becky buller band - wild apricot
TRANSCRIPT
July 2018
Inside:From the President 3 | Festival Preview 8 | The Underground Stage 17
Cowboys in Bluegrass Music 22 | Bluegrass Saturday Morning 37MBOTMA Calendar of Events 29 | Coming Up 30 | Tab: Flop Eared Mule 35
Becky Buller BandHeadlines
The Minnesota Bluegrass
& Old-Time Music Festival
2 July 2018
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www.minnesotabluegrass.orgMBOTMA Hot Line(to subscribe and for other information)651-456-8919 [email protected]. Box 16408, Mpls, MN 55416Twitter: @mnbluegrass Facebook: minnesotabluegrass
MBOTMA Board of DirectorsPresident: Laura Cooper - [email protected] President: Nic HentgesTreasurer: Robbi PodrugSecretary: Shane ZackBoard Members: Term expires 2018: Dale Gruber - [email protected] Brett Day, Philip NusbaumTerm expires 2019: Alan Jesperson Bill Lindroos - [email protected] Rudy Marti - [email protected]
Joe HallmanYouth Representative: Theo Hougen-Eitzman - [email protected] meeting minutes and other Board business, go to: www.minnesotabluegrass.org/board-minutes
MBOTMA StaffEvents Manager: Matt Johnson [email protected] Office Administrator: Darcy Schatz [email protected]
Minnesota Bluegrass MagazineEditor: Doug Lohman, [email protected]: Bob Douglas, Wayne Erbsen, Sophie Galep, Philip NusbaumComing Up: Loretta Simonet, John BrandbergY’All Come: Bill Lindroos Wordmark: Katryn ConlinPhotography: Cover image: Back: Doug LohmanDeadline for submissions: The 1st of the month preceding publicationSubmit content or request advertising guidelines at: [email protected]. Minnesota Bluegrass is published monthly by The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association™, a Minnesota non-profit corporation, P.O. Box 16408, Mpls, MN 55416. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for the loss or return of unsolicited photos, recordings, or manu-scripts. ©2017 Minnesota Bluegrass. All rights reserved. ISBN 0891-0537.
Thank you, MBOTMA members
Sustaining:Vicki Andersen Rod & Barb AndersonDaryll & Mary ArntsonVaughn Asselstine & Lorenzo TunesiMariltn Bergum & Melvin RupprechtKenneth & Ann BlochMark BriereJane CongerBrian CornellHal DavisMary DuShaneMatt Edwards Leon EvansNathan FjeldJim Franczyk Warren GumesonTimothy & Ginger HaalandMarcel HofmannDavid & Mildred HolmDick & Sue HopperstadDavid & Laurette Hougen-EitzmanJohn Johnson Mark Johnson Hartlan Jones
Patrons: Tony & Ann AnthonisenLenny & Colleen BaltusGary & Karen BartigScott BensonChristopher BooneBarry & Annie BrooksDoug ChasarPaul ChristiansonGary & Janet CobusLaura CooperBob & Marilyn DoddDoug DuncanCraig EvansWilliam FancherJennifer FaulknerMark & Kathleen FisherDarrell & Marilyn FuhrTom & Jill FurrerJon & Sharon GaronGary & Jae GermondPaul Gille David GlattTom & Marlys GustafsonMichael & Paula HildebrandtMabel HouleAnn Iijima & Myles BakkeJim Johnson
July 2018Vol. 44
No. 6Newsstand: $3
Subscription: $35
Chris Juettner Wil KelleyDebra Koehn David Lang Bill Lindroos & Rebecca ReiflerMaggie MacKamanMac & Namcy McKay Mary & Bob McSorleyKarla MenzelSusan & Joe MeyerCorey MohanDavid NelsonLisa NielsenDennis & Jan O’BrienLinda & Tony Omann Dominic OrricoBrin PetersenMarty & Carol Schirber Wendy SchoenHowell SmithRory & Marian ThompsonLynn & Carolyn Thorson Ross & Elizabeth VaughanChristopher WalchukTin WankelDavid & Bonnie Warner Carole WilsonWilliam Wolf
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Membership as of July 1, 2018: 866
3July 2018
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Inside:From the President 3 | Festival Preview 8
The Underground Stage 17Cowboys in Bluegrass Music 22Bluegrass Saturday Morning 37MBOTMA Calendar of Events 29
Coming Up 30 | Tab: The Last Stand 35
From the President
Individual $35
Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, events discounts for one person, and a free classi-fied ad.
