a house concert not soon to be equaled. Birkeland Boys. Homeward bound sarahmaeandthebirkelandboys.com. By the time Friday rolled around, Photos: Mike Birkeland 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-sounding 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 House concert with hosts Sharon and Jon Garon. 11

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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 station 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 disappoint 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 benefit 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

June 2015

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

June 2015

Minnesota Association of Songwriters

Songwriting Workshop Series

Jon Vezner 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.

Jon arrived in Nashville in 1983. He has much to share about what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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!

Saturday, June 13, 2015 1 - 4:30 pm $25 at the door

Schmitt Music 2906 W. 66th St. Edina, MN 612 238 9930

www.mnsongwriters.org

Concert June 13, 7-9 pm at Underground Music Cafe 1579 Hamline Ave., St. Paul $10 suggested donation

Minnesota Association of Songwriters

13th Annual Traditional Bluegrass & Gospel Music Festival July 10-11-12, 2015

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Monroe Crossing Bartonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hollow The Punches Family Sawtooth Brothers and The DisChords 14

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 June 2015

Paul Duff: mandolin maker in the land of Oz By 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 instruments have been shipped worldwide and are recognized by world-class bluegrass players, such as Mike Compton and Skip Gorman.

June 2015

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

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 bluegrass 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 element 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 teaching 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 standard 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 Paul Duff playing his F5. Photo: Tony Allison bus ride, so we don’t see each other much, except at cagey. French polishing is all technique, festivals. It’s taken me a long time to not technology. You can’t read a book learn. I do all my own carving, using a on technique and have it mastered. You pantograph to rough it out, then all hand have to just gain your experience. carving. It takes a long time to develop On the cover of his album, Rotten those skills. I haven’t taken any apprenTaters, Mike Compton is holding a tices because I like being in control of all Duff. He usually plays a Gilchrist or the elements. Right now I’m able to make Gibson. How did he come to pose 12 instruments a year in three batches. with a Duff? Did you have a most important I’ve known Mike for a long time and teacher? love his playing. I think we first met Experience has been my most in Australia during a tour that Steve important teacher. I would put Steve Gilchrist had organized. I caught Mike Gilchrist as my most important influonce after a show in Ashville, and I ence, as a mentor whom I would like had an instrument with me. He liked to be like. Steve has said you can know it alright. Years later I helped organize how to do something but that doesn’t another tour of Australia and I saw him mean you can do it. You look at French again at a concert and had a good look polishing and have five books telling you at his instruments and realized that the five ways to get to the end. Steve said you tone bar mass was much smaller in his just have to dive into the pool and get to instruments than in mine, which made the other side yourself. He’s not being

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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 reaching 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 16

whole time. I like to tap and hear ring. don’t need high action to get volume or My approach is to build to tonal qualpop. ity not to measurement. For every top, It appears that none of your woods I can create a good response. I search come from Australia. How big a deal for mid-range when I’m creating the is the inconvenience of importing most responsive area—open D up to G. wood, or not being able to harvest Everything falls into place if they get your own? going. I come to the USA and seek wood. I start with a strong mid-range, the Old Standard Wood in Missouri is my top end really strong and bright with a supplier. I drive there and hand-pick good cut—but no roundness or fatness in 40 or 50 sets—about enough for four the note. With playing, the top end gets years of instruments. It takes about fatter, rounder, and little sweeter. Almost three months to ship it to my shop in like it is softer to the ear but strong. I Fremantle. think all notes develop with playing. How do you tell the difference The mandolins I gave Mike developed between a good piece of wood and a in midrange and bottom. Mike plays great one? a lot there, and I think the way you John [at Old Standard Wood] has play will influence how notes develop. excellent quality red spruce, and I Instruments that sit idle close up. tap each piece, and look at variation Do you have any “production” instruin grain, and how it lies in the billet. ments, or do all involve some degree Instruments made with strong, stiff of customization? Adirondack spruce, with very wide Both. My standard spec instrument grain, have been tone monsters. I like a is a Loar copy. Nowadays, most people bit more flexibility—not too stiff. Nice want a Loar tone that is balanced across wide grain near the edge, with good the instrument. They occasionally ask grain width distribution. Buyers usually for a custom inlay. I cut my own inlays leave it up to me. People do sometimes by hand and can meet any demand. ask for a nice wide grain out on the There are the usual variations such as edge. I’m always looking for sugar maple a radiused or flat fretboard, a scalloped and use red maple if I can find it hard fingerboard extension and abbreviand stiff (red maple is softer than sugar ated pick guard. I do my variation to maple but has wide variation). With the fingerboard extension as standard maple I look for density and a good ring. spec unless a customer asks for the traditional Loar style or something customized. You’re recognized for your interpretation 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 midrange, a good chop, with the top being throaty, fat, and round. The focus is pronounced. They French polishing Beck’s F5. Photo: Maria Duff June 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. Woodworking became an infatuation, like music did. Music got me into it. As a builder, where does your inspiration 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

