May/June 2011 - Black Rose Acoustic Society

May/June 2011
Big South Stringband
May 13
Matt Brown
June 10
Jams, see page 17
Rory McNamara
June 24
Special Event - MeadowGrass
May 27—29
Group Lessons, see page 10
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The Black Rose
is the official publication of
The Black Rose Acoustic Society
The Black Rose Acoustic Society is a not-for-profit organization
dedicated to education, performance, enjoyment, and preservation
of all types of traditional acoustic music.
The Society holds an open stage event at 7:00 p.m.
(Mountain Time) every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month at the
Black Forest Community Center, corner of Shoup and Black
Forest Roads in Black Forest, Colorado. Admission is $4 for
members and $7 for non-members. Kids 12 and under are
admitted free. From 7:00-9:30 p.m., we feature live
performances. Want to perform? Email Charlie Hall at
[email protected].
Board of Directors: Betsy Grovenburg, Charlie Hall, Al
Klayton, Paul McCann, Jeff Smith, Joanna Springer and
Gordon Vaughan. Officers: Joanna Springer, President; Jeff
Smith, Vice President; Paul McCann, Treasurer; Charlie Hall,
Secretary. All Black Rose Acoustic Society members are
welcome to attend board meetings. Financial statements
are available for membership review upon request.
Website: www.blackroseacoustic.org
Open Stage Booking Guy: Charlie Hall,
[email protected]
Featured Act bookings: Sam Broyles,
Stoker of the Star Makin’ Machinery
[email protected]
Music Schoolmaster: Luke Tripp, 719-287-7784,
[email protected]
Publicity Poohbah: Joe Maio,
719-528-6119, [email protected]
Advertising Guy: Jeff Smith 719-548-1743,
[email protected]
Membership Maven: Betsy Grovenburg
[email protected]
Webmaster: Nathan Lippincott
[email protected]
VolunTeer Jerker: Joanna Springer,
[email protected]
From the President
I debated for a time on what I should
say in my inaugural column for
Black Rose. I thought that it may be
best if I introduced myself to those of
you who may not know me yet. I’ve
been on the board of Black Rose for
a little over a year now and prior to
that I was a volunteer (and I still am one). In that time we have
put on some excellent acoustic music concerts where the caliber of music seemed to elevate with each concert we did.
These shows included our first ever free Thanks to the Members concert with Hot Club of Cowtown and of course, the
recent Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Vasen Trio concert
featuring a skilled, internationally known group of musicians.
Prior to moving to the Springs I lived in Denver and worked at
Swallow Hill Music Association –Denver’s home for acoustic
music. I worked there for 5 years doing a number of jobs over
the years that included volunteer coordination, PR and marketing, membership growth, concert production, venue rentals,
MC duties, booking and talent scouting. I had worked my way
from a lowly intern all the way up to Concert Director. While I
loved the work that I got to do there, I truly loved the music
and the people involved in the creation and enjoyment of that
music. It was like being part of a large, extended family that
reached across the country and the oceans.
I was glad to come to Colorado Springs and to Black Rose to
see that the two parts of the acoustic music scene that I have
always loved: the music and the community were still just as
vibrant as they were in other parts of Colorado. I am happy to
be a part of the Black Rose Acoustic Society and proud to be
the next president.
Send postal correspondence to P.O. Box 165, Colorado
Springs, Colorado 80901-0165 or send email to
[email protected]. Entire contents copyright
©2011 by The Black Rose Acoustic Society. Reproduction in
whole or in part without permission is not only prohibited,
but tacky.
I was very honored to be asked to be the next president of
Black Rose and I hope that I can help Black Rose to continue
into the future. I would like to thank Jeff Smith for all of his
dedication and hard work as the president for the past four
years. He’s done an excellent job and Black Rose wouldn’t be
what it currently is without his work and those of the rest of
the board and volunteers.
Contributors to this issue: Misty Dawn, Betsy Grovenburg,
Charlie Hall, Brett Matheson, Pete Mathewson, Tom Mnich,
Lee Patterson, Taylor Ramerth, Cindy Rice, Jeff Smith, Joanna
Springer, Phyllis Stark, and Luke Tripp. Char Smith, Editor.
I look forward to continuing the work that they started. The
next time you are at the Rose be sure to say “hello” and by the
way, we are always looking for more volunteers.
Joanna Springer
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BRAS Events and Where to Find Them
Black Forest Community Center
12530 Black Forest Road in Black Forest
All Jams located at:
The Senior Center, 1514 N Hancock,
Colorado Springs
Open Stage 2nd & 4th Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
Members $4, non-members $7
•
From Colorado Springs or Denver:
• Go East (away from the mountains) at exit 153 (Interquest Parkway) approximately 1 mile to the stoplight; this is Colorado
Highway 83.
•
• Continue East from the stoplight approximately 1 mile to Shoup
Road.
• Go East (right) on Shoup Road approximately 4 miles to the traffic light at Black Forest Road.
• Turn left and the Black Forest Community Center is a log building immediately on your left.
Located on N. Hancock, just before it dead ends at Patty Jewet
golf course. North Hancock is less than a ½ mile west of Union
Blvd and can be accessed from E Uintah St or Union Blvd via E
Caramillo St.
Note: 2nd Kids’ Jam of the month will be held at the Youth Symphony located at 1801 Howard Ave., Colorado Springs.
If you are coming south from central Colorado Springs near Woodmen
Rd. you can also take Woodmen east past Powers Blvd and turn left
onto Black Forest Road heading north.
BLACK FOREST
NEWS
&
PALMER DIVIDE PIONEER
Good news travels fast!
Subscribe today to your weekly
community newspaper. $15.00/yr
Call 719-495-8750
Music Lessons for the joy of it
Guitar, Banjo, Recorder, Theory
Expert instruction from an
experienced & qualified
teacher/performer.