Family $50
Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, events discounts and a free classified ad.
Band $75
Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, advance booking information for MBOTMA events, a free classified ad, and listings in the MBOTMA member band directory in print and on our website.
Sustaining Level $100
Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, first-class postage, events discounts, and a free classified ad.
Patron Level $150
Includes Minnesota Bluegrass, first-class postage, events discounts, and a free classified ad.
Become a MemberThe Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association is
open to everyone. Our members include people who love to lis-ten to music and people who love to make music. As a member, you’ll be invited to participate in bluegrass and old-time mu-sic events and celebrations. You’ll receive discounted prices on admission to events and merchandise, and you’ll receive a sub-scription to Minnesota Bluegrass magazine.
Becoming a member of MBOTMA is easy and afford-able. Your membership will not only nurture your own inter-ests, but help to ensure that the bluegrass and old-time music tradition is sustained and grows in Minnesota.
Funding for MBOTMA provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and private donors
Add $18 for First Class or foreign postage to individual, family or band membership.
Go to minnesotabluegrass.org and select the Membership tab to join online.
Or mail in your personal information and payment to:MBOTMA, P.O. Box 16408, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Call 651-456-8919 for details or if you would like to join by phone.
As I write this, the Homegrown Kickoff is in the rear view mirror. I found myself grousing, mostly to myself, about work-ing a double shift at the front gate on Friday, as it was windy and dusty and got cold later in the day. Afterwards, I managed to hear the last two songs of Brian Wicklund and Mike Cramer’s set and listened to Def Lester. It was a lovely way to wrap up my day. The next morning we sat under our “neighbors’” tarp drinking coffee and visiting with dear friends. For me, the best part of attending the festivals at El Rancho is reconnecting with my Old Washing Machine (a rough camping enclave) tribe.
A big thank you to Matt Johnson, Events Coordinator, and the festival staff who volunteer their time and expertise before, during and after the festival. They are: Doug Chasar (Ranch House Live), Gary Germond (Camp Liaison), Dale Gruber and Rudy Marti (Reserved Camping), Earl Jarosh (Communications/Golf Carts), Bill Lindroos (Rough and Handicap Camping), Ad-dison Maass and Tom Peschges (Stage Manager/Hospitality), Mary McSorley (Gathering Place), Ludwig Nesheim (Parking/Headquarters), Corrie Scott (Workshops/Jam with the Band). In addition to the festival staff, we couldn’t do any of our festivals without the volunteers who work shifts in various positions.
Although it appears we didn’t lose money on the Kickoff, the attendance was the lowest ever. The weather (lousy) may have been a factor, but it may just be a continuation of the down-ward attendance trends that we’ve been seeing for several years. If you have thoughts about why attendance has been declining or ideas for improving attendance, please email me at [email protected].
A further concern is that about a third of the volunteer shifts at the Homegrown Kickoff were not filled. Fortunately, some generous volunteers stayed on for additional shifts because there was no one to replace them. The dearth of volunteers at our various events is problematic. Naturally, there is a smaller pool of potential volunteers due to decreased attendance. I am open to suggestions about how we can improve our recruitment and retention of volunteers. Again, please email me with your ideas.
You will recall that the board previously cancelled the 2018 Harvest Jam and subsequently approved reestablishing a fall fes-tival, but on a different weekend, at a new venue, and with a re-vamped format. The board had wisely determined that the cur-rent number of events was not sustainable given the financial, staff and volunteer demands. However, the decision to cut the Harvest Jam was not particularly well-thought out. Currently, we have a program committee that is taking a more methodical approach to determining which programs should continue and which programs should be eliminated. We recognize that elim-inating any of our festivals will make some folks unhappy, as everyone has their favorite event. These are hard decisions that the board does not take lightly.
5July 2018
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7July 2018
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8 July 2018
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The premier bluegrass and old-time music event, the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival, is right around the corner, August 9-12, 2018.
Located on the beautiful camp-grounds of El Rancho Manàna near Rich-mond, MN. El Rancho Manàna has a lot going for it: swimming, horseback rid-ing, hiking, camping (both reserved and rough) showers, camp store. The concert area is shaded, and you can watch shows on one of the best outdoor stages in the state.