-Kakos -Kennedy -Kopp -Kronbauer -Morris -Santa Cruz -Walden -Walker

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New location! 4151 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis (612) 767-2800 podiumguitars@gmail.com

-Bourgeois -Breedlove -Carmel -Fairbanks -Goodall -Hoﬀman -Huss&Dalton -Hill

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 archtop. I’ve done a half-dozen K5 mandocellos, so I know how to carve those. I’m really excited to be doing this, experimenting with X-bracing, but guitars will be a sideline. I want to keep investigating Loar mandolins.

Premium Guitars, Ampliﬁers, and Repair June 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.

Bluegrass Saturday Morning By Phil Nusbaum

Interviews The 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 audience 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 Support The 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; pnusbaum@bitstream.net). For promotion through Bluegrass Saturday Morning, your contact is Kevin Barnes (612-668-1735; kbar264@aol.com).

Farmer’s Markets

• 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 Playlists Bluegrass 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.

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

Attention All Bands If you want to sell your music, you need a good band. If you want to sell your band, you need good smiles!

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

This 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

Lloyd “Doc” Wallin, D.D.S. Cosmetic Dentistry Burnsville, MN 55337 952-892-5050 (Free Consultation for MBOTMA Members) June 2015

MBOTMA Member Bands

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

BLUEGRASS BANDS Alternate Route, Jerry Knopik, 651-208-5565, jerryknopicks01@gmail. com Alzen Family, Brad Alzen, 715-749-3977, bwalzen@pressenter.com Art Stevenson & Highwater, Art Stevenson, 715-884-6996, artstevenson@ hotmail.com Assisted Picking, Jon Garon, 612-8392277, jon@myfavoriteguitars.com Barton’s Hollow, Ian Kimmel, 507-7663529, ickimmel@yahoo.com Benson Family Singers, Peter Benson,, bensonpd@yahoo.com Big Juke & The Last Resort, Mark Jukich, 218-390-7342, mjukich@msn.com Biscuit Boys, Daniel Fish, 763-434-2734, radiocty@skypoint.com Blue Groove, David Smith, 952-9745121, ds5string@gmail.com Blue Hazard, Hannah Johnson, 651-500-0747, info@bluehazardband.com Blue Wolf, Shirley Mauch, 612-724-1482, samauch@worldnet.att.net Borderstone, Ryan.Morgan, 715-7812989, info@borderstonetheband.com Buffalo River Ramblers, Marty Solmon, 218-850-8715, mmsolmon@arvig.net Cabin Fever, Jeanie Wyttenbach, 507-635-5625, wyttenbach.lou@mayo. edu Carver Creek Bluegrass, Tom Monsen, 952-466-2089, carvercreekbluegrass@ gmail.com Castle Ridge, Mark Clark, 319-3891535, mark_w_clark@msn.com Def Lester, Lincoln Potter, 651-4830469, potter@umn.edu Dick Kimmel & Co, Dick Kimmel, 507-359-1163, kimmel@newulmtel.net Fine Line Bluegrass, Darin Manson, 641-895-9401, caramanson@finelinebluegrass.com The Fish Heads, Kim Curtis-Monson, 218-729-5326, KMonson802@aol.com Freshwater, Harvey Riekoff, 262-4973024, tjbanjo@wi.rr.com Froemming Family, Anna Froemming, 320-453-2393, pilgrims@meltel.net

