March-April 2008 - Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music

Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. Newsletter
March/April 08
Autoharp duet with Ellis Bauman and Mary Helmke at the Dry Bean. Photo is courtesy of Beth Graham.
Start Planning Your
Bluegrass Year!
(2008 Events Calendar Inside)
swbmai.org
Fireball Mail
V o l u m e
2 5
I s s u e
2
Fireball Mail is published bi-monthly:
January, March, May, July, September, and
November. Please send articles, calendar
information, photos and letter to the editor to:
Fireball Mail
3418 Elvehjem Road
McFarland, WI, 53558
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 608-838-4852
Deadline for submissions is the 10th of the
month preceding the month of publication.
Advertising –
Contact editor at 608-838-4852
or Email: [email protected]
for rates and information.
Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc.
The SWBMAI is a non-profit educational organization devoted to the preservation and
promotion of bluegrass music, and supported by the volunteer efforts of its members.
SWBMAI Mission Statement:
The SWBMAI mission as stated in the by-laws:
1) To promote bluegrass music and musicians
2) To bring together persons of all ages who enjoy singing, playing
and listening to bluegrass music
3) To hold regular bluegrass jam sessions
4) To publicize information about bluegrass concerts and festivals
5) To promote family weekend camping with bluegrass music
6) To help younger persons obtain instruments and instruction
in bluegrass music
7) To introduce bluegrass music to new listeners
SWBMAI Board of Directors
President – Karen Sonnenblick, 608-224-1124, [email protected]
Vice-President – Ellis Bauman, 608-257-2431, [email protected]
Secretary – Sharon Manion, 608-424-3408, [email protected]
Treasurer – Jon Peik, [email protected]
Membership – Catherine Rhyner, 608-835-8117
Newsletter – Mary Helmke, 608-838-4852, [email protected]
Webmaster – Brian Ray, [email protected]
Attendant Board MembersJim Knobloch, 608-798-3810, [email protected]
Ongoing VolunteersNancy Nikora
SWBMAI is a member of IBMA (International
Bluegrass Music Association) and GMCVB (Greater
Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau).
Sandy Nowack
Carolyn Hegeler
Carmen Burnett
Bill Malone
Patty Graham
SWBMAI is a proud sponsor of
WORT 89.9FM
Every Tuesday
Pastures of Plenty,
9-noon with John Fabke
Every Wednesday
Back to the Country,
9-noon with Bill Malone
Every Friday
Mud Acres Bluegrass Special,
9-noon with Chris Powers
2
Fireball Mail/ March–April 08
Jim Robarts
Joe Davis
Margaret Kmiotek
Bruce Nichols
Fireball Mail NewsletterEditor – Mary Helmke
Design – Rob Griffen
Note: The Board meets the first Wednesday of each month, at 6pm at the Bar Next Door,
232 E. Olin Ave., Madison, WI.
If you would like to attend, please contact a board member to be sure of the date, time
and location; they are subject to site availability and holiday dates.-mh
From Madam President.
Greetings Fellow Bluegrassers!
This spring SWBMAI is celebrating our 25th Anniversary!
Thanks to all of you for your continued support over the
years in keeping bluegrass alive in our community. We
wouldn’t be here without you! We are so thrilled to have
folks like you to help in promoting bluegrass music, musicians and events in our area. We will be celebrating our
anniversary on May 31st at Riley’s Tavern in Verona and will
keep you updated with the exact details as we continue to
plan the event.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2008 SWBMAI Jamboree, our annual fundraiser held at the High Noon Saloon
on April 19th. This year’s set up will be a bit different than
previous years. Doors will open at 12:30pm and there will
be open jamming until the first band comes on at 3pm. We
invite you to come with your instrument(s) or as a spectator
to partake in the merry music making. There will be 4 blue-
grass bands each playing a one-hour set from 3 to 7pm. After breaking for supper, the acoustic music will continue late
into the evening at the High Noon with Devil in a Woodpile,
an acoustic blues and ragtime band from Chicago being put
on by the Four Lakes Traditional Music Cooperative (who
put on Sugar Maple).
Don’t forget that March is renewal time! We thank you so
much for your continued support.
If you are connected to the cyber world, please remember
to send us your email address so that you can receive our
newsletter electronically monthly. This way you will receive
the most up-to- date information on all the bluegrass information in our community.
I look forward to seeing you at the Jamboree!
Karen Sonnenblick
Editors Note . . .
We are looking at celebrating 25 years of the SWBMAI
and the Fireball Mail newsletter. The work and dedication
of a small group of people have kept both going for this
impressive number of years.
My term as editor is up following this issue. There have been
appeals for someone to be editor of the Fireball Mail for the
past ten months, with no takers. So, the board has come
up with an alternate plan.
There will still be a Fireball Mail, however, it will be produced
via the website. Our webmaster has generously offered
more of his time to collate articles, items of interest and
calendar listings and create the Fireball Mail. It will be
available via your e-mail address, or if that is not possible for
you, we will continue to mail a paper version to you.
As you know the e-mail version is printable, by you, at your
convenience and can be acquired faster than by post.
After much discussion, this is the solution which was arrived
at. You can still send in articles, photos, promotions, etc.
Just contact a board member and it will be posted on the
You can print off your Fireball Mail at home any time:
Please send your e-mail addresses to the website at
[email protected].
Write ‘e-mail newsletter’ in the subject line, so we know
what it is pertaining to.
website. You will still have information available to you as
you always have. This will be a seamless updating of our
communications and streamlining of our expenses.
If you have any questions on this matter or wish to
make some helpful suggestions, please contact Karen
Sonnenblick: 608-224-1124.
