Brown County Inn's Hill Folk Music Series

Jim Richter, Denise Kocur, Roger Banister, and Tobe Woodrough. photo by Boris Ladwig

~ by Boris Ladwig

As the patrons at the Brown County Inn dug into pulled chicken nachos and buttermilk fried chicken, Roger Banister picked a bluegrassy solo on his mandolin. Moments later, he sang a three-part harmony with bassist Denise Kocur and guitarist Tobe Woodrough, while Jim Richter added notes from his banjo.

The quartet played familiar favorites from country greats such as Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton, getting applause from the roughly 35 diners who had come to the inn’s Corn Crib lounge on a recent evening.

It’s become a familiar scene on Thursday nights, as the Hill Folk Music Series has developed a following among local patrons as well as regional and even nationally touring musicians.

“The Hill Folk Music Series is probably one of the most important regional and local series that’s been started in many years,” Banister said as he took a break on that recent Thursday.

Musicians and fans said the series has achieved its level of importance not just because of the artists but also because of influence of the series’ creator, Will

Scott, who has deep roots in Indiana but has lived on both coasts and established a network of musicians.

The Hill Folk Music Series provides a variety of folk, roots, blues, and Americana, sometimes veering into other genres, such as southern rock.

Scott grew up on the southside of Indianapolis and in the Chicago area. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where he studied religious studies and anthropology.

Scott came to music through his family. His father played jazz guitar, his stepfather played blues guitar, and his mother was a singer. His great-grandfather on his father’s side was a well-known fiddle player in southern Indiana.

He lived in Los Angeles for four years and moved across the country to live in New York for fifteen more years. About a decade ago, Scott moved back to Indiana to live closer to his ailing father.

“As I came back and started playing a lot more music in the Midwest, I just fell back in love with Brown County,” said Scott.

He came on a regular basis as a kid and when he was in college.

While he uses his connections made from living on the coasts and from touring the Midwest, Scott said finding talent much closer isn’t all that difficult.

“There’s plenty of people down here that are touring all over,” he said.

Musicians usually have a tough time booking shows on Thursday nights, so the music series can provide gigs for artists on their way through the Midwest.

Many acts have brought people here who have never been to Brown County.

Will Scott. courtesy photo

Nashville, Tennessee-based musician Tim Easton contacted him after a recent show, Scott said.

“He made a point of texting me—actually the next day— and saying, ‘I just fell in love with this place. And I can’t wait to come back and I’m going to bring my daughter. Can you book me again next year?’”

Banister and frequent audience member Bob Blass said Scott has brought something special to the region in giving the audience a venue for music they don’t generally hear live, while at the same time choosing the artists in such a way as to keep things fresh.

Blass, a fan of the Hill Folk series, has dabbled in choir, banjo, and saxophone. He says while he loves music, he is not a musician.

“For a town our size, we just got a multitude of talented musicians here,” Blass said.

One of those local musicians, Caitlin “Spanks” Spangler, said she especially enjoys the Hill Folk Music Series’ variety.

“When you come in one day you hear bluegrass. You come in another day, it’s folk—then blues to rock and roll to honky tonk—like a little bit of everything. And I think that’s what makes it so special,” she said.

Spangler, who promotes her music primarily through Caitlin Spangler Music on Facebook, had come to the inn that Thursday to listen to Banister and Kocur, but was also scheduled to play her original music the following night.

She said she loves to perform at the Brown County Inn, in part because she has a history there, having built headboards and picture frames with a friend of hers, Jayme Hood, another local musician who is one half of The Hammer and The Hatchet.

She is grateful that Scott showcases original artists who don’t generally get a lot of exposure, as well as local and regional talent.

“He really gives a lot of people a shot,” Spangler said.

Scott himself plays shows a few times a month, but much less so than he used to, because he focuses more on his event production work, through Brown County Music Services, which can be found on Facebook. Scott said he enjoys that work, in part because it allows him to be choosy about where he plays.

The inn offers music on other days as well. An open mic night on Wednesdays, hosted alternately by Scott and Rick Fettig, brings in a “legendary” level of talent. Acts on Friday transition into more of a blues and singer/ songwriter vibe, while Saturday’s usually bring cover bands.

“That Hill Folk vibe still bleeds into all of it,” Scott said.