The Good Intentions, Chris Silver, 651-491-4013, chrissilverband@gmail. com Halvorson Family Band, Loren Halvorson, 507-345-7431, loren@ birchcovesoftware.com Hand Picked Bluegrass, Joe Cronick, 715-966-6463, handpickedbluegrass@ charter.net The High 48s, Eric Christopher, 651-271-4392, eric@thehigh48s.com Ivory Bridge, Jim Tordoff, 612-759-5987, guitarrodeo@gmail.com JedFest, Jed Malischke, jmalisch@ centurytel.net The Kalisch Family, Sandy Kalisch, 507-744-3348, skalisch7@lonstel.com King Wilkie’s Dream, Robbi Podrug, 612-562-8402, booking@kwdream.com King’s Countrymen, Lorn Schultz, 715-495-5275, schultzfam92@yahoo.com The King’s Highway, Eddy Van Pamhorst, 807-630-9914, gemvan@ tbaytel.net The Kingery Family, Christy Kingery, info@thekingeryfamily.com The Lonesome Tradition, Tim Roggenkamp, 218-568-5559, rogge@ uslink.net The Long Shots, Sophie Galep, 715-2330181, sophie.galep@gmail.com Long Time Gone, Ben Manning, 651-388-7383, mndawg@gmail.com Mark Kreitzer Band, Mark Kreitzer, 612-724-7334, mark@markkreitzer.com The Middle Spunk Creek Boys, Al Jesperson, 612-727-2489, alanjesp@ gmail.com Minnesota Blue, Kelton Parrish, 651-697-0209, kgparrish@gmail.com Monroe Crossing, Art Blackburn, 763-213-1349, art@monroecrossing.com No Man’s String Band, Nic Hentges, 612-387-0196, nihentges@gmail.com Northern Lights Bluegrass, Mary Campbell, 320-679-3094, qbchurch@q. com Northern Posse, Arlette Solom, 218-463-0710, Bluegrass@ NorthernPosse.com Ophoven Family Band, Molli Ophoven, 218-327-2058, jmophoven@q.com

The Platte Valley Boys, Ron Colby, 651-458-0804, roncolby@comcast.net Porcupine Creek, Sarah Birkeland, 218-624-1781, arahsay328@gmail.com Prairiegrass, Bonnie Hallett, 320-4853310, bkhallett@yahoo.com Pride of the Prairie, Sarah Cagley, sdcagley@comcast.net Purdy River Band, Chuck Lahr, 563-927-2457, purdyriver@gmail.com Riverside Bog Stompers, David Darnell, 218-260-6546, davestreetrod@ hotmail.com Sarah Mae & The Birkeland Boys, Wendy Birkeland, 218-624-1781, arahsay328@gmail.com Sawtooth Bluegrass Band, MJ Moravec, 507-990-6456, sawtoothbluegrass@gmail.com Shadow Grass, Katy Valine, 651-9820599, ktvaline@msn.com Singleton Street, Sherri Leyda, 763-972-2341, singletonst@yahoo.com The Stringsmiths, Chris Landstrom, 715-671-3772, chris@stringsmiths.com Timbre Junction, Karen Radford, 612-623-0261, KarenJRadford@eaton. com Trackside, David Anderson, 952-4740981, renee_ballroom2@yahoo.com The Woodpicks, Joel Kezar, 218-6812148, kezarmusic@mncable.net

OLD-TIME STRINGBANDS Bob & Lynn Dixon, Lynn Dixon, 612-377-6819, dixon@visi.com Bob Bovee, 507-498-5452, bobbovee46@gmail.com The Bootlickers, Irina Rossi, rinarossi@gmail.com The Eelpout Stringers, Karl Burke, 651-784-7323, bltfolk@aol.com The Gritpickers, Rob Daves, 612-8220085, gritpickers@gmail.com Poor Benny, David Furniss, 651-6990557, david.w.furniss@uwrf.edu The Roe Family Singers, Quillan Roe, 612-599-0266, pappyroe@yahoo.com Rush River Ramblers, Eric Hatling, 715-772-4421, ehatling@gmail.com