This year’s bluegrass line-up fea-tures the best contemporary songwriters in bluegrass today! Becky Buller, Chris Jones, and Edgar Loudermilk all see songwriting as an integral part of their role in playing bluegrass. If you go back 15 years, these names litter the awards of the IBMA.
Becky Buller Band will headline the 2018 Festival. Becky is no stranger to bluegrass fans in Minnesota. Originally from St. James, MN, Becky has been a powerhouse in the bluegrass world for the last few years. She sings, she fiddles, she writes music, and fronts her own band! She keeps an active schedule of perform-ing and teaching.
In 2016, she made bluegrass history by becoming the first artist to win in two categories (fiddle and vocal) at the IBMA Awards! She has released four recordings, Rest My Weary Feet (2000), Little Bird (2004), Tween earth and Sky (2014) and Crepe Paper Heart (2018). She has also re-leased three albums with the award-win-ning Daughters of Bluegrass, Back to the Well (2006), Bluegrass Bouquet (2008) and Pickin’ Like a Girl (2013). Back to the Well won the 2006 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award.
Her songs have also been recorded by other artists: Ricky Skaggs, Rhoinda Vincent, Doyle Lawson, Josh Williams, Russel Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, and the Infamous Stringdusters, to name a few.
Festival Preview:
Becky Buller headlines the 2018 Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Festivalby Doug Lohman
Heartfelt songs about love, loss and redemption are what you’ll get from her, along with joy and humor. She will be joined by Ned Luberecki on banjo and puns, Dan Boner on guitar, Nate Lee on mandolin, and Dwayne Anderson on bass. Her website is www.beckybuller.
com. The web is full of information, and I always like to go to a band’s website be-fore a show to ramp up my excitement for the show. Most bands have music samples and videos that will wet your appetite for seeing/hearing them live.
Becky Buller Band
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Also appearing this year will be Chris Jones and the Night Drivers. Chris is a great singer, songwriter, guitarist, and the voice of SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction. He has had a serious career for 30 years, starting with Dale Evans and Special Consensus in the 80s. He formed the Night Drivers in the mid 90s and has since drawn attention with his live shows and recordings.
In 2007, at the IBMA’s Awards Show, he earned both a Song of The Year award as a co-writer of “Fork In The Road,” the title track of the year’s Album Of The Year by the Infamous Stringdusters, and the organization’s Broadcaster Of The Year trophy. It was the first time that both music and industry awards have gone to a single person. Chris had previously won an IBMA award for Recorded Event of the Year for his role in the album Larry Sparks 40. All together, Chris has had nine chart-topping songs, and has won six IBMA awards.
He will be appearing with Jon Weis-berger (bass and IBMA award winning
songwriter), Mark Stoffel on mandolin, and Gine Clowes on banjo. Check out the website, www.chrisjonesgrass.com. It’s
full information and superbly produced videos of the band. It will get you in the mood for the festival!
At the age of nine, Edgar Loudermilk started playing bass in his family’s blue-grass band, so bluegrass has been his life. Following stints in Carolina Crossfire, Rhonda Vincent, Marty Raybon, IIIrd Tyme Out, and Adkins & Loudermilk, Edgar started his own band in 2016, Ed-gar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Au-try. Edgar has written over 50 songs. “I see songwriting as much of a calling as singing. Songwriting is a big part of it for me. Playing and singing is great fun and a good time, and we love the audiences, but the art of crafting words and music into a song is very rewarding.” His songs have been recorded by many in the bluegrass world. He also has a website, www.edgar-loudermilk.com/home. It’s a great place to find out more about him, listen to his music and watch videos. The group will also be teaching at the Bluegrass Instruc-tional Camp before the festival. See MN Bluegrass Magazine June issue page 18 or MBOTMA website for more info.