I want to thank everyone who was so helpful during my
tenure as editor, especially Carolyn Hegeler, Paul Kienitz,
Rob Griffen, Bruce Nichols, Fritz Jaggi and Nancy Nikora.
Karen Sonnenblick has been a great reader for me,
making sure I am stating things clearly and not too wordy.
Catherine Rhyner has been great at coordinating the mailing
addresses we use. And thank you all for your contributions,
suggestions and concerns. It has been an honor to be your
newsletter editor.
I hope to see you all at some jams this year.
Yours truly,
Mary Helmke
This will not only get the news to you faster, but will help
preserve our natural resources.
At least try it, if it doesn’t suit you, you can always go back
to receiving a hard copy in your mailbox.
Fireball Mail/March–April 08
3
Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc.
Board Meeting Minutes (condensed)
December 5, 2007
Present: Ellis Bauman, Karen Sonnenblick, Jim Knobloch,
Catherine Rhyner, and Sharon Manion
Regrets: Jon Peik, Brian Ray and Mary Helmke
The meeting was called to order at 6:20 p.m. The November 6 minutes and treasurer’s report were approved as submitted.
Cork & Bottle Bluegrass Band member Greg Dierks was not able
to attend the meeting as expected. He contacted Ellis regarding a
fund-raiser proposal which would feature their DVD and which would
be organized by SWBMAI. The board asked Ellis to contact Greg and
invite him to the January meeting for further discussion.
Brian sent out the monthly website overview. This report showed a
decrease in site visits.
Karen reported that she has been in contact with Linda Sanderson who
has asked for SWBMAI to help with the Badgerland Festival. Linda
was invited to a board meeting or holiday party to discuss this further.
Linda will contact us at a later date.
The board discussed the 25th Anniversary and the 2008 Jamboree.
After some discussion, Sharon recommended that we not combine the
two events. The Jamboree will be held in early April and the anniversary celebration will be held around the May 13th anniversary date.
Discussion and planning will be carried over to the January meeting.
Ellis reported that he did not have any new information on our tax
status change.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 9, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at
The Bar Next Door.
The board discussed the January/February Fireball Mail issue which is
being edited by Karen and Jim while Mary is on hiatus. All articles need
to be submitted to them by December 15th.
SWBMAI received a mailing with information regarding Midwest bluegrass activities which will be added to the newsletter and web. The
board agreed to purchase the annual Midwest bluegrass band guide
for $8.00.
Sharon provided an update on the holiday party.
Karen was contacted by Christina from the Stoughton Opera House
regarding collaboration on a bluegrass series. Christina will contact the
board after the holidays. This will be tabled until the January meeting.
'08 Door County Bluegrass Camp to Hold Inaugural Sessions
This summer, top tourist destination Door County,
Wisconsin (known nationally as “the Cape Cod of the
Midwest”) will host the inaugural sessions of the Door
County Bluegrass Camp, a first-of-its-kind instructional
camp taught by renowned bluegrass musicians.
Students may choose between two sessions, one from June
29-July 4 and one from August 3-8. The camp will work to
improve playing at all skill levels, with morning and afternoon
instrumental lessons and a variety of workshops, including
classes about bluegrass history; songwriting; music theory;
harmony singing; chart reading and writing; tab; instrument
repair and maintenance; folk, round, square, and contra
dance; yodeling, storytelling with music; and, of course,
jam sessions. Each camp session will also afford ample
opportunity for playing with fellow students and instructors,
and will finish with a concert for the public.
Lessons will be taught by a musically astonishing team
of instructors, all of whom are nationally respected in the
4
Fireball Mail/ March–April 08
world of bluegrass. The faculty includes two winners of the
Memphis Premier String Player Award, and musicians who
have performed with a variety of bluegrass greats, including
Bill Monroe, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Vassar Clements
and Robin and Linda Williams. The camp will also feature a
songwriting workshop taught by published songwriter Julie
Carter-Moriva.
Camp participants will also have the chance to experience
the beauty of Door County, a locale renowned for its natural
and cultural richness. Thousands of people visit Door County
each year from all over the world, taking advantage of the
swimming, fishing, biking, hiking, culinary, theatrical, and
musical opportunities the county provides.
Contact: www.doorcountybluegrass.com or call 920-8392777. Space is limited so early reservations are strongly
recommended.
We're Going Back to the Silver Screen!
By Karen Sonnenblick
SWBMAI is proud to announce that we are going to the big
screen! That’s right, folks. Who said that us backwoods,
bluegrass-loving folks couldn’t fit into the Hollywood scene?
A few months ago, Steve Parry from Chicago-based
Hayloft Gang Productions approached us to help with the
production of a documentary he is working on about the
WLS National Barn Dance. SWBMAI and Hayloft Gang
Productions applied jointly for a grant from the Wisconsin
Humanities Council to assist in the production of the
documentary, and Steve just informed us that we were
awarded the grant! The SWBMAI Board is very excited to be
involved in such a wonderful project.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Barn Dance
(yes, it was a few years before my time; hence, the need for
a documentary), it was a very popular music and comedy
radio show that began airing in 1924. Based in Chicago,
it aired on Saturday evenings for over 30 thirty years. It
featured many of the early country artists, such as Patsy
Montana, and it is estimated that over 3 million attended
the live recordings of the show. Many people that I have
spoken to remember it as a staple in their households. The
documentary will feature the history of the program, and we
can’t wait to see the final product!
The Midwest Banjo Camp 2008
By Carolyn Hegeler
With four tracks in both bluegrass and old-time -- Novice,
lower intermediate, upper intermediate, and advanced,
making it relatively easy finding the level that's right for you.