June 2015

Tickwood String Band, Doug Wells, 218-736-4469, betsyanddougwells@ gmail.com The Tune Jerks, Bob Douglas, 651-7781395, rjdouglas@stthomas.edu Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, Jim Brooks, 612-419-4576, brooks@csp.edu Wink The Other Eye, David Gourhan, 651-674-8668, dgourh@aol.com

RELATED GENRE BANDS

June 2015

Sherry Minnick & Jackson Buxton, Sherry Minnick, 651-644-8682, minnicksherry@gmail.com The Skally Line, Frederick Keller, 320-245-6799, fkeller@scicable.net Sloughgrass, Soren Olesen, 218-6342800, sorenjudith@centurytel.net Split-Shot Sinkers, Chris Boone, 651-274-3054, cboone@dezinnia.com String Beans, Chick Pea & Garbonzo, Roger Cuthbertson, 612-474-2476, rojo@visi.com Switched At Birth, Rick Anderson, 651-230-2431, ricktune56@gmail.com T & L Schwartz & Family, Linda Schwartz, 701-659-3154, lspollanthra@ gmail.com Trinity Trio, Jay Forney, 218-681-8172, wjwforney@gmail.com Tucker’d Out, John Trelstad, 701-2120015, jdtrelstad@aol.com Wayne Hamilton, 612-508-0768, wayne@waynehamilton.com The Weasels, George Rothenberger, 612724-6911, grothenberger@edilimited.com Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, Joe Hart, 414-439-2004, joseph_hart@frontiernet.net

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 glorylandgb@gmail.com. 21

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Alabaster Falls, Julie Kaiser, 218-3083131, tiedyechick40@yahoo.com Alchemical Banjo, Richard Swanson, 651-338-1349, rick@richardpswanson. com Awkward Sorrows, Robert Coleman, 612-801-4660, rob@awkwardsorrows. com The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund, Brian Wicklund, 651-4334564, brian@fiddlepal.com Benji Flaming, Benji Flaming, 612-3266521, mbotma@benjiflaming.com Bernie King & The Guilty Pleasures, Bernie King, 763-242-6943, bkandthegps@gmail.com Bill & Kate Isles, Bill Isles, 218-3404404, bill@billandkateisles.com Blessings Gospel Trio, Timothy Johnson, 763-464-3481, timkarin@ comcast.net Blue Yodel #9, John Whitehead, 651-641-0752, jfw@bitstream.net Cousin Dad, John Soderberg, 612-4417382, john.soderberg@gmail.com Crooked Grass, Matt Johnson, 612-4623546, nosnhojm2@yahoo.com Culver’s Jammers, Barb Carlson, 763-784-7881, Blinkbug@aol.com Curtis & Loretta, Loretta Simonet, 612-781-9537, loretta@curtisandloretta. com DL Cajun Band, Doug Lohman, 612-306-3490, DougLohman@aol.com Don D Harvey & the Ultrasonic Duo, Donald Harvey, 608-781-3456, dondharvey@centurytel.net Due North, Louise Wiermaa, 218-5907654, lew3355@hotmail.com The Flemming Fold, Sandra Flemming, 952-758-7522, troynsandra@hotmail.com Four Legg Fish, Mick Garrett, 320-2791868, mick_garrett@hotmail.com