Chris Jones & the Night Drivers
The Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autry
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The Henhouse Prowlers come to us from Chicago. Although not known as a bluegrass hot-bed, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump from Bean Blossom, IN. Formed in 2004, these guys have literally been around the world as cultural ambassadors for the US State Department, touring over 25 countries. Sound bites and videos on their website: www.henhouseprowlers.com
The Henhouse ProwlersEast Tennessee State University
(ETSU) in Johnson City Tennessee has an award-winning bluegrass education program, teaching the music and the business of bluegrass. It is from this pro-gram that Dreamcatcher was conceived. Dreamcatcher is Aaron Foster on guitar, Jordan Robertson on dobro, Max Etling (yes, from Plymouth, MN) on bass, Colin Ray on mandolin, and Eli Gilbert on ban-jo. Since 2015 they have been playing all over the US. This will be a good chance to see where the future of bluegrass is go-ing! Their website is full of all kinds of info and sound bites: www.dreamcatch-erbluegrass.com. Dreamcatcher is doing an exciting job of combining youth and tradition. Dreamcatcher
The old-time portion of the festival is well represented this year! The Red Squirrel Chasers play solid Appalachian old-time tunes and songs. Ballads, square dance tunes, early bluegrass and broth-er duets are all a part of their shows. Jim Collier on mandolin, Stephanie Coleman on fiddle, Jim Nelson on guitar and Dedo Norris on bass are all veterans of the old-time scene. Some of their other bands are Big Medicine, The Piney Woods Band, and Volobogtrotters, to name a few. They will also be playing for the square dances in the Showcase Tent. Check out their page at Reverb Nation, www.reverb-nation.com/redsquirrelchasers, for fun sound bites!
Red Squirrel Chasers
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Hailing from Elkins, West Virginia, the Laurel Mountain Ramblers special-ize in West Virginia and Kentucky style fiddle music, and perform regularly at square dances and community events around the Appalachian region. They’ve also been featured performers and in-structors at the Chicago Folk Festival, the LA Old Time Social, Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music, Cow-an Creek Mountain Music School, and Augusta Heritage Center, and have won prizes in fiddle & banjo at the Vandalia Gathering, Clifftop, the WV State Folk Festival, and elsewhere. This is their first time performing in Minnesota.
It will be good to see the old-time duo of Bob Bovee and Pop Wagner. Both are MN boys (sorta…), and are highly respected around the country for their interpretations of all kinds of old music, western, cowboy, blues, ragtime, yodels, and tin pan alley. They infuse these songs with cowboy humor and poetry, which is sure to bring a smile to even the most sul-len soul. Website: www.popwagner.com/performance-options
Bob Bovee & Pop Wagner
Blue Hazard will provide a sharp set of bluegrass influenced originals. As part of the next wave of string bands, Blue Hazard has released a couple of fine albums, This World of Mine (2012) of mostly original music, and Sideshow (2017) of all original songs. These three siblings and two friends have put together a new sound that is highly influenced by the music of past bluegrass masters. They will also appear at the Underground. The band is Hannah Johnson, Dale Gruber, Luke Gruber, Clara Wicklund, Uriah Nibbe. Find out more at: www.bluehaz-ardband.com Blue Hazard
The Laurel Mountain Ramblers
12 July 2018
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Hello Heartache is a Twin Cities based classic country band. From Hank Williams to George Jones, Bakersfield to Nashville, and even a few originals by lead vocalist Sarah York, HH preaches the golden era of country music. Featuring twin fiddle harmonies, tele twang, creamy pedal steel, and songs of heartbreak and love, HH looks forward to getting you out on the dance floor soon. Hello Heartache is Sarah York, guitar and vocals; Aaron Tacke, guitar and vocals; AJ Scrubas, ped-al steel guitar and fiddle; Rina Rossi, bass and vocals; Andrew Bartleson, drums. Don’t miss their mainstage shows or their dance at the Showcase Tent if you pine for that old honky-tonk sound. More info at: www.helloheartachemusic.com
Hello Heartache
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Blue Groove is comprised of experi-enced veteran players and singers, as well as some new faces in the bluegrass scene. The band covers material from a number of past and current bluegrass artists, and presents a few originals as well. The Blue Groove sound leans towards a more con-temporary vibe (Alison Krauss, Rhon-da Vincent), while maintaining ties to traditional bluegrass (Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs) and all of its drive, improvi-sation and harmony singing! The band members are Adelle Hyrkas, lead vocals and rhythm guitar; David Smith, banjo and vocal harmony; Bob Doe, lead gui-tar, dobro, and lead vocal; Tom Erickson, upright bass fiddle, Tom Wadzinski man-dolin and vocal, and Richard Kriehn on fiddle. More info: www.bluegrooveblue-grass.com