There are now six class options per session for bluegrass
and six more for old-time -- one each in the novice and lower
intermediate tracks, and two each in the upper intermediate
and advanced tracks. In addition there is a special events
track (fiddle lessons, guitar lessons, etc.) and a jamming
track (see below). With a total of 14 classes per period, this
represents more choice at MBC than ever before.
The Jamming Track. On Saturday and Sunday, we offer a
jamming option during some class-sessions. These jams will
be run by our stellar accompanists. Jams led by our banjo
faculty take place after the concerts on Friday and Saturday
evenings.
Dates: June 6-8, 2008
Place: Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan (about 30 miles
southwest of Lansing)
Times: Registration opens 12 noon on Friday; Camp ends
3:30PM on Sunday
Website: http://www.midwestbanjocamp.com
What You're About: At MBC, you can study old-time or
bluegrass banjo with some of today's best players and
teachers in both styles. Our program features hands-on
classes, demonstrations and two faculty concerts, and
still leaves lots of time for jamming with your fellow banjo
enthusiasts.
Instructors:
Old-time: Bob Carlin, Cathy Fink, Adam Hurt, Brad Leftwich,
Reed Martin, Joe Newberry, Michael Miles and Ken Perlman.
Chris Coole heads up our old-time Novice program.
Bluegrass: Janet Beazley, Greg Cahill, Pat Cloud, Bill Evans,
Bill Keith, Jens Kruger, James McKinney, and Alan Munde.
Mike Sumner heads up our old-time Novice program.
Accompanists: Peter Knupfer (bluegrass fiddle), Ron
McKeever (bluegrass guitar) Chirps" Smith (old-time fiddle)
and Mark Sahlgren (old-time guitar).
Another Item of Note: This year we have a Pre-Camp
Program on Thursday Evening and Friday Morning (at no
Extra Charge for Registrants). We're planning to run a few
events on Thursday evening and Friday morning prior to the
official start of camp for the benefit of students who want to
jump start their weekend of banjo immersion. On Thursday
evening, we figure to have a social "mixer" followed by a few
faculty-led jam sessions. Among the ideas we're tossing
around for Friday morning are round-robin demonstrations,
clinics on banjo technique and set-up, teachers offering
advice on class-choices, and an Introduction to the Banjo
sessions for total beginners.
If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to
contact us at [email protected]. As usual, you
can find more information, instructor bios, registration forms
etc., on the website: http://www.midwestbanjocamp.com.
Fireball Mail/March–April 08
5
1st Northwoods Bluegrass Festival
June 13, 14 & 15, 2008
Rusk County Fairgrounds
Ladysmith WI
Festival Sched ule:
Fri. June 13: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat. June 14: 10:00 am - 10:00pm
with open mic from 10am to noon
Sun. June 15: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Gospel Bluegrass with open mic from 11am to noon
Featured ba n d s:
Lincoln Boys
Art Stevenson & High Water
Hand Picked Bluegrass Band
East Hill Bluegrass Band
The Platte Valley Boys
King's Countrymen
T ick et Prices:
Advance Sales:
Fri. & Sat. $20.00
Gate Prices: Friday: $10.00
Saturday: $15.00
Sunday: donation
Age 15 and under FREE with
paid adult admission
Email: [email protected] or call: 715-532-7328 or 715-868-2886
Food vendors on the grounds.
Campin g Pr ice s :
Gates, on the fairgrounds, open to campers at noon on Thursday
Camping w/electric (max. vehicle lgth - 30ft) $18.00 per night (limited spaces)
"rough" camping (no water or electric) $10.00 per night
Checks payable to: GLACC, 205 W 9th St South, Ladysmith WI 54848
Check our website: www.ladysmithchamber.com
or www.ruskcounty.org
Other events on the fairgrounds that weekend include: Rusk County Historical Society
Demonstrations and Tours and Dairy Breakfast on Sat. morning.
Event presented by: Greater Ladysmith Area Chamber of Commerce and Rusk County Tourism
All's Well That Ends Well
by Carolyn Hegeler
In mid-January I, and many others, received an email
from Brad Klabunde saying he was ending his bluegrass
concert series in Two Rivers, WI. For the past eight years
Brad had hosted some terrific traditional bluegrass groups
– Rhonda Vincent, Alecia Nugent, Pine Mountain Railroad,
Melvin Goins, among many others – so this was surprising
and sad news. The concerts were a genuine labor of love
– Brad put his heart and soul, and his talent as a sound
engineer, into the series and provided the community of
Two Rivers with much-praised, well-attended, reasonablypriced concerts. Patrons could even buy a light supper if
they wished, before the music began.
Fred Newmann and I attended two of these concerts
in the last few years. The first featured Pine Mountain
Railroad, the second, Alecia Nugent. Attendance at both
was impressive – at least 200 to 300 in the audience
– and we enjoyed everything about the concerts, from
the performances, to the venue, to the high quality of the
sound, to the enthusiasm of the audiences. Fred and
I chose to stay in Two Rivers for the night, but young
whippersnappers could pretty easily have made the drive
home to Madison if they wanted to.
And then . . . it was with surprise and relief that ten days
after the first email, I got another email from Brad saying
he’d changed his mind and would continue the series after
all. It’s a long and tortuous story, but what matters is that
it ended as it did. Brad will continue the work he loves
and the community of Two Rivers will once again have a
bluegrass concert series to enjoy and be proud of. I highly
recommend this series to everyone who loves traditional
bluegrass music.
The five events coming up this season are: Kody Norris &
The Watauga Mountain Boys on February 18; The Charlie
Sizemore Band on March 13; Rhonda Vincent & The
Rage on March 30; Williams & Clark Expedition on April
12; and David Davis & The Warrior River Boys on May
17th. For more information, visit Brad’s website at www.
bluegrassbrad.org.