Troubadour Music Studio
Beezy Taylor
322 East Dale Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-633-8688
www.blackroseacoustic.org/troubadour
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Special Event - MeadowGrass Music Festival - May 2729
band Yarn, and finishing off the evening is musician-actor John
Doe.
Sunday keeps up the pace with local folk duo The Mitguards
followed by Nathan McEuen, Westcliffe’s Sons & Brothers,
singer-songwriter Damien Jurado, roots music artist D.B. Rielly
and Sunday headliner, Canadian singer-songwriter and ex-Be
Good Tanyas band member, Frazey Ford.
Black Rose Acoustic Society and KRCC members can get discounted tickets to the festival. Please note that we will only be
selling Black Rose member discount tickets. Member tickets
will be available at our May 13 open stage and on our website.
For general public and KRCC ticket purchases, see the information in the gray box.
The Black Rose Acoustic Society is partnering with Meadowgrass again this year for the first day of the festival, Friday, May
27. The Friday program starts earlier this year. Gates open at
1pm and the Boulder Acoustic Society kicks off the festival at
3pm. We were asked to recommend an act for Friday and offered Sandra Wong who we were planning to introduce to the
BRAS audience this year. Sandra and band will take the stage
after the Boulder Acoustic Society set at approximately 4:30pm.
Following Sandra will be 2011 Grammy winners Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, winners for Best Zydeco Album. Capping the Friday night entertainment will be San Francisco bay area band, Hot Buttered Rum.
Before we get into the rest of the festival weekend, I’d like to
introduce you to Sandra Wong and her band. The first time I
saw Sandra was in Lyons, CO where she opened up for Three
Ring Circle at a High Street Music concert last May. You may
recall that we hosted Three Ring Circle for a concert last April
30. I tagged along to two other shows on their Colorado minitour that ended in Lyons. Sandra performed that night on fiddle
and nyckelharpa, an instrument that was featured in our recent
concert with Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Väsen. I was so
impressed with Sandra’s talent and stage presence that I knew
the BRAS audience would enjoy her too.
For the show at Meadowgrass, Sandra’s band will feature tabla
player Ty Burhoe and mandolin wunderkind, Dominick Leslie.
Some of you may recognize Dominick from his performances
and recording with Grisman Quintet guitarist, Grand Gordy.
We’re really excited to have Sandra and band represent the
Black Rose Acoustic Society at Meadowgrass this year. Friday’s lineup is going to be great from start to finish. We’ll be
there; we hope you will too.
Of course, Friday just gets things started. The Saturday and
Sunday lineups are not to be missed either. Saturday starts off
with the Lindsay Weidmann & Jeremy Facknitz whom you may
recall as a recent BRAS open stage performer. Following Lindsay and Jeremy are local folky Joe Johnson, the Colorado bluegrass band Spring Creek, The Haunted Windchimes from
Pueblo, Horse Feathers from Portland, OR, alt-country-folk
Jeff Smith
What: MeadowGrass Music Festival
Where: La Foret Conference and Retreat Center
6145 Shoup Rd., Black Forest, CO
When: Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29, 2011
Gates open 1 p.m. Friday,
10 a.m. Saturday—Sunday
Cost: •
•
•
Tickets for •
Black Rose & •
KRCC •
Members
BRAS Members advance: $40 Weekend
(3 day) Pass, $10 Friday Pass
General Public advance: $50 Weekend (3
day) Pass, $30 Saturday or Sunday Pass,
$15 Friday Pass
Gate: $60 Weekend (3 day) Pass, $35
Saturday or Sunday Pass, $25 Friday Pass
Available at Black Rose event on May 13
Online at www.blackroseacoustic.org
KRCC member tickets available at the
KRCC office
Tickets for Available through www.TicketWeb.com
General
Public
Camping: Camping Pass is $15 per tent, good for
three days (Friday—Sunday), must be purchased in advance through TicketWeb.
For Info and www.MeadowGrassMusicFestival.org
Directions:
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Black Forest Upcoming Events
Big South Stringband
Matt Brown
May 13
June 10
Matt Brown is an American roots musician with an expansive
repertoire of toe-tapping square dance tunes, haunting solo
pieces, and a variety of songs from the blues to ballads. He is an
innovative fiddler, an intricate banjo player, a propulsive guitar
player, and a poignant singer. While much of his repertoire
comes from the Appalachian south, he also loves sharing the
songs of his home state, Pennsylvania. Matt delights his audiences with a wry sense of humor and a sound that is both authentic and inventive.
Every year, at most established music festivals, one act becomes
“the buzz.” This year, at February’s Mid-Winter Bluegrass
Festival in Northglenn, Big South Stringband was it, and they’re
making a big dent all over the region. They play traditional oldtime fiddle tunes and songs, as well as some originals, and if
you haven’t experienced the energy, power and (sometimes)
elegance of this style of music—and especially the way Big
South Stringband does it—you owe it to yourself to come out
and hear them on May 13.
Beth Mosko (fiddle, guitar, vocals) is a classically-trained violinist who’s come over to the far end of the musical spectrum,
where the groove rules on the fiddle.
Marke Foxworthy (guitar, banjo, vocals) started out on bluegrass banjo, played in various groups for the past thirty years,
and started playing guitar in old-time music about six years ago.
Dennis “Griff” Griffing (bass) also started out in classical music; he plays in many of the symphony orchestras in the region,
and jazz in the Ft. Collins area. He was recently drawn/lured/
coerced/blackmailed into the old-time music scene, and brings
his finely-honed musical sense to a style that says “Hemiola?
We might have a tube of something to fix that.”
Marke and Beth have played together since 2003 in such San
Diego bands as North Forty, Second Delivery, and the 7th Day
Buskers. Both have placed in various instrumental competitions, most recently at the 2008 Topanga Fiddle and Banjo Contest. Since their move to Ft. Collins in 2008 and the formation
of Big South Stringband, they’ve played the Ben & Jerry's Concert series, the Rialto Theater in Loveland, the Central Rockies
Old Time Music Festival 2010, the Mid-Winter Festival, and
many more.