The Double Down Daredevils came about when Tom Peschges and Nathan Fjeld met at a Minnesota Bluegrass Fes-tival. Both were camped at the Double Down camping area and met jamming around the campfire. They became jam buddies and soon after good friends. The group philosophy is pretty simple. They are friends first! They play music they love. Music they are excited about. They have fun! The music is their own blend of traditional bluegrass standards with Americana covers and heartfelt originals, served with a hearty helping of their sig-nature harmonies. Their website: www.doubledownbluegrass.com
The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League calls their music, “Prohibition Swing” – a thick, hot, syrupy blend of musical influences that pair equally well with coffee and whiskey. The band is Dan Rosen, Peter Whiteman, Kellie Reichert, Rich Yaeger, Jon Halquist, Alan Peterson. They will set a mood and take you back in time! More info: www.thegatl.com
Blue Groove
Double Down Daredevils
The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League
14 July 2018
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Eelpout Stringers describe them-selves as a bunch of old fogies that delight in playing turn-of-the-century (1800’s) “old-time” or “square dance” music. The Band is “Keeper” Lloyd Mitchell, guitar and vocals; “Gill” Karl Burke, bass and vocals; “Fin” Nick Rowse and fiddle and vocals; “Bullhead” Craig Evans, banjo and vocals. They have two albums, Rockin’ the Boat (2011) and Waterbound (2015). They will provide us with a healthy dose of good music and humor. Website: www.eelpoutstringers.com
Eelpout StringersSingleton Street plays bluegrass, Celt-
ic, gospel, and Americana music. They’ve played large festivals and small coffee houses; churches and Irish pubs; renais-sance festivals and even a modern ballet. Singleton Street is Sherri Leyda, Chuck Leyda and Jimmy Newkirk. They are the winners of the Race-for-Place band con-test sponsored by MBOTMA in 2017! More info at: www.singletonstreet.com
Julian Davis is a traveling musician, plying his trade through guitar and man-dolin on the roads of this country. Since 2016 he has been proving that Bluegrass isn’t only an old man’s game, giving the traditional style a clean new treatment. Julian enjoys playing the classics that have stood the test of time, and ensuring they last a little longer by giving them one more spin on the dance floor. In 2017 he started traveling solo, singing to concert halls and theatres-and select very good bars-anywhere a road can go. Website: www.juliandavismusic.com
Singleton StreetJulian Davis
16 July 2018
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Michel Wegen is a recognizedDutch model maker usingsculpting and airbrush art techniques to meet the needs ofclients such as theme parks, adagencies and museums.
In his search for new markets,Michel some years ago took onthe design of the lowly pick. The results have been phenomenal.
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17July 2018
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You’ve heard many times, especially around the Minnesota Bluegrass scene, that the future is in good hands. Good, talented, hard-driving hands. Well, the same is true for the future of the music at the Minnesota Bluegrass August Festival. This year, the Underground Stage (for-merly located directly past the entrance to rough camping on the right, across from horse paddocks to the left) will be relo-cating to a much more open area in the Lower 13. This new development for the expansion of the stage will be much more appealing and conducive to younger folks especially, with more room for everyone to spread their wings and have an outlet for the exciting amounts of energy that will be emitted from the stage this year.
The talent for this year’s lineup consists of some MBOTMA favorites, a couple nationally acclaimed groups, and several up-and-coming bands. Groups this year include MBOTMA’s own Blue
Underground on the MoveBy Sophie Galep
Hazard, Barbaro (MN), the Soggy Prairie Boys (WI), Broken Spoke (MN), as well as the Henhouse Prowlers (IL), and the Ju-lian Davis Band (KS). Continental Drive and Dreamcatcher are two bands appear-ing on the Underground Stage this year that were born from the bluegrass scene surrounding East Tennessee State Univer-sity’s bluegrass music program, which has become quite a magnet for young pickers from Minnesota in the last few years. (In fact, rumor has it ETSU is constructing a dorm for Minnesotans only.) Bluegrass and beyond, the music for the first year in the new location of the Underground Stage will surely not disappoint.