Fireball Mail/March–April 08
7
Lots of jams January/February 2008
Every Monday
Dry Bean Saloon, 6:30-10:30pm, 5264 Verona Rd.,
Madison, WI Host: Dave Bachol (Info: 608-274-4535)
Newgrass Jam, 6-10pm, Bar Next Door, (608-256-9430)
222 E. Olin Ave. Madison, WI – just off John Nolen Dr. next
to the Coliseum Bar. Host: Spencer Walts (Info: eyewerks@
tds.net)
Last Monday
Fellowship Hall of United Methodist Church- Acoustic
Music Jam Session, 7-10 pm, 4405 Oakland Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN Free, (Info: Roy, 612-822-1926 or www.
MinnesotaBluegrass.org)
Every Tuesday
Learner/Beginner Jam at the Bar Next Door, 7-10pm, 222
E. Olin Ave. , Madison, WI. SWBMAI sponsored instruction
on first Tuesday, 7:30-9pm by Jon Peik, $5.00 donation for
instructor requested. Other weeks are facilitated without
charge. (Info: Mary 608-838-4852)
3rd Tuesday
Hartland Music, 7-9 pm, 1125 James Dr., Harland WI. off
Hwy 83, just south of Hwy 16 (Info: [email protected])
Every Wednesday
Northland Ballroom, 8-11pm, HWY 49 (at CTY C) between
Rosholt & Iola, WI Hosts: Art & Stephanie Stevenson with
Dale Reichert (Info: 715-884-6996 or 715-677-3491)
Emily’s Restaurant, 8-11pm, Cedar Creek, WI. (Info: 262677-0138 or www.emilysrestaurant.com)
1st & 3rd Thursday
Ruby’s Road House, 6-9:30 pm, free, Hwys 40 & 53,
Bloomer, WI, Free (Contact Larry Finseth, 715-926-5148)
2nd & 4th Thursday
Books ‘N Brew, 7-9pm, Milton, WI. Maureen (Info: 608868-3371)
1st & 3rd Friday
Harmony Bar, 9:45 p.m. 2201 Atwood Ave. Madison, WI.
Hosts: The Trails End String Band (Info: 608-249-4333)
(Sept. thru May)
2nd Friday
Black Earth Bank, 1-4pm, (downstairs) Black Earth, WI.
Host: Ron Poast (Info: 608-767-2276)
3rd FRIDAY
Acoustic Open Mic, 7-9:30pm, Crossroads Coffeehouse,
(Mary 608-798-2080) 2020 Main St, Cross Plains, WI.
Advance and walk-in sign-up. (Info: Joe Snare e-mail:
[email protected])
8
Fireball Mail/ March–April 08
Every Saturday
Culvers- Acoustic Music Jam Session, 1-4:30 pm, Coon
Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN. Free (Info: Barb 763784-7881 or www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org)
Escape Java Joint & Gallery, 8pm – midnight, 916
Williamson St., Madison, WI (608-255-0997), Host:
Stephen Lee Rich
1st Saturday
Riley Tavern, 2pm, 8205 Klevenville-Riley Rd., Mt. Horeb,
WI Take CTH PD to CTH J between Mt. Horeb & Verona.
Host: Archie Lowman (Info: 608-233-5247)
Waukesha Church of Christ, 1-4 pm, 2816 Madison St.,
Waukesha, WI. Host: Pastor Greg (Info: 262-470-3644)
2nd Saturday
R.H. Landmark Saloon, 3pm, 138 S. Main St. Jefferson, WI.
Host: John Short (Info: 920-563-7441)
Spring Green General Store, 3-6 pm, 137 S. Albany St.,
Spring Green, WI. Host: Paul Bentzen (Info: 608-588-7070
or www.springgreengeneralstore.com)
EVERY SUNDAY
R.J.'s Saloon Mazomanie, WI (Info: 608-795-2251) Dec.
2007 thru April, 2008, No Jam on Easter Sunday
1st Sunday
Orfordville American Legion, 12-6pm. Orfordville, WI On
Hwy 213 S, just south of Hwy 11. (June 1 last jam until
Oct.) Host: Fritz Jaggi (Info: 608-897-4286)
Life Spring Coffee Shop, 1-4pm, 7578 Hwy 51, Minocqua,
WI. Host: Rich Gadow (Info: 715-588-9498 or
www.headforthedome.com
2nd Sunday
Hazelhurst (Yawkey) Town Hall, 1-5pm, Hwy 51, Hazelhurst,
WI. Host: Keith Justice (Info: 715-356-3793)
Borders Books- Milwaukee Jam, 2-5pm, River Point
Shopping Center, Bayside, WI. Take I-43, exit Brown Deer
Rd. (Info: 414-961-0660)
3rd Sunday
Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts, 1-4pm, 208 S.