Come join us for some great music on May 13.
Charlie Hall
Matt’s childhood included fiddlers’ conventions, square dances,
and string band rehearsals in the living room. Soon after beginning classical violin lessons at the ripe old age of four, he was
learning fiddle tunes from masters of old-time music. He picked
up the guitar and the banjo in his teens, and was inspired to
“find his voice” soon thereafter. Matt tours nationally as a solo
artist and band leader, and has performed with Paul Brown,
Rhythm in Shoes, Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, and
Brittany Haas. He has appeared as a guest musician with Tim
O’Brien, Uncle Earl, and The Wilders. He has performed at a
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Upcoming Events—Continued
variety of prestigious venues including The Kennedy Center,
Club Passim, the Ozark Folk Center, the University of Kentucky, the Annenberg Center, the Philadelphia Folk Festival,
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and The Wheatland Music Festival.
Matt is also a teacher dedicated to exploring the communication
of music, and has been on staff at The Colorado Suzuki Institute, The Rocky Mountain Fiddle Camp, The Swannanoa Gathering, and Southern Week at Ashokan, and has taught workshops at Berklee College of Music, the Old Town School of
Folk Music, and Morehead State University. In addition, Matt is
also an active producer, a studio musician, and a partner in 5String Productions, an independent label specializing in acoustic music.
Matt’s music is stirring, energetic, and flawless. I highly recommend that you all are here with us at the Black Rose on June
10th!
Betsy Grovenburg
Rory McNamara
June 24
Rory was well received by the BRAS audience when he played
at the Black Rose open stage a year ago, on June 25th with
Willson and Mckee headlining. Rory has been said to have "…
a voice akin to aural comfort food – congenial, emotionally
satisfying, full of soul and pleasing to the ears. A voice you
want to listen to over and over again."
Born near London to English and Irish parents, Rory's musical
career began at the age of ten when he played second ukulele in
The Hottentots a school skiffle band. Rory fell in with some
Scottish and Irish traditional musicians in Hertfordshire and
London and began to play in the folk clubs while apprenticing
in the art of busking. For a short period, he even played in the
London Underground.
tening."
Rory has continued to tour since the 1970s, performing his own
personal blend of Irish and American music. From the night
spots of Berlin and Hamburg, the folk music clubs of the British
Isles to the festivals and night clubs of the San Francisco Bay
Area, audiences have returned time and time again to hear his
A collaboration with songwriter Billy Marlowe resulted in the
heartfelt singing from a well chosen repertoire of songs.
release of his first album More is Better on the Belgian Parsifal
label in 1979. This album produced by Dave Deighton and Ron Be sure to come down to see and hear this talented singer as he
Cottam featured Billy Marlowe's songs and the talents of some takes the Black Rose stage once again!
of Belgium's finest studio musicians.
Joanna Springer
Settling in San Francisco, Rory became active in the vibrant
folk music scene. In 1984, his second album Still Got That
Look In His Eye came out on Northern California's Kicking
Mule label (KM323). For this, he recruited the assistance of
local Bay Area musicians Mayne Smith, Sue Draheim, David
Merrill, Kay Burnett, Sylvia Herold and Mike Wilhelm.
In 1994, Rory and long time friend Stevie Coyle formed The
Frontmen and worked together for the next three years releasing
the eponymously titled The Frontmen, an album that was enthusiastically received by such publications as Sing Out... "A priceless little gem" and Dirty Linen..."This should be required lis-
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Music Lessons
Pickin’ in the Pines is Back!
Fingerstyle Guitar
After a 1 year hiatus, Pickin’ In the Pines is back and at a new
location in Larkspur, CO. Make your plans now to spend August 12-14 at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Larkspur. This is
a privately owned campground off I-25 exit #174 where there
is a large, beautiful field in which to camp.
Flatpick Guitar
Mandolin
Campers will have access to outdoor swimming pool, laundry/
bath house, golf-cart rentals etc. There are established campfire rings (fire restrictions will apply), large tent and outdoor
sink for Saturday evening potluck, and electricity for PA plug
in for Band Scramble.
Bass
Theory
For more information on the campground, go to
www.jellystonelarkspur.com. To contact the “Pickin in the
Pines Committee” call:
Charlie Hall
719-649-1649
[email protected]
1.
Dennis Stockton at 719.258.9463
2.
Jan Sutherland at 719.337.0515
3.
Cindy Rice at 719.477.0555
For general information on the event, visit
www.colordopickininthepines.com.
The next issue of this
newsletter will contain even more information. We hope to see
you there!
Photo by Taylor Ramerth
Cindy Rice
Marianne’s Jammers at the Kids’ Open Stage
March 11
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Notes From Music School
New Stuff—Check it Out
Spring classes are now underway. For those who took the opportunity to take lessons with us season, enjoy and get the most
from your teachers. Those who missed the deadline will have
to wait till September, when we get the Fall lessons going. But
please, always keep in touch. Your feedback helps us know
what to offer! [email protected] Thanks.
Student pricing for open stages: $5.
Luke Tripp
Applies to any non-member student in middle school, high
school or any level of college. The student must present a valid
school ID at the door.
New and improved, redesigned web site.
The site has been redesigned from the ground up. We hope you
like it! Send comments to [email protected].
New and improved Facebook site.
New and improved MySpace site.
New Reverb Nation site.
http://www.reverbnation.com/venue/blackroseacoustic
We tweet!
Join us on Twitter, BLACKROSEAS
We have a You Tube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/braslive
We no longer accept American Express.
We apologize for this inconvenience but we consolidated our
banking and credit card merchant accounts and in reviewing
costs, could not justify the extra expense associated with Amex
compared to the small number of transactions we received.
Jeff Smith
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12
Photo by Taylor Ramerth
The Black Rose
Luke’s Jammers at the Kids’ Open Stage
March 11
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Thursday, May 5, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 7:00 p.m.