Located about halfway back into rough camping, the Lower 13 is a thirteen acre field that has previously been home to very few campers, which made it the perfect spot to set up the new stage. Not far from the main festival area, and not too far back into the woods, Lower 13 is
conveniently located with the entrance to the field almost directly behind the Rocky Top Shuttle Stop (bluegrass song title, anyone?). You won’t need your hik-ing boots, nor will you get lost. Not to worry, there will be signage and direction from festival volunteers throughout the weekend to help those unfamiliar get to the stage.
In its early days, the Underground Stage was fondly dubbed the GFZ (the “Geezer-Free Zone”), though the new location in the Lower 13 does not dis-criminate, and we don’t mean just when it comes to genre-hopping. Featuring hard-driving bluegrass and progressive newgrass alike, the sounds from the Un-derground will attract all audiences. We’ll be looking forward to welcoming folks of all ages who want to spread out, kick up their heels, and enjoy a good time!
Bluegrass Instructional CampAugust 7-9, 2018
El Rancho Manána , Richmond, MN
The Edgar Loudermilk Band featuring Jeff Autryand Chuck Millar
Teaching guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass and fiddleRegister on the MBOTMA Website:
minnesotabluegrass.org/pre-fest-instructional-camps
Sound Reinforcement WorkshopAugust 8-9, 2018
El Rancho Manána , Richmond, MN
Taught by Doug Lohman of Armadillo Sound & DesignRegister on the MBOTMA Website:
minnesotabluegrass.org/pre-fest-instructional-camps
18 July 2018
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Pioneer Village Museum 1866 121⁄2 Ave. (Cty. Hwy. W) Cameron, WI
Featuring:• The Biscuit Boys• Bluegrass Roundup• The Doubledown Daredevils• The Stringsmiths• John and Rose Band• Highview• River City Ramblers• Gospel Notes• St. Paul Mudsteppers• R Country Offspring• King’s Countrymen
Music begins Friday night at 5pm Vendors, Jammin’, Workshops and more
For more information or directions contact Kathy Krug at (715) 458-0181Food and refreshments available
Gate Fee: Fri. $10, Sat. $15, and Sun. $10; $30 for weekend passRough camping is an additional $10 per day
Cameron 13th Annual Bluegrass Festival
September 7, 8, 9, 2018
The Biscuit Boys
Doubledown Daredevils
Tommy Brown& the County Line Grass
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MinnesotaBluegrass.org
Americana-Roots Duet ContestFriday, August 31, 2018 11:30 am–2:15 pm
West End Market Stage, Minnesota State Fair
Americana-Roots Band ContestSaturday, September 1, 2018 11:30 am–2:15 pm
West End Market Stage, Minnesota State Fair
Sign up Opens on May 1, 2018. Sign up early - the contests fill fast. Go to www.minnesotabluegrass.org for information and to register.
than ever! Better
PRIZESAMAZING
20 July 2018
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Sunday, July 1, 2018 5:00 pmMusic In The ParkSalem Lutheran Church Gazebo, 1340 County Road 5
Longville, MN 218-363-2281
Wednesday, July 4 Time(s) TBANorth Morristown 4th of July Celebration4th of July Grounds, 10500 215th Street SW
Morristown, MN 507-685-4372
Thursday, July 5 6:30 pmMusic in the ParkCity Park West, 230 Aurora Street
Antigo, WI 715-623-2429
Friday, July 6 8:00 pm Three Lakes Center for the Arts, 1760 Superior Street Three Lakes, WI 715-546-2299
Wednesday, July 11 5:40-6:40 PMMusic in PlymouthHilde Performance Center, 3450 Plymouth Blvd
Plymouth, MN
Saturday, July 14 7:00 - 8:00 pmMinnesota Waldorf School Bluegrass Festival70 East County Road B
St Paul, MN 651-487-6700
Wednesday, July 18 7:30 pm Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Avenue Detroit Lakes, MN 218-844-7469
Friday, July 20 7:00 - 9:00 pm Sounds of Spirit Lake, Spirit Lake Beach Area Menahga, MN 218-564-5462
Sunday, July 22 9:30 amBethlehem Lutheran Church Twin CitiesMinnetonka Campus, 16023 Minnetonka Blvd
Minnetonka, MN 952-935-3419
Wednesday, July 25 7:00 - 8:30 pm Harmony in the Parks, Lions Park Bandshell Lindstrom, MN 651-257-0620
Thursday, July 26 7:00 pmArts in the ParksNormandale Lake Bandshell, 5901 W 84th St
Bloomington, MN
Sunday, July 299:00 & 10:15 am