Chestnut Ave., Marshfield, WI. Host: Roman Stauber and
Max Winkels (Info: 715-676-2305 or [email protected] or [email protected] )
4th Sunday
Park View Manor, 1:30-4pm, Rock St., Viroqua,WI (except
December) Host: David Peterson (Info: 608-637-3820)
Events as of March 2008
March 7-9 The Stringalong Gathering, East Troy, WI Info: 414-426-3655 or 414-339-3655 or www.StringalongWeekend.com
March 13 Concert Charlie Sizemore Band, 7:30pm, Two Rivers High School, Two Rivers WI, 920-794-7258 or www.bluegrassbrad.org
March 28-30 12th Annual SPBGMA Albert Lea Spring Bluegrass Festival, Albert Lea, MN Info: Chuck Stearman 660-665-7172 or
www.spbgma.com
March 28-30 14th Annual Naperville Bluegrass Festival, Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N Naper Blvd,. Naperville, IL, 217-243-3159 or
[email protected]
March 30 Concert Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, 7:30pm, Two Rivers High School, Two Rivers WI, 920-794-7258 or
www.bluegrassbrad.org
April 12 Concert William & Clark Expedition, 7:30pm, Two Rivers High School, Two Rivers WI, 920-794-7258 or
www.bluegrassbrad.org
April 19
SWBMAI Annual Jamboree and Fundraiser – 12-7pm High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave, Madison, WI. 12:30-7pm open jamming and bluegrass bands – Info: Karen Sonnenblick 608-224-1124 or www.swbmai.org
May 10
MAMA The Madison Area Music Awards, Barrymore Theater, 2090 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI www.Mamas.org
May 17
Concert David Davis & The Warrior River Boys, 7:30pm, Two Rivers High School, Two Rivers WI, 920-794-7258 or
www.bluegrassbrad.org
May 23-28
32nd Annual Tri-State Memorial Day Bluegrass Festival, Kendallville, IN 260-432-4485 or [email protected]
May 31
SWBMAI 25th Anniversary Celebration, Riley Tavern, 8205 Klevenville-Riley Rd, Verona, WI, Outdoor potluck and party. More info to come. Jim K. 608-798-3810 or Mary H. 608-838-4852 or www.swbmai.org
June 6-7
Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival, Brooklyn, WI, www.bluegrassinbrooklyn.com
June 6-8
8th Annual Three Sisters Park Bluegrass Festival, Chillicothe, IL 217-243-3159 or [email protected]
June 6-7
9th Street Gospel Bluegrass Festival: N 5701 9th St, Spooner, WI 715-635-9130 or www.9thstreetfestival.homestead.com
June 13-15
4th Annual Bill Jorgenson Memorial Bluegrass Festival, The Heritage Farm, Kewaunee, WI, 715-736-1194 or
www.bjorgensonbluegrass.com
June 13-15 1st Annual Northwoods Bluegrass Festival, Ladysmith, WI, Arlene Knops, 715-868-2886, 715-532-7328 or
[email protected]
June 14-21
42nd Annual Bill Monroe Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, Bean Blossom, IN. Local contact: Bruce Nichols 608-273-4807 or www.beanblossom.com
June 27-28
Carr Creek Bluegrass & Country Gospel Festival, Friday night & Saturday. 1057 250th St. Woodville, WI 54028 715-698-2148 or www.carrcreekranch.org
June 29-July 4Door County Bluegrass Camp, 920-839-2777 or www.doorcountybluegrass.com
July 11-12
Cornell Gospel Bluegrass Jamboree, 1605 S 8th St. Cornell, WI 715-452-5300 or www.gospelbluegrassfest.com
July 11-12
6th Annual Viroqua Bluegrass & Gospel Festival, Vernon Cty Fairgrounds, Viroqua, WI David Peterson 608-637-3820 or
www.viroquabluegrass.com
July 20
2nd Annual Gandy Dancer Festival, Mazomanie, WI, more info coming
July 25-27
27th Annual Backbone Bluegrass Festival, Backbone State Park,Strawberry Point, IA 563-608-1057 or
www.strawberrypt.com
July 26-27
19th Annual Midsummer in the Northwoods, Manitowish Waters, WI, JerryFlorian, 715-543-2166 or
[email protected]
Aug. 1-2 Bluegrass Bash, Medford, WI, 920-833-1061 or www.bluegrassbash.com
Aug. 1-2
Sugar Maple Festival, Lake Farm County Park, Madison, WI 608-227-8685 or www.fourlakesmusic.org
Aug. 3-8
Door County Bluegrass Camp, Ellison Bay, WI, 920-839-2777 or www.doorcountybluegrass.com
Aug. 7-10
Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival, Richmond, MN, www.minnesotabluegrass.org
Aug. 8-10
Log Jam Festival, more info coming, Mosinee, WI, [email protected]
Aug. 15-16
11th Annual Larryfest, Fish Valley Rd, Rockton, (mailing address is LaFarge) WI, Larry at 608-386-1448, www.kvama.org
Aug. 14-15 SEMBA Bluegrass Festival, Cushon’s Peak Campground, 18692 State 16, Houston, MN 55943 507-896-7325 or www.semba.tv
Aug. 22 & 23
9th Annual Northland Bluegrass Festival, Northlands Ballroom, Rosholt, WI, 715-884-6996
Aug. 21-24
The Lakes Bluegrass Festival, Cass County Fairgrounds, Pine River, MN, Tim Roggenkamp 218-568-7366 or
www.lakesbluegrassfestival.org
Aug. 22-24
Mount Morris Jam Camp, Mount Morris, WI www.mtmjamcamp.com
Aug. 28-31
NIBGA Tri-State Festival, Kendallville, IN, 260-432-4485 or www.bluegrassusa.net
Aug 29-31
Barnes Family Festival, Mercer County Fairgrounds, Aledo, IL www.barnesbluegrass.com
Sept 13-14
East Troy Bluegrass Festival, East Troy, WI, more info coming
Nov. 7-9
22nd Annual Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival, Springfield, IL