Gospel Jam Swing Jam
The C.S. Senior Center The C.S. Senior Center
Donations accepted Donations accepted
719-591-5509 719-634-6818
The Official Black Rose Events Calendar
Cut this out and stick it on your fridge
Thursday, May 12, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 10, 7:00 p.m.
Swing Jam
Open Stage w/
Matt Brown
The C.S. Senior Center
donations accepted
719-634-6818
Black Forest Comm. Ctr., $4/$7
Friday, May 13, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 10:00 a.m.
Open Stage w/ Kids’ Jam
Big South Stringband The C.S. Senior Center
Black Forest Comm. Ctr., $4/$7 Donations accepted
719-287-7784
Saturday, May 14, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 16, 7:00 p.m.
Kids’ Jam
Fiddle Jam
The C.S. Senior Center
Donations accepted
719-287-7784
The C.S. Senior Center
donations accepted
719-593-1031
Thursday, May 19, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 7:00 p.m.
Rockabilly Jam Bluegrass Jam
The C.S. Senior Center The C.S. Senior Center
donations accepted Donations accepted
719-264-6566 719-471-7166
Thursday, May 26, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, June 24, 7:00 p.m.
Bluegrass Jam
Open Stage w/
Rory McNamara
The C.S. Senior Center
Donations accepted
719-471-7166
Black Forest Comm. Ctr., $4/$7
Friday—Sunday, May 27-29, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, June 25, 10:00 a.m.
Special Event @ Kids’ Jam
MeadowGrass The Youth Symphony
La Foret Conference and Retreat Center Donations accepted
6145 Shoup Road, Black Forest, CO 719-287-7784
Tickets @ Ticketswest.com
Saturday, May 28, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 30, 7:00 p.m.
Kids’ Jam
Oldies Singalong
The Youth Symphony
Donations accepted
719-287-7784
The C.S. Senior Center
Donations accepted
719-282-0881
Thursday, June 2, 7:00 p.m.
Looking Ahead
Gospel Jam Friday, July 8, 7:00 p.m.
The C.S. Senior Center
Open Stage w/ Larry B. Wilder
donations accepted
719-591-5509 Black Forest Comm. Ctr., $4/$7
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Focus — Gillian Welch
Gillian Welch
and the Appalachian style music she writes
and performs are
strange bedfellows given her
background.
She was born in
New York and
grew up in Los
Angeles.
Her
adoptive parents
were writers for
the Carol Burnett Show. “One summer I came home from
camp and told my parents I wanted to play acoustic guitar. The
coolest counselor at the campfire sat around and played songs
like George Jones’ “White Lightning.” At the time I was listening to rock and roll, alternative rock and punk rock. In the middle of that I bumped into the Stanley Brothers. I liked the dissonance and the grit of that music.”
“Orphan Girl” was one of Gillian’s first songs. Gillian was
working as a cleaning lady at a bed and breakfast at the time she
wrote it. “I worked on it on the way to work and the whole day
while I was cleaning toilets. By the end of the day it was finished.” Emmylou Harris made it famous. Welch says, “After
Emmylou sang “Orphan Girl” it was hard for me to record it
because I didn’t have a record deal and everyone was used to
her version. It was a little nerve wracking to try it after that.
Plenty of people are way better singers than I am but I do think
when you hear a writer sing their own songs there is a special
connection, a well of information there that no one else has.
The Appalachian/ Blues idiom confuses some people. It’s forward-looking. It’s about getting through the next day, getting
through the trouble at hand. It’s not nostalgic.”
Welch and Rawlings have performed extensively thoughout the
United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They have
been heard at the Newport Folk Festival, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the Merlefest, and the Austin City Limits Festival among many others. Gillan’s songs have been recorded by
Jimmy Buffett, Tisha Yearwood, Joan Baez, Emyylou Harris,
Kathy Mattea and others.
Welch’s body of work is extensive. Most songs tend toward a
dark tone telling of struggles and trials. Those themes match
the voices of Welch and Rawlings and their simple accompaniments complete the story. Welch receives both accolades and
criticism for her style. She was called one of the most interesting singer- songwriters of her generation and one of the greatest
talents of the (2007) decade but some say she is faking the emotion and she cannot possibly understand the feelings of the people she writes about. One critic wrote that Welch discovered
old-time music in college and decided her own sheltered life
could never be worth writing about. He claimed she is
“completely devoid of individuality.” Another argues to the
contrary. He states the love of Americana and Appalachian
music is not a birthright but rather an earned right. Given the
popularity of her songs one could conclude the “ayes” have it.
Robert Hilburn wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Welch
demonstrates a “spark and commitment that should endear her
to anyone from country and folk to pop and rock fans who appreciate imagination and heart.”
Phyllis Stark
Focus features musicians and groups from the past and contemporary performers. These musicians are selected because of
their contributions to the preservation and enjoyment of acoustic music.
Photo by Taylor Ramerth
Welch performs mostly with David Rawlings whom she met in
music school. They have released four critically acclaimed albums together. She was an associate producer on two songs of
the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack that won the 2002
Grammy Award for Album of the Year. She also performed
those two songs. Welch has appeared with Alison Krauss, Ryan
Adams, Jay Farrar and Emmylou Harris among others. About
singing with Rawlings she notes, “The harmonies are his own
creations. The beautiful thing about singing as a duet is there
are many notes available. The notes are freer than in three-part
harmony.”
Welch likes to push the envelope in recordings too, going for
the raw, unrehearsed sound. “When we recorded “Wrecking
Ball” it was one or two in the morning and the guys had packed
up. We went into the studio to jam. The guys didn’t know the
tape was rolling. We only did one take. That was it.” The instrumentation for their songs is usually just a simple accompaniment they play for themselves on the guitar, banjo or mandolin.
Our March 11 Feature Act, Jon Weiland and WMD
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Sound Advice
Alison Krauss And Union Station
Paper Airplane
Rounder Records 111661-0665-2
Alison Krauss and Union
Station released Paper
Airplane on April 12,
their first album as a
band since 2004’s Lonely
Runs Both Ways.