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin CitiesMinneapolis Campus, 4100 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 612-312-3411
Monroe Crossing: What’s Coming up
Go to www.MonroeCrossing.com for the latest information on all of our concerts.Booking: Derek Johnson, 612-720-3746 or [email protected]
21July 2018
MinnesotaBluegrass.org
Southern Gentleman - AL Fri., Sat. & Sun, ---------------------------------------------------- Basement Bluegrass Band – IL Fir. & Sat. --------------------------------------------------- The Finley River Boys – MO Fri. & Sat. --------------------------------------------------- Roe Family Singers - MN Thurs. & Fri. -------------------------------------------------- Terry Smith - TN Thurs. & Fri. --------------------------------------------------- The Doubledown Daredevils-MN Sat. & Sun. ----------------------------------------------- Cedar Valley - MN, IA & WI Thurs. & Sun. --------------------------------------------------- Squirrel Tail – IA Thurs. --------------------------------------------------- The Great Bluegrass Herons - IA Sat. & Sun.. ---------------------------------------------------- Cagley/Bjordal – MN Thurs. Courier – MN Sun ----------------------------------------------- August Show Times Thurs., Fri., & Sat. 1:00 -4:45 pm & 6:30 – 10:15 pm Sun. AM Gospel 9:00 ~ 11:30 am Sunday afternoon 12:00 – 3:20 pm
Festival Information or Tickets SEMBA P.O. Box 93, Rushford, MN 55971 Phone: 507-864-8109 Website: www.SEMBA.TV e-mail ~ [email protected] Potluck 6:00 pm evening prior to the Festival Rain or shine – have building CASH OR CHECK WORKSHOPS
Saturday 9:00 ~10:00 am
Admission August All Four Days ~ $35 (Advance $33) Friday ~ Sunday $32 (Advance $30) Sat. ~ $20 – Thurs. or Fri. ~ $16 Sunday ~ $10 OPEN STAGES Aug – Thurs. 11:00 – 12:00 - Friday 10:00 ~
12:00 & Saturday 11:00 ~ 12:30
See www.semba.tv for further info or Call (507) 251-1884
Bring your INSTRUMENT as Jamming is always present throughout the campground!! No Alcoholic Beverages or Pets allowed in Fest Building or Concert Area Food Service by Relay for Life Camping Information - Contact - Cushon’s Peak Campground (in a beautiful valley on the Root River Bike Trail) 18696 State Highway 16, Houston, MN 55943 Tel. 507-896-7325 www.camppeak.com email: [email protected] Clean modern restrooms & Showers. Electric & Water sites $$ vary - non electric sites also available Onsite Dump Station All shows are ASCAP & BMI Licensed Information subject to change. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
SEMBA
26th Bluegrass Festival Aug. 16, 17, 18 & 19, 2018
BLUEGRASS INSTRUMENT WORKSHOP WED. August 15, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Coordinated by Bill Cagley FREE WITH SEMBA WRISTBAND, For More information – call (507) 251-1884
Annual $20 SEMBA Membership entitles you to a discount on festival tickets & you will receive a monthly newsletter.
Bring Lawn Chairs (Low back please)
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As a kid, I desperately wanted to be a cowboy. I dreamed of owning a horse, riding the range, and doing what cowboys did. And why wouldn’t I? Every night I slept under a cowboy blanket and my lunch box was fully decorated with a decal of a handsome cowboy twirling his lariat. Growing up at the dawn of the age of television, all my heroes were cowboys: Hopalong Cassidy, Shane, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and John Wayne. I watched “Gunsmoke,” “Have Gun Will Travel,” “The Rifleman” and “Bonanza” while eating my TV dinner. My favorite actor was Gary Cooper, whose riveting role in the movie “High Noon” knocked my socks off.
Of course, back then the entire country seemed to be smitten with everything cowboy. But we can’t just blame Hollywood and the Marlborough Man for the popularity of the cowboy as a cultural icon. As early as 1893, noted historian Frederick Jackson Turner
Cowboys in Bluegrass Music?by Wayne Erbsen
wrote an influential paper entitled “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” Turner convincingly argued that the idea of the frontier was crucial in helping to define the American character. Since then, historians have been hotly debating the merits of Turner’s claims of the importance of the West in American history.