The Gated Community, Sumanth Gopinath, 612-332-2006, sumanth_gopinath@hotmail.com Greenwood Tree, Bill Cagley, 651-6369542, bcagley@comcast.net The Hacklewrappers, Mark Rubbert, 612-387-8189, mjrubbert@comcast.net Jack Klatt & The Cat Swingers, Jack Klatt, 612-270-9079, jackklatt@gmail. com John & Rose Band, John Vincent, 218-766-1925, fiddling@hotmail.com Karen Mueller & Friends, Karen Mueller, 612-270-4740, karen@ karenmueller.com McInnis Kitchen, Susan Spencer, 218-391-4735, suespencer@pondstage. com Moonlight Duo, Mary DuShane, 612-724-5341, marydushane@gmail.com The Moss Piglets, Ian Gamble, 651-644-0810, themosspiglets@yahoo. com Mother Banjo, Ellen Stanley, 612-2811364, motherbanjo@gmail.com NE Triangle, Emily Wright, 612-2754701, e.writes@hotmail.com New Riverside Ramblers, Eric Mohring, 612-724-4687, info@ newriversideramblers.com No Grass Limit, Sandi Millar, 763-4393515, sandi@lessonpros.com Nordic Bees, Renee Vaughan, 651-2954200, renee@nordicbees.com Now and Then, Daniel Fish, 763-7862524, radiocty@skypoint.com Pert Near Sandstone, Michael McGregor, 612-998-8647, michael@ hellobooking.com Peter Ostroushko, 612-529-2884, postroushko@visi.com Pickin’ Up Steam, Dale Martell, 612-387-0152, info@dalemartell.com Pushing Chain, Boyd Blomberg, 218-370-0910, boyd@pushingchain.com Rachel Nelson, 651-353-3370, bardlive@ usfamily.net Rosby Corner, Jeanne Marti, 763-5597552, romarti3@aol.com S R Dugan, Shawn Dugan, 952-737-7705, srdugan@gmail.com Scrapegoat Skin & Bones, Holle Brian, 612-822-6593, holleb@aol.com

Y’All Come Looking for a place to play with others? Jams are open to the public, but musical 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 editor@minnesotabluegrass.org. 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, 218-9982551, thespotpaniniandwine.com, Bob Johnson: 218-736-6198, redblug@yahoo. com. Celtic. 3rd Thu. 7–9pm

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Westridge Mall, 2001 W Lincoln Ave, 218-739-4439, Bob Johnson: 218-7366198, redblug@yahoo.com. Acoustic; “1st Sunday Mall Jam”. 1st Sun. 1–5pm Ham Lake: Glen Cary Lutheran Church, 155531 Central Ave NE (Hwy 65), 612-366-1359, WhenWillitSnow@mac.com. 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, tcuker@icloud.com, 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. tcuker@icloud.com, 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, 612-2095311, revanster@gmail.com. Roy’s Jam, Bluegrass. Last Mon. 7–10pm West Bank School of Music, 1813 S 6th St, 612-333-6651, info@wbsm.org. Bluegrass; led by Bill Cagley, $5 fee. 3rd Sun, 2–4pm Monticello: VFW, 713 Cedar St,, 763-807-6431, mardellolson@yahoo.com. 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), 651-7772920, MNrover@juno.com. 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, quickieauct@hotmail.com. Potluck at 4pm. Acoustic & amplified. 1st Sun. 1–6pm Roseville: Ken’s Market, 788 Cleveland Ave SW, Doug Chasar: 612-802-0833, dchasar@att.net. Acoustic. Mon. 6:30–8:30pm Rushford: Good Shepard Home, 800 Home St. Roberta Albertson: 507-8648109, semba@acegroup.cc. Bluegrass. Nov–Mar, 3rd Sun. noon–5pm Saint Cloud: Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr. Ken Hoest: 320-2603348. Acoustic & amplified. 1st Tue. 6:30–9pm

June 2015

Sartell: The Legends at Heritage Place, 673 Brianna Dr. Gary Loomis: 320-2232537, garymusic@midco.net. Acoustic. 4th Tue. 6–9pm Spring Valley: Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 805 S Broadway. Roberta Albertson: 507-864-8109, semba@ acegroup.cc. Bluegrass. Nov–Mar, 1st Sun. noon–5pm SAINT PAUL: Burn Ward Coffee Unit, 945 West 7th St. Doug Chasar: 612-802-0833, dchasar@att.net. Acoustic; call for space availability. Thu. 6:30–8:30pm Dubliner, 2162 University Ave, 651-6465551, 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, popspeejou@frontier.com. Acoustic & amplified. Mon. 6–9pm

WISCONSIN

NORTH DAKOTA

La Crosse: Southside Neighborhood Center, 1300 6th St S. Ron Sackett: 608-498-0020, ronaldsackettsr@yahoo. com. Bluegrass, Gospel. Sep–May, 2nd Sun. 12–4:30pm