Krauss’ last album Raising Sand was her surprising collaboration with
Robert Plant that went
triple platinum and won
six Grammys including
“Record of the Year.” Back with her long-standing bluegrass
band, she’s delivered another masterpiece of eleven songs sharing a common theme of trial and heartache. Alison’s angelic,
emotional voice and her band’s masterful accompaniment synergize into a thing of beauty on every track. The title track
“Paper Airplane” was written by songwriter Robert Lee Castleman after he and Alison had a long talk about what was going
on in her life. The emotional depth of her singing on this song
and the rest of the album are as powerful of anything she’s yet
recorded. Alison gives up the lead vocals to Dan Tyminski on
three of my favorite tracks: “Dust Bowl Children,” punctuated
by Ron Block’s driving banjo, “Bonita and Bill Butler” about a
seafaring saga to America, and the great Tim O’Brien song “On
the Outside Looking In.” This album is everything you’d expect
from the consummate professionals that are Jerry Douglas, Ron
Block, Dan Tyminski, Barry Bales, and Alison Krauss. Another
gem. Highly recommended.
McCartney supplies the vocals for a pop tune “Best Love” and
the Dixie Chicks make guest vocal appearances on the gentle
love song “You.” Four of the tunes are instrumentals, ranging
from the blistering bluegrass banjo tune “Northern Island,” to
the quiet, emotional “The Great Remember (For Nancy)” performed in a stripped-down, delicate, clawhammer banjo style.
Also included are two live cuts: the humorous “Atheists Don’t
Have No Songs,” and a bluegrass version of Martin’s signature
shtick from the 1980s “King Tut.” Martin’s creative gifts on
and off the screen and on and off the bluegrass tour continue to
amaze me. See Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers live at
the Pikes Peak Center July 29 or the next day at Rockygrass.
Josh Slone &CoalTown
Josh Slone &CoalTown
Rural Rhythm Records 1074
This debut album from
Kentucky-based Josh
Slone and his band is a
solid collection of traditional bluegrass. Slone’s
soulful, southern baritone
is the heart of this band
that has selected eight
songs from talented
writer Michael Wells on
this 13-track collection.
My favorite song was
“Destination Heartache”
about a couple destined
for a breakup given their
completely opposite likes, yet unable to call it off in the early
stages of love. “Daddies Don’t Cry” is the poignant lament of a
divorced dad wondering about his son and his boy’s interaction
Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers
with his ex-wife’s new husband. “Mama’s Midnight Altar
Rare Bird Alert
Calls” is a soulful ballad about a man in prison now wishing he
Rounder Records 11661-06602
had listened to his mother’s lessons about God. Slone seems to
enjoy slower, mellow, ballads that have a story to tell. This is a
Steve Martin made his
young band with a lot of promise.
first CD of original banjo
music The Crow in 2008
Brett Matheson
and thought he’d exhausted his bluegrass
energies and would never
be able to write another
song. But while touring
with the talented band
the Steep Canyon Rangers he soon found the
juices flowing and he
wrote enough tunes to fill another album. Rare Bird Alert, the
title track, is an instrumental inspired from the set of Martin’s
forthcoming movie The Big Year about impassioned bird watchers. This album is an interesting hodgepodge of styles. Paul
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Jam Schedule
Black Rose Jams @
Rockrimmon Church &
Senior Center
Kids’ Jam
We continue to welcome all kids who play any acoustic instrument to our jams on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month
from 10-11:30. Bring a drum if you don’t play an instrument.
For questions call Luke at 719-287-7784. Please note: The
2nd Kids’ Jam of the month will be held at the Youth Symphony located at 1801 Howard Ave, Colorado Springs
Luke Tripp
ANNOUNCING A NEW JAM COORDINATOR
Please join us in welcoming our new Jam Coordinator, Steve
Comer. Steve is taking over the reins from Larry Goodin.
PLEASE NOTE NEW JAM LOCATION!
All Jams (except the 2nd Kids’ Jam of the month—see details
above) are now held at the Senior Center, 1514 N. Hancock
Ave., Colorado Springs. Please see Page 2 of the newsletter for
directions to both locations.
Day & Date
Type of Jam
Contact
Thursday
May 5
7:00 p.m.
Gospel
Jam
Dave Khaliqi
719-591-5509
Thursday
May 12
7:00 p.m.
Swing
Jam
Michael Dunn
719-634-6818
Saturday
May 14
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Kids’ Jam
Luke Tripp
719-287-7784
Thursday
May 19
7:00 p.m.
Rockabilly
Jam
Steve Adams
719-264-6566
Thursday
May 26
7:00 p.m.
Bluegrass
Jam
John Hassebrock
719-471-7166
Saturday
May 28
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Kids’ Jam
Luke Tripp
719-287-7784
Thursday
June 2
7:00 p.m.
Gospel
Jam
Dave Khaliqi
719-591-5509
Thursday
June 9
7:00 p.m.
Swing
Jam
Michael Dunn
719-634-6818
Saturday
June 11
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Kids’ Jam
Luke Tripp
719-287-7784
Thursday
June 16
7:00 p.m.
Fiddle
Jam
Steve Comer
719-593-1031
Thursday
June 23
7:00 p.m.
Bluegrass
Jam
John Hassebrock
719-471-7166
Saturday
June 25
10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
Kids’ Jam
Luke Tripp
719-287-7784
Thursday
June 30
7:00 p.m.
Oldies
Singalong
Jam
Larry Goodin
719-282-0881
The Black Rose
18
Acoustic Spotlight— Bill Barwick
Bill dropped out and “went to war.” After Viet Nam he attended the Boston Broadcast School on the GI Bill. “I learned
how to write news and do broadcast media. I ended up doing
more radio than music.” In 1976 working for a station in
Wheeling, West Virginia Bill was named Country Disc Jockey
of the Year. He was a midday air personality and came in contact with many professional entertainers. The connections
proved helpful in Denver in 1980 when he landed a show on
KYGO. Bill enjoyed eight years with that station.