217-243-3159 or www.bluegrassmidwest.com
Fireball Mail/March–April 08
9
Member Band Calendar 2008
3/8 The Turtle Creek Ramblers, 9:30am, Northwoods Care Center, Belvidere, IL
3/8 The Turtle Creek Ramblers, 1:30pm, Maple Crest Care Center, Belvidere, IL
3/14 Round The Bend, 8-10pm, Wild Hog in The Woods
Coffee House, Madison, WI
3/15 Sparetime Bluegrass, American Legion, Lowell, WI
3/16 Sparetime Bluegrass, 3-5pm, St. Patrick’s Day Eve, Roxbury, WI
3/22 The High 48’s, 7:30pm, CD Release party, Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN
3/28 Liberty Bluegrass, 8pm, show & jam, Cuda Café, Deerfield, WI
3/29 Monroe Crossing, 3:45pm & 9:45pm, Northern Illinois Bluegrass Festival, Naperville, IL
4/4 Monroe Crossing, 7:30pm, Community Bluegrass & Gospel Concert with Honey Creek, Center City, MN
4/9 Alzen Family, 10am, Salem Iron Creek United Methodist Church, Family Day Celebration concert & potluck, Menomonie, WI
4/11 Round The Bend, 8:30pm, Cuda Café, Deerfield, WI
4/12 The Turtle Creek Ramblers, 9:30am, Northwoods Care Center, Belvidere, IL
4/12 The Turtle Creek Ramblers, 1:30pm, Maple Crest Care Center, Belvidere, IL
4/19 Sparetime Bluegrass, SWBMAI Jamboree,
Madison, WI
4/20 Sparetime Bluegrass, 4-7pm, Hody Bar,
Middleton, WI
10
Fireball Mail/ March–April 08
4/25 Liberty Bluegrass, 8pm, show & jam, Cuda Café, Deerfield, WI
5/2 The High 48’s, 8pm, 318 Café, Excelsior, MN
6/6-7 Alzen Family, 9th Street Gospel Bluegrass Festival, Spooner, WI
6/7 Liberty Bluegrass, 6pm, Brooklyn Bluegrass Festival, Brooklyn WI
6/14 Liberty Bluegrass, 2 pm, 4th Annual Heritage Farms
Bill Jorgenson Memorial Bluegrass Festival, Kewaunee, WI
6/19 Liberty Bluegrass, 7pm, Thursday Night Concert Series, Nixon Park, Hartland, WI
6/27-28 Alzen Family, Carr Creek Bluegrass & Country Gospel Festival, Fri. night & Saturday, Woodville, WI
7/4 Above The Town, 6-9:30pm, Shorewood Fireworks, Madison, WI
7/11-12 Alzen Family, Cornell Gospel Bluegrass Jamboree, Cornell, WI
7/12 Liberty Bluegrass, 5:30pm, Jammin In The Garden’s Bluegrass Festival, Delavan, WI
8/14-15 Alzen Family, SEMBA Bluegrass Festival,
Houston, MN
8/16-17 Liberty Bluegrass, 6pm, Port Washington’s Maritime Heirtage Festival, Downtown Port Washington, WI
8/17 Alzen Family, Spirit in the Park Music Festival, Clear Lake, IA
8/20 Above The Town, 6:30-9pm, River Rhythms, Pere Marquette Park
Band Membership . . .
The SWBMAI band membership was introduced in 2001 in an effort to promote local bands. The annual
fee was changed to $60.00 in April 2007.
For this fee, you receive:
• Twice yearly, a list from the Greater Madison Convention &
Visitors Bureau, of future conventions in the Madison, WI area.
• Vast exposure and links to your websites on our website.
• In the Fireball Mail newsletter:
Your band listing and contact information in each issue.
One subscription for your band.
Current SWBMAI Band Members
Monroe Crossing – Art Blackburn; 763-213-1349,
[email protected]
Above the Town – Jerry Loughney; 262-510-1128,
[email protected]
Poplar Grove Band – Patty Michalsen; (815) 636-1884,
www.riverhouse.ws/poplargrove.htm
The Alzen Family – Bradley Alzen; 715-749-3977,
www.alzenfamily.com
'Round the Bend – Fred Newmann; 608-238-6863,
[email protected]
Cream City Bluegrass – Andrew Struthers;
262-754-1397, [email protected]
Sparetime Bluegrass Band – Bob Batyko;
608-575-9945, [email protected]
Cork n’ Bottle Stringband – Greg Dierks; (608) 241-2430,
www.bignew.com
Turtle Creek Ramblers – Dave & Michelle Wilson;
608-361-0770, www.turtlecreekramblers.com
The Hawthorne Hills Bluegrass Band – Steven Stokes;
414-303-8419, [email protected]
Tangled Roots – Martin Marrone h: 651-501-9735,
c: 651-295-1376, [email protected]
The High 48’s – Eric Christopher; 651-271-4392,
www.high48s.com
The Krause Family Band - Rick Krause; 608-827-6189
[email protected]
Jefferson County Bluegrass Band – Doug Hodge;
608-201-2032, [email protected]
The Front Porch Boys – J. Clark Speck; 262-408-2764,
www.frontporchboys.com
Liberty Bluegrass Band – James Brocksmith;
414-803-7477, www.libertybluegrass.com
Wooden Bridges Bluegrass Band – Rich Schwartz; (262)
719-3549, http://home.wi.rr.com/woodenbridges/
Welcome to Tangled Roots
Tangled Roots is one of the most energetic and entertaining
bands to hit the bustling Minnesota Bluegrass music scene.
They've been performing for over half a decade throughout
Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan and Wisconsin. With a
broad spectrum of material ranging from songs and tunes
by Bill Monroe and Elvis Presley to more recent songs
penned by Bruce Hornsby, John Prine, Kevin Welch and
Bruce Cockburn, Tangled Roots has become a favorite with
bluegrass music fans. The members of Tangled Roots consist of some of the best known bluegrass performers in the
upper Midwest and combined, they bring to the stage over
100 years of musical experience.
Marty Morrow – guitar, vocal harmony
Chuck Millar – lead vocal, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass
David Tousley – bass
Heath Loy – 5-string banjo,
Fireball Mail/March–April 08
11
Bluegrass Jam at the Harmony Bar
By: Karen Sonnenblick
For most of the year (excluding the summer months), the
Harmony Bar on Atwood Avenue hosts a bluegrass jam on
the first and third Fridays of the month. The jam has been
held at the Harmony Bar for about 2 years and is hosted by
Mark Kunkel and Brian Hirsh (both formerly of the Trails End
String Band). As a regular attendee of the bluegrass jam, I
thought it would be fun to interview some folks about the
history of the jam and their experiences there.
I asked Brian why they chose the Harmony Bar to host
the jam. “Part of it really is the Harmony Bar,” he said. “It’s
a wonderful space. It is consistently voted one of the best
places in Madison. It’s a fantastic local bar. It’s well run.
It’s clean. And a lot of kudos has to go to the Harmony for
letting us have a jam here. It is a wonderful place. It’s only
booking quality in here, and somehow, they let us in, too!”
Brian plays the upright bass at the jam and is known to lead
songs such as Driving Nails in My Coffin, Milwaukee, Here I
Come, and I Know You Rider.
One of the best parts about playing at the Harmony jam is
the set of song books that Mark Kunkel always brings. I’m
not certain how many volumes there are, but I know he has
the chords and lyrics for almost any song you can think of,
all listed alphabetically. When asked about it, Mark said he
had put the books together because hated not knowing the
chords to a song. As a visual learner, it helps him to know
the songs. He kept track of songs that people were playing
repeatedly at the jams and wrote them down in a format that
made sense to him. It took him a few years to collect all of
the songs, and now everyone at the jam is VERY grateful
to have the books as a resource. Whenever anyone starts
playing a tune, Mark will quickly find it in one of his many
books and place it on the music stand for folks to use.
12 Fireball Mail/ March–April 08
Guitarist Tracy Rose is also a regular attendee of the
Harmony jam. When asked what draws her to the Harmony,
she replied, “I’d have to say it is the people. They are a
unique kind of bunch. There aren’t a lot of people who like
to pick bluegrass and hang out and relax and are open to
new opportunities.” Her favorite song to play at a jam is Salty
Dog.
Banjo player Julie Cherney chimed in some questions of
her own. She asked fellow banjo player Eric Larson, who
was at the jam for his second time, what he liked about the
Harmony jam. “It made me really comfortable up there. The
big smiles and happy personalities make me a pleasant
person, and my banjo sings because of it,” he replied. Julie
herself remarked, “It’s a great bar. Keith Daniels is a warm
guy, and the fact that he allows this jam to happen twice a
month is great.”
I asked audience member Matt Lohr what brought him to the
Harmony on Fridays for the bluegrass jam. “Well,” he replied,
“I like to see 10-12 people up on stage randomly playing
music together. It kind of reminds me of the book Ulysses by
James Joyce.” I’ll leave that one open to interpretation…
The Harmony jam is an all-level open bluegrass jam on the
first and third Fridays of every month and begins at 10pm.
The Harmony Bar is located at 2201 Atwood Avenue in
Madison. In addition to hosting a wide variety of excellent
music, they serve delicious food (I highly recommend the
pizza) and have unbeatable service.
The 25th Annual Southern Wisconsin
Bluegrass Music Association Inc.
Jamboree
Saturday, April 19, 2008
12:00pm to 7:00pm
High Noon Saloon
701 East Washington Avenue
Madison, WI (phone: 608-268-1122)
The Day’s Schedule
12:30pm - 2:30pm – Jamming
(bring your instruments as well as your good spirits)
3:00pm – 7pm - Four bands will be appearing:
John Fabke and The Lonesome Aces
SpareTime Bluegrass Band
Hand-Picked Bluegrass
Jefferson County Bluegrass
We will have some wonderful donated items available for you
in our raffles throughout the day.
Thanks to you and your donations,
we will be celebrating our 25 t h
Anniversary in May.
For information: contact Karen Sonnenblick – 608-244-1124
Paul Bentzen Day at Spring Green General Store
From Mary Helmke
February 16, 2008 was not a red-letter day for the rest
of the world, but for folks being out and about in Spring
Green, it was not only Paul Bentzen’s birthday jam with his
reknowned jambalaya, but it was also a day above freezing
with no storms, snow or ice. Altogether a very nice day.
This was my first time at the Paul Bentzen Day celebration. I
was not sure what to prepare for, but I was charmed by the
Spring Green General Store. Todd and Karin Miller are the
proprietors of the place and it feels like home – warm and
comfy and inviting.
The jam started around 1:00 pm and there was quite a
crowd gathered. In the front of the room by the windows,
there was a circle of chairs set up and Paul Bentzen was
all set with his banjo for a day of fun. Jim McGinnis did the
honors on the upright bass and there were a number of
banjos, mandolins and guitars. A little later, there were two
fiddles, which are a wonderful addition to any jam. There
was a sort of rotation of players/singers as more musicians
arrived to share their talents and the listeners were good at
joining in. There were a lot of familiar faces I recognized from
other jams and all had a great time.
There was also jamming in a downstairs area, but I was not
able to participate, due to time constraints and having such
a wonderful time upstairs.
Before I left, I wandered around the Store a little and found
that they have an interesting variety of greeting cards, CDs,
t-shirts, books, trinkets and good food available. I can’t wait
to go there for the monthly jam each second Saturday. Then
I can take in a little more of the ambience and some of the
great food.
Mark your calendar for next February for the next Paul
Bentzen Day party!
You will have a fine time and can give a toast to a very nice
man – Paul Bentzen.
Fireball Mail is Awarded First Place
From Mary Helmke
On February 4, 2008, The Society for the Preservation of
Blue Grass Music Association awarded The Fireball Mail
newsletter first place out of several hundred other bluegrass
newsletters submitted from all over the U.S.
The awards ceremony was Sunday, February 4 in Nashville,
TN. Other award recipients were Tom T. Hall, Rhonda
Vincent, Alicia Nugent, The Grascals and many other wellknown artists. If you go to the SPBGMA website, it seems
hard to believe that the Fireball Mail (Southern Wisconsin
Bluegrass Music Association, Inc) is listed among such
notables.
In the fall of 2007, Carolyn Hegeler (my predecessor)
suggested that I submit the Fireball Mail for this years’
convention. So, I sent in the required several copies of
multiple issues and mailed them in just under the deadline.
This was in early September.
I didn’t hear anything for quite awhile, so I figured I had tried
and was just out some postage. Then I had a voice mail at
my home the middle of January, letting me know that the
Fireball Mail was being honored at the awards ceremony in
February in Nashville.
I called Chuck Stearman, the organizer of the convention
and awards presentation and thanked him for the honor. I
regretted I would not be able to attend in person, but would
it be alright if someone could accept in my stead. He said
that would be just fine, but to let him know who so he could
work with them the night of the awards.
14
Fireball Mail/ March–April 08
Well, long story short, I could not find anyone. But ‘Hagar’
Nelson got a hold of James Brocksmith (Liberty Bluegrass)
for me. James was there, but had to leave before the
presentations on Sunday. He spoke with Michelle Lawrence,
from Racine and she agreed to accept on our behalf. The
night before, she was called back to Wisconsin for a family
emergency. So, the award was shipped to me.
The funny part is, I had no idea what the award would be
– a certificate, a medal, a paperweight, I didn’t know. So,
when Chuck was getting the particulars for shipping, I
asked him just what type of award was it, did I need to buy
a nice frame? He said it was a nice trophy. So I thought,’
that is very nice, a small trophy as a token is wonderful’.
When it arrived, I thought that the box was awfully big for a
small token, but perhaps there was paperwork in there too. I
opened it and was floored to find a large, impressive ‘Oscartype’ award laying there swathed in bubble wrap!
When I found that the Fireball Mail had been awarded, I
sent a thank you e-mail to Chuck Stearman. I explained that
this was my thank you and acceptance for such an honor. I
wrote that I had continued the work of the editors who had
started and developed the newsletter into what it is today.
The past editors, Bruce Nichols, Margaret Kmiotek, and
Carolyn Hegeler had set high standards for our membership
communication. Not only that, but the ‘look’ of the Fireball
Mail has set it well above the rest thanks to Paul Kienitz
and now Rob Griffen. These artists have added even higher
quality to our newsletter and made it more attractive.
But the biggest support through the 25 years has been the
members who sent in articles, notices, photographs and
helpful suggestions.
So, although I sent the entries and the call and trophy were
delivered to me, this award is for the Fireball Mail – Southern
Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association. In other words,
the membership of SWBMAI , which is why the Fireball was
created in the first place. What a way to honor 25 years!
Our award will be at our 24th Annual Jamboree April 19,
2008 at the High Noon Saloon,
Madison, WI.
Jim Knobloch, Karen Sonnenblick, Award, Mary Helmke and Ellis Bauman
SWBMAI Bluegrass Membership Form
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip: E-Mail:
Phone:
Bluegrass Instrument(s) played:
Band Affiliation:
Annual Dues - Individual $20.00 Family $28.00 Senior $12.00 Band $60.00 (Circle choice)
Make checks payable to SWBMAI
Mail to: SWBMAI Membership, P.O. Box 7761, Madison, WI 53707-7761
Or join online at www.swbmai.org. Now you can pay your membership online, too! Thank you!
Fireball Mail/March–April 08
15
It's Time to Renew!
Don’t forget to renew your SWBMAI annual membership. Our memberships run through March, so please remember to renew via
mail (using the form in this newsletter) or on the web at www.swbmai.org. We are so glad to have you as a member, as you are
what keeps our organization running. We are so grateful to have people like you to help promote bluegrass in our community. Thank
you for your support and dedication to our mission of sharing bluegrass music with the people of Southern Wisconsin.
Stringalong Events
Don’t forget, the Stringalong Gathering is coming up quickly.
And if you miss registering for the March session, visit
StringalongWeekend.com or call 414-229-4622 or 800-6363655 to get more information for the Oct. 23-26
Stringalong Weekend:
Ann Schmid
UWM Folk Center
2960 N. Marietta Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211
Enjoy Bl u e g r a s s W e e k l y !
Every Tuesday: Lonesome Rogues, 8-10:30pm Wonder’s Pub, 1980 Atwood Ave., Madison
Every Thursday: Cork ‘n Bottle StringBand, 6-8pm, UW Madison Memorial Union
Every Thursday: Old Tin Can String Band 9-11:30pm, Brocach Irish Pub, 7W. Main St. Madison, WI
Every 2nd Tuesday: If We Only Knew, 7pm-9pm, Freeport Elks Club, 608 Stephenson St. , Freeport, IL
Every 2nd Thursday: New Pioneers, 7pm-9pm, Cafe Carpe, 18 S. Water St., Fort Atkinson, WI
First Saturday of every month: Oak St. Ramblers, 8-10:30pm, Wonders Pub, 1980 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI
Every 3rd Sunday: Sparetime Bluegrass Band, 4-7pm, Hody Bar, 1914 Aurora St., Middleton, WI
Every Sunday: The Weary Traveler, 2-4pm, 3201 Williamson St., Madison, WI. Performance/jam hosted by Arvid
The Fireball Mail is a publication of the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. Visit our website at www.swbmai.org
Send change of address to:
Fireball Mail
3418 Elvehjem Road, McFarland, WI 53558
Pass on the Fireball Mail to a friend!