Fargo: Red Raven Expresso Parlor, 916 Main Ave. Bob Johnson: 701-478-7337, redblug@yahoo.com ◆◆ Celtic. 4th Thu. 7–9pm ◆◆ Old-Time. 2nd Thu. 7–9pm

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

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

Rice Lake: First Lutheran Church, 15 E Sawyer St, 715-458-0181, curlupndye@ mosaictelecom.net. Acoustic, Bluegrass, Gospel. Sep–May, 2nd Sat. 6–9pm River Falls: Farmers Market, 2nd & Locust. Ben Toppel: 715-688-3112, Benatoppel@ yahoo.com. 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, Benatoppel@yahoo.com. Old-time. Nov–May, Sat. 9am–noon Star Prairie: This Old Store, 301 Main St. Jerry: 751-248-4800. Acoustic. Tue. 2–9pm

Wyoming: Wyoming Methodist Church, 5459 E Viking Blvd, 651-4647442, whitingsranch@gmail.com. Acoustic, Gospel. 2nd & 4th Thu. 7–9pm

Minnesota Bluegrass August 2015 Articles, Ads, Coming Up, and News Clips

Deadline: July 1, 2015

Send to: editor@minnesotabluegrass.org

Minnesota Irish Music Weekend June 12–14

June 2015

Cherish 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 concert 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 workshops 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.centerforirishmusic.org/mim/. 23

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Internationally renowned Irish musicians 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

PRE-FESTIVAL INSTRUCTIONAL CAMPS

Prior to the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival at El Rancho MaĂąana 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 info@minnesotabluegrass.org.

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 oldtime music as well as a few new tunes. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 info@minnesotabluegrass.org.

For more information or to register:

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

1-800-635-3037 info@minnesotabluegrass.org

June 2015

Friends of Minnesota Bluegrass Music Stores A to G Music, Osseo, MN, 763-420-5500 All Strings Attached, Minneapolis, MN, 763-542-9542 Blackbirds Music, Minneapolis, MN, 612-326-5745 Cadenza Music, St. Paul, MN, 651-644-3611 Christian Eggert Violins Duluth, Duluth, MN, 218-726-1970 Christian Eggert Violins Fargo, Fargo, ND, 701-280-7017 Classical Guitars Etc., Apple Valley, MN, 952-322-1310 Dave’s Guitar Shop, La Crosse, WI, 608-785-7704

607 W Lake St Minneapolis MN 612.827.1726

June

Eclipse Music, West St. Paul, MN, 651-451-8878 Evans Music, White Bear Lake, MN, 651-429-0236 Fein Stringed Instruments, St. Paul, MN, 651-228-0783 The Guitar Shop, Rosemount, MN, 651-344-8177

FRI 12 –

Becky Schlegel

SAT 13 – Bill Giese & The Pedestrians

Haas Musical Instrument Repair, Arden Hills, MN, 651-631-8820 Hobgoblin Music, Red Wing, MN, 651-388-8400 Hoffman Guitars, Minneapolis, MN, 612-338-1079

FRI 19 –

Pat Donohue & Dan Newton

Homestead Pickin’ Parlor, Richfield, MN, 612-861-3308

SAT 20 –

Chris Silver & The Good Intentions

Kezar Music Company, Thief River Falls, MN, 218-681-2148

FRI 26 –

Mississippi Hot Club

SAT 27 –

Jon Garon & Assisted Picking

Kenny’s Music, Grand Forks, ND, 701-772-8670 Main Street Music, Elk River, MN, 763-441-1753 Marguerite’s Music, Moorhead, MN, 218-233-7546 Mr. Mark Music, Anoka, MN, 763-421-5455 My Favorite Guitars, Naples, FL, 239-530-7425 Nelson Music, Erhard, MN, 409-939-3062