Barwick’s Voice and Music came about as a result of a geographical change. His then wife got a really good job offer in
Tulsa. Bill took advantage of the opportunity and began his
own business that spans over twenty years now. “I learned the
money isn’t in telling people what time it is. They need someone to read commercials. Things just took off from there.”
Bill has a saddlebag full of honors for his music too. He is a
singer/songwriter with eight CDs. “In all my years of music I
have never been so surprised as in June 2006. That day I received a rejection letter from a well-known Cowboy Music and
Poetry gathering where I had applied. Ironically, I also received
a call from a friend with some interesting news. He asked if I
knew my song “There Ain’t No Quit” was number one around
the world on Power Source magazine’s Western Music Charts.
I was so surprised. I was not even aware of Power Source
magazine. “ By the way, Bill has been invited to perform and
many Cowboy Poetry and Music gatherings over the years.
It’s that voice. The voice stops you dead in your tracks. Bill
Barwick speaks and you are instantly enveloped in glorious
surround sound. His deep, resonant full- bodied bass is well
known in the world of cowboy music and cowboy films. Bill
announces the cowboy movies on Encore’s Westerns Channel.
He also does the voiceovers and he and his band sing the
promotional for the Six Gun Salute series on the same channel.
Bill has been with the Westerns Channel since 1991. You may
also recognize him as the voice of a life-sized singing and
talking buffalo head in a store at Denver International Airport.
Bill’s voice business commands half his time. He devotes the
other half to singing cowboy music with his group, The Sons of
the Tumbleweed.
In 2005 Bill was named Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. Two thousand seven brought honors as
a finalist for his song, “Cowboy Standard Time,” nominated as
Song of the Year by the Western Music Association (WMA).
WMA nominations for Entertainer of the Year and Male Performer of the Year in 2007 and 2008 brought further accolades.
“I am so honored when my work is nominated and I make it
into the finals.” Bill was named WMA’s Male Performer of the
Year in 2009. He was a finalist in 2010 for Entertainer of the
Year for his album Just in Case and for Song of the Year, “Just
Lucky I Guess.”
Sons of the Tumbleweed began by accident. “I was at a jam on
a Thursday night in Parker. A gentleman came up to me and
said he was studying bass and would like to play with me. I
gave him my set list. The next week he knew all the songs.
Steve McCartney has played with me ever since. Later fiddler
Johnny Neill heard me jamming and said, ‘You should hire me.’
I did. He hires out to a number of other groups as well. A
friend gave us the name, The Sons of the Tumbleweed.
Bill learned early on his voice was unique. “In sixth grade music class one day the teacher was taking us through the scale
when all of a sudden I realized I would not be able to reach the
high notes. After three or four notes I dropped down an octave.
The music teacher stopped immediately and asked, ‘Who sang
that?’ The kids pointed at me. My voice was the first in the
class to change. From then on it just got deeper.”
Bill’s favorite venue is stage three at Winfield. “It is small and
Bill’s interest in music came from his Dad who played records intimate and everyone comes there to hear music. There is no
talking. After one performance someone came up to me and
for him and his brother. The two brothers sang in church as
kids and were invited to sing at other events throughout their said, ‘I watched you out there. You were having a good time.
youth. In college Bill started out studying to be a music You are good at what you do. You should keep doing this.’’ It
teacher. Frequent coffee house performances kept him out late was Tom Paxton.
and out of the books. His grades suffered. In the second year It’s uplifting to hear such supportive comments from someone
The Black Rose
19
Acoustic Spotlight—Cont.
who is out there doing the same thing but Bill’s greatest pleasure is building a connection with a listener. “If I can write a
song that people relate to I have been a success.” One evening
he noticed a woman wiping away tears as he sang. Afterwards
she hung around the CD table until everyone had gone. She
finally took her turn at speaking to him. “She told me the song
had touched her deeply. It reminded her of the first years of her
marriage and brought back bittersweet memories.” Bill writes
everything out longhand. “There is more editing than writing.
He doesn’t know where the ideas come from. Something someone says can stick in his mind and become the theme.
“Sometimes the best I can do is just write it down and see what
happens. I do it because I love to do it. Nothing else in the
world I’d rather do.”
When Bill’s in town you can catch him on any given Saturday
night at Denver’s famous Buckhorn Exchange.
Visit
billbarwick.com to find performance dates and then sit back,
relax and take it all in.
Phyllis Stark
Classifieds
Lost and Found
Did you lose anything at one of the Black Rose Open Stages?
Let us know what your missing and we’ll see if we have it!
Help Wanted
Set-Up & Clean-Up Volunteers
We’re always in need of additional folks to help set up the
room for Open Stage events and we’re definitely always in
need of folks to help tear down and especially clean up afterwards. For more information, contact Joanna Springer at [email protected].
The Black Rose
20
Performer Members
Acme Bluegrass, contact [email protected].
engineering services for bands or indoor/outdoor venues.
Banjo Bill Harloff, contact at 719-475-0207. Music, wit,
entertainment, banjo, guitar, fiddle, concertina, bones, wide
musical spectrum. For a good time, call me! Parties,
happenings, banjograms, events.
Crystal Creek Music, contact Greg Brown at 719-637-3793
or [email protected]. Acoustic instrumental music
from the world’s folk traditions. Hammered dulcimer, bassoon,
oboe, English horn, recorders, guitar, mandolin and percussion.
More info at www.crystalcreekmusic.com.
Barry Ward, contact at 303-648-3605, 303-648-3547 or
[email protected]. Barry Ward is a gifted
songwriter and singer focusing his talents on western and
gospel music as he performs everywhere from Carnegie Hall to
the Cowboy Symposium. Five albums featuring his voice and
guitar are available at www.BarryWardMusic.com.