For now, we’ll leave that argument to the historians. What I’m interested in knowing is how the idea of the cowboy influenced country music in general, and bluegrass music in particular. Stick with me here as I outline some of the ways the idea of cowboys and the Wild West snuck into our national consciousness.
Theodore Roosevelt - In 1884, New Yorker Roosevelt decided he wanted to live the life of a cowboy, so he bought a cattle ranch in the Badlands of the Dakota Territory and fashioned himself into a cowboy. While having a friendly drink at a local saloon, Roosevelt was bullied by a man who thought the newcomer was a city-slicking sissy. In the fist fight that followed, Roosevelt proved his mettle, and beat the man into believing that Teddy was as tough as the Rough Rider he soon became. When Roosevelt eventually became President, politician Mark Hannah is said to have snorted, “Now look! That damned cowboy is President of the United States.”
Dime Novels - As early as 1860, the publishers Erastus and Irwin Beadle released a series of cheap paperback books called “Beadle’s Dime Novels.” These and other publications flooded the market with hair-raising stories of brave cowboys and frontiersmen fighting off wild Indians to save beautiful maidens.
Buffalo Bill Cody, a hero of many Dime Novels, started his own Wild West Bluegrass Boys circa 1940
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Bufflo Bill Cody
shows beginning in around 1883. These wildly popular Western extravaganzas helped to popularize the idea of the cowboy and the Wild West both in America, England and even in the rest ofEurope.
Books - Owen Wister became known as the father of western fiction with his many books, including “The Virginian” (1902). Zane Gray followed suit with a series of immensely popular books including “Riders of the Purple Sage” (1912). His success helped fuel an entire industry of western books.
Movies - The first feature movie was a western, “The Great Train Robbery” (1903). Westerns were popular throughout the silent film era. From 1915-1925 William S. Hart dominated western films. Then came Tom Mix, who appeared in 291 western films between 1909 and 1935.
Music - In 1925 Carl T. Sprague recorded an authentic cowboy song entitled “When the Work’s All Done This Fall.” It sold a staggering 900,000 copies at a time when most people didn’t even own a record player. Jimmy Rodgers, known as “the father of country music,” recorded at least seven cowboy songs in his short career and frequently performed in cowboy garb. His hits included “T For Texas,” and he even built a home in
Kerrville, Texas.Gene Autry - Anyone looking for the
single biggest reason why country music embraced the image of the cowboy needs to look no further than the career of Gene Autry. He singlehandedly changed the look of country music from the hillbilly in overalls to the cowboy in a white hat. As one of the most influential entertainers of all time, he virtually created and popularized the singing cowboy that took Hollywood and the nation by storm.
Here, in brief, is how this transformation took place. Sears Roebuck wanted to enhance its national audience, so it purchased the WLS National Barn Dance in Chicago. During the Great Depression, the country was in sore need of heroes, so the marketing department at Sears hit on the idea of promoting the image of a clean, right living cowboy hero to sell their products. With the stage set for a western hero, in walks Gene Autry in 1931. A likeable performer who was born in Texas, he started dressing like a cowboy for personal appearances shortly after he joined the WLS Barn Dance. Interestingly enough, he bought his first cowboy outfit from Sears Roebuck. Ironically, his first big hit, “Silver Haired Daddy of Mine,” was not a cowboy song, but a mountain song.
Jumping on the band wagon, Sears
soon produced a plethora of cowboy products, including the ”Roundup Guitar.” In 1935, Patsy Montana became the first female performer to have a million-selling record with her “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.” In 1934, Gene Autry left the WLS Barn Dance for Hollywood to star in “In Old Santa Fe.” This began the era when the singing cowboy dominated the big screen.
Bill Monroe - In October 1939, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys joined the Grand Ole Opry. In his first recording for RCA Victor in 1940, Monroe recorded Jimmy Rodgers’ “Mule Skinner Blues.” In a 1980 interview with the author, Bluegrass Boy Cleo Davis remembered that Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys were the first performers to play the Opry dressed in white shirts, ties, and Stetson hats. Monroe’s choice of attire for his Bluegrass Boys wasn’t exactly the full-on “cowboy look,” but it was close.
Wayne