July FRI 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 Pleasures

FRI 31 –

The Mosspiglets

Music starts at 8pm Find updates on Facebook

www.dulonospizza.com

Piano Circle, Bloomington, MN, 952-881-6165 The Podium, Minneapolis, MN, 612-767-2800 Rhapsody Music, Mankato, MN, 507-387-2562 Rocktown Music, Waite Park, MN, 320-257-7676 Scheitel’s Music, Mankato, MN, 507-387-3881 Simply Violins, New Hope, MN, 763-535-7055 Tone Music, Owatonna, MN, 507-451-5196 Waseca Music Co., Waseca, MN, 507-835-2980

August 27-30, 2015

l a u n n 10thA

Pine River, MN Cass County Fairgrounds Featuring the Best in National & Regional Bluegrass Bands! Plus camping, jamming, workshops, food & more! Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

Celebrating 10 Year s! Becky Buller

Festival Schedule Gates Open Tues., 3pm

Wed. Night Old Time Dance

Main Stage Thu. 5 - 11pm Fri. & Sat. 11am - 11pm Sun. 10am - 2pm

9 Time IBMA Fiddler of the Year! Winner of 2 IBMA Awards in ‘14! Nominated for IBMA Songwriter of the Year ‘14!

Workshops Fri. & Sat. 10am -5pm Ticket Information & Purchase Available Online

ng: Playi o s l A Shaffers Lost 40 The Berge Family Porcupine Creek No Grass Limit Sarah Mae & the Birkeland Boys

Special Consensus

Nightflyer The Sawtooth Brothers

The Platte Valley Boys Tommy Brown & County Line Grass The Lonesome Tradition

800-728-6926 Lakesbluegrassfestival@gmail.com

www.LakesBluegrassFestival.com

MBOTMA Calendar of Events Concerts and events presented or supported by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association

The 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.

Presented by MBOTMA

Supported 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 beginners and intermediate level players and will include individual instrument instruction plus group playing and harmony singing dynamics. $95 registration fee before July 15, $120 after. For more information or to register: 800-635-3037 or info@ minnesotabluegrass.org.

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.

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 registration fee before July 15, $95 after. For more information or to register: 800-635-3037 or info@minnesotabluegrass.org.

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival, August 6–9, 2015, El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, MN. Fourday outdoor music and camping festival with stage shows, dances, workshops, showcases, children’s shows, demonstrations, 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 including camping ($79 before March 1). Additional discounts for MBOTMA members. For information or tickets call 800-6353037 or visit www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org.

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 featuring 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.

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. 28

June 2015

Coming Up Venue abbreviations 331C: 331 Club, 331 13th Ave NE, Mpls, 612-331-1746, www.331.mn 3Cr: Three Crows Cafe, 225 N River St, Delano, 763-972-3399, www.thethreecrows.com ACA: Acadia Cafe, 329 Cedar Ave, Mpls, 612-874-8702, www. acadiacafe.com AGr: Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, 394 S Lake Ave, Duluth, 218-723-0075, www.amazinggraceduluth.com APHC: “A Prairie Home Companion,” Minnesota Public Radio AST: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main St, Mpls, 612-379-3138, www. astercafe.com BTC: Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, 888-244-8368, www.bigtop.org BoDD: BoDiddley’s Pub and Deli, 129 25th Ave S, St. Cloud, 320-252-9475 CED: Cedar Cultural Center, 415 Cedar Ave S, Mpls, 612-3382674, www.thecedar.org CJ: Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave, St Paul, 651-330-4685, www. thecelticjunction.com CrH: Creek House Concerts, New Brighton, 651-633-5353, www. creekhouseconcerts.com DAK: Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Mall, Mpls, 612-332-1010, www. dakotacooks.com DUL: 607 W Lake St, Mpls, 612-827-1726, www.dulonos.com DuG: Dunn Brothers on Grand, 1569 Grand Ave, St. Paul EAG: Eagles Club, 2507 E 25th St, Mpls, 612-729-4469, www. Mplseagles34.org