Big Valley String Band Hailing from the foothills of Pikes
Peak, Big Valley String Band brings vitality and excitement to
traditional mountain music. Big Valley infuses tight bluegrass
standards and originals with unique solos and a dash of the raw
power found in old-time mountain music. More info at
www.facebook.com/BigValleyStringBand or Jonny Slumpff
973.713.1473 and [email protected]
Bill Barwick & the Sons of the Tumbleweed, contact Bill
Barwick at 303-758-4454 or [email protected],
www.BillBarwick.com. Winner of both the 2009 Western
Music Assn., "Male Vocalist of the Year" award and the 2005
Will Rogers Cowboy Award for Western Music "Male
Vocalist of the Year" from the Academy of Western Artists,
Bill Barwick is one of America's most respected Western
music performers. A finalist for the WMA “Entertainer of the
Year” award three-years-in-a-row.
Bill LaReau, Acoustic “Classic Country & Western” and
comical music. Perfect for all events, parties and family
gatherings.
Contact
at
719-687-0382
or
[email protected].
Budreaux, aka—Bud Johnson. Singer-songwriter-guitarist.
Excellent acoustic music for your private party, restaurant or
coffee house. Acoustic folk, Americana, Pop, Blues & Jazz in
the tradition of James Taylor, Tom Waits, Michael Franks and
Van Morrison. Lots of original tunes and excellent covers.
Call 719-686-8134 or write [email protected].
Ceol Ceili, contact Steve Hart at 719-331-2034 or
[email protected]. A quartet interweaving the traditional
Irish instrumental dance music with Ireland’s favorite
ballads. Web site at www.ceolceili.com.
Charlie Hall & Marianne Danehy at 719-649-1649 or
[email protected]. Duo performing traditional music
from Appalachia, Bob Wills, and anyone else who sounds
somewhere between them. Music instruction on guitar,
mandolin, violin/fiddle, string bass, and theory at
www.dayjobmusic.com/charlie.htm.
CountyLine Ramblers, contact Betsy Grovenburg at 719-4884484 or [email protected]. Superlative singing in
traditional bluegrass, gospel, swing settings.
Wedding
receptions, anniversary & corporate parties. Also, sound
D a m a g e d G o o d s , c o n ta c t
[email protected].
Ed Rowell, contact
[email protected].
him
Mo n t e
at
Bl a c k
at
719-481-2105
or
Jason Bennett, Soft, acoustic folk music featuring vocals,
guitar and harmonica. Music style reflects early Bob Dylan and
features original and cover songs which fit nicely at a
coffeehouse or bookstore. More info at www.bennettfolk.com
or contact at [email protected]
JazzBeau’s Rent Party, Acoustic folk swingers inspired by
such great performers of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s as Louis
Jordan, Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael and others. Coming
together with a variety of musical styles and performing
experiences, JazzBeau’s Rent Party creates unique vocal
harmonies and a delightful smorgasbord of musical offerings.
Michael Dunn (guitar, vocals), Lois Maxwell (vocals,
percussion, guitar), Erik Nelson (guitar, percussion, vocals),
and Dan Davidson (bass). Guaranteed to tickle your musical
fancy. Contact Michael Dunn at (719) 634-6818 or Erik Nelson
at [email protected].
Joe Uveges, concerts to coffeehouses, parties, churches and
festivals. Joe has written more songs for more occasions than
anyone. on his block. Great solo performer, primarily original,
but grounded in the 50's to the 80's, he has the song for any
occasion. Currently performing with Jim Sokol and KJ
Braithwaite (CSN style) and with Christian recording artist
Stephanie Pauline. ( www.morethanmusic.org ) Contact Joe
at 719-227-8648, [email protected] or his website at
www.joeuveges.com
John Mumford and Jazz Banjo, contact at 303-770-5930 or
[email protected]. Swing, jazz, ragtime, pop on four and
five string banjo.
John Swayne, contact at 719-440-7601, 719-630-3495 or
[email protected]. Singer and songwriter of folk,
country, and acoustic music. Vocals with acoustic guitar. Visit
website at www.johnswayne.com.
Michael & Dawn Moon, contact at 719-683-7497 or
[email protected].
Michael and Dawn perform
primarily original music and other folk and western songs.
Using acoustic guitar and beautiful vocals with rich harmonies,
they are available for any gig from campfires to larger
audiences. Two CD’s are available on their website, the most
recent reflects the ten years they have been living in the
amazing high country of Colorado. Visit
www.michaelanddawnmoon.com for more information and to
The Black Rose
21
Performer Members
hear song samples.
Mickey Althouse, contact at [email protected].
Nearly There, A Denver-based folk group, specializing in
folk/roots music of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
Contact
[email protected].
Paul Whitens, contact at [email protected].
Sandi Shroads, contact at 719-282-8511 or cell 719-649-1982
or [email protected]. Pianist, singer, songwriter, as well
as musical director/conductor. Tasteful music in many styles –
Broadway, light classical, jazz, ragtime and honky-tonk, pop,
and originals. Weddings, parties, and special occasions. I also
specialize in teaching piano to teens through adults who want
to have FUN playing the piano.
Silvering Sage, contact Michael Burns at 719-210-1790 or
[email protected]. Combo playing Americana,
blues, folk and island.
Tony Ludiker contact at 719-339-2106 or
[email protected]. Thirteen-time Washington State,
eight-time Northwest Regional, and five-time National Grand
Champion Fiddler. Former concertmaster of the Cour d’Alene
(Idaho) Symphony Orchestra, CDA Chamber Orchestra, and
CDA String Trio. Private violin/fiddle lessons available.
Troubadour Music Studio, contact Beezy Taylor at 719-6338688. Instruction in music theory, guitar, banjo, and recorder.
Troubadour Duo. Acoustic, Celtic, folk.
Walker, Acoustic- electric singer- songwriter, folk-rock-pop
covers and originals, contact at 719-687-6261 or
[email protected].
Destruction,
contact
Jon
Photo by Taylor Ramerth
Wielands of Mass
[email protected].