FITZ: Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E Exchange St, St Paul, 651-2901200, www.fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org GINK: Ginkgo Coffeehouse, 721 N Snelling Ave, St Paul, 651-645-2647, www.ginkgocoffee.com GKb: Grand Kabaret, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 507-3599222, www.thegrandnewulm.com HB: Harriet Brewing, 3036 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis HOB: The Loft at Hobgoblin Music, 920 State Hwy 19, Red Wing, 877-866-3936, www.stoneyend.com HOPK: Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, 952-979-1111, www.hopkinsartscenter.com KIP: Kieran’s Irish Pub, 85 6th St N, Mpls, 612-339-4499, www. kierans.com KRAM: Kramarczuk’s Deli, 215 E Hennepin Ave, Mpls, 612-379-3018, www.kramarczuks.com OAK: Oak Center General Store, 67011 Hwy 63, Lake City, 507-753-2080, www.oakcentergeneralstore.com ROCK: Rockwoods, 9100 Quaday Ave NE, Elk River, 763-2224353, www.nograsslimit.com/RockwoodsCalendar.html SHL: Sheldon Theatre, 443 W 3rd St, Red Wing, 800-899-5759, www.sheldontheatre.org TAP: Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Ave S, Mpls, 612-722-2914, www.tapestryfolkdance.org UMC: Underground Music Café, 1579 Hamline Ave N, Falcon Hts, 651-644-9959, undergroundmusiccafe.com ZUM: Crossings at Carnegie, 320 East Ave, Zumbrota, 507-7327616, www.crossingsatcarnegie.com

To post gigs and events to this calendar, request the link to our online submission form to editor@minnesotabluegrass.org

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS June 20

Blue 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

Stone 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 2—Tuesday

June 4—Thursday

June 5—Friday

• 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

• 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

• 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

June 2015

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

June 11–13

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

June 6

June 5—Friday • Monroe Crossing, Tallgrass Music Festival, Skiatook, OK • Pushing Chain, Castle Danger Brewery, 17 7th St, Two Harbors, MN, 7pm

June 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, downtown block party in Richland Center, WI. Headliners, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. More at www.ocoochapalooza.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

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

• Dick Kimmel & Jerilyn Kjellberg, Gaylord, MN, Music on Main, 5pm • Bob Bovee & Pop Wagner, Spring Grove Park, Spring Grove, MN, 6pm

June 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 30

• The Pine Hill Project: Lucy Kaplansky & Richard Shindell, CED, 7:30pm • Southside Aces, EAG, 8pm

June 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.blueoxmusicfestival.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.northwoodsbluegrassfestivall.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 ExcelsiorLake 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 excelsior-lakeminnetonkachamber.com/ art-on-the-lake

June 15—Monday

• Sawtooth Brothers, Harmony for Mayo, Peace Plaza, Rochester, MN, 12pm

June 16—Tuesday

• Jillian Rae, Riverview Cafe, 3753 42nd Ave S, Mpls, 612-722-7234, www.theriverview.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, 5:30pm

June 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, 6pm

June 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

June 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

June 2015

June 22—Monday

• Pushing Chain, National anthem at Twins v. White Sox, Target Field, 7pm

June 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, 6:30pm

June 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 blanket, 6:30pm • Shanties & Shipwrecks, BTC, 7:30pm • Rockin’ Pinecones, EAG, 7:30pm

June 26—Friday

• Monroe Crossing, Art in the Park, Robinson Park, Pine City, MN, 6:30pm

June 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, 7pm

July 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, 7:30pm

July 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

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

• 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

MinnesotaBluegrass.org

Grass Clippings 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 experience 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 sweetened 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 keyboardist Bill Payne’s rollicking touch on several tracks, and Levon himself appearing 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 sawdustcovered floor, and abiding, unconditional love, all carried 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.

LaPlant Instruments Campbell and Williams will tour the country this spring and summer For more information contact Ray Padgett (raypadgett@shorefire.com) or Matt Hanks (mhanks@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media.

maker of fine mandolins & guitars

Buy - Trade Sell - Repair (stringed instruments) 218-326-4456

31751 LaPlant Road Grand Rapids, MN 55744

FEATURING:

The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers • The Little Thunderbirds Frank Hornstein & Friends • St. Anthony Main • Traki Joyful Noize • The Good Intentions Bluegrass Band Brady Perl • Patty & the Buttons • Blue Hazard Diversity Street Dancers

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

Historic and Unique

Loring Corners

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