January 14 Open Stage Act, Stolen Thyme
at
The Black Rose
22
A Note from MAMA
Shape Note Singing Update
The Mountain Acoustic Music Association (MAMA) promotes and provides acoustic music venues for the Ute Pass
area. The opening concert of the season with Chuck Pyle was a
huge success and the Ute Pass Cultural Center was packed out
with 150 people in attendance.
Shape note singing is one of
the earliest forms of American
music. Dating back to preRevolutionary New England,
it survived into this century in
the Appalachian South and
Eastern Texas and has reemerged in study groups large
and small across the US, Canada and England. We sing
from two shape note tune
books in continuous circulation since the 1840s.
The new website is totally revamped and should be easier for
all our volunteers to keep the content current. So take a fresh
look at www.mountainacoustic.org .
Other featured performers booked for 2011 are: May 20—
Acme Bluegrass, June 17—Bruce Hayes, and later in the season, we’ll have Ted Newman, Mango Fan Django and Ceol
Ceili.
Please join us on the 2nd Sunday of the month at Pikes Peak
Primitive Baptist Church, 12th and Pikes Peak, Colorado
Springs 80904 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. or on the 4th Sunday at
Milagro Christian Church 2111 S. Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo 81005
from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.. Absolutely no experience in vocal or
instrumental music is required and loaner books are available.
Come to sing or merely to listen. All are truly welcome. Additionally, for singers in the Arkansas Valley, you are invited to
sing with us on the 3rd Monday of the month at the home of
Pete and Susie Mathewson 417 Carson Ave. La Junta 81050
MAMA’s regular concert events are the third Friday of every from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For additional information on these or
month, from March through November, 2011. For September
other singings, please contact: Pete Mathewson at
2011 only, the show will be on the second Friday, the 9th.
[email protected] or 719/469-5241.
Our shows are held at the Ute Pass Cultural Center (UPCC) in
Pete Mathewson
Woodland Park at 7:00 in the evening. You can stay up to date
on MAMA happenings by checking our website,
www.mountainacoustic.org.
MAMA hosts an all-inclusive acoustic jam in Woodland Park,
once monthly, on the third Monday of each month. It is held
from 7 to 9 p.m. The location for the Monday night jam is at
the People's National Bank building at 651 Scott Ave. in
Woodland Park, in the community meeting room. That's the
bank building across highway 24 from McDonald's. For more
information please see our website, as shown below. MAMA
has also sponsored a weekly open mic session in the past.
Tom Mnich
Cañon Rose Update
Well Folks, we're getting down to the end of our 10th season.
Our show on Saturday, April 9, 2011 will open with Jacqui
Gipson & the Moons. Our feature act is a fantastic bluegrass
band, Steel Pennies. We still have 2 more shows to go after this
one.
Photo by Taylor Ramerth
Our show for April 23, 2011 will feature Jim Young & John
Swayne as our opening acts & Yampa Valley Boys for our feature act. The Yampa Valley Boys sings cowboy music & throws
in some great comedy. Guaranteed a fun evening for all !
Kids’ Open Stage performer, Devin McCarten
March 11
On May 14, 2011 we have an excellent show lined out for our
last show of the season. Opening acts are Craig Haller & the
Sagebrush Wranglers. Our feature act is the ever popular Fireweed band. Come on down for a good evening of fun & music
at a very low cost.
Members-$4 Non-Members-$6
See ya there,
Misty Dawn
The Black Rose
23
Open Stage Performers
We’d like to thank everyone who’s performed at our Black For- April 8
est Open Stage events in the past month or so:
• Wednesday on Wolf
March 11
• Adam Gardino
• Marianne’s Kids
April 22
• Luke’s Kids
• Alexandra Wangerin
March 25
• Richard Harrison Emery
• Bill & Heather Forbes
For more information and booking requests contact Charlie Hall
• Jazz Beau’s Rent Party
at 719-649-1649 or email [email protected].
Charlie Hall
Buffalo Grass Update
We've got a great show coming up, and then our summer break.
On May 20th we're going to have the County Line Ramblers
back on our stage, and none too soon! We've missed seeing
them at Buffalo Grass, though we understand Grant and Stu
have duties with Black Rose, and a pretty full schedule. CLR is
a very fun, and funny, band right here in our area.
Buffalo Grass Acoustic Society (BGAS) goes on summer break
from June until September, so stay tuned for our fall lineup. See
you in May, for the County Line Ramblers! And be sure to
check out their whole website at http://
www.countylineramblers.com/.
Our shows are so much fun, and a great place to bring your
family, or to invite friends and neighbors to the fun. If you play,
sing, or like to listen, there's a jam session that's always different. This will be a great show, so please come join us!
We meet the 3rd Friday of each month, January-May and September-November, at the Cowboy Church of Peyton, 15540
Bradshaw Rd., Peyton (1 mile north of Murphy Rd.). Free jam
session at 5:30, and the show starts at 7 p.m. BGAS is family
friendly so bring the kids! Admission is $3 for members and $5
for non-members. Kids under 16 get in free.
To become a member or join the mailing list, contact Lee Patterson at [email protected] or call (719) 495-0733. For
booking, contact Joel Theriault at [email protected], or
719-494-0666. You can find BGAS on the web at
www.buffalograssacoustic.org. Thanks.
Lee Patterson
The Black Rose
PRSRT STD
24
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
COLO SPGS, CO
PERMIT NO. 434
P.O. Box 165
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901-0165
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Membership Form
In addition to providing vital financial support to the organization, membership in the Black Rose Acoustic Society entitles you
to reduced admission prices for concerts and open stages, reduced prices on lessons and a chance to participate in a great
musical movement. If you’d like to become a member, complete and return this form with your payment to The Black Rose
Acoustic Society, c/o Memberships, P.O. Box 1753, Monument, CO 80132 or go high tech and use the online form at
www.blackroseacoustic.org.
(0511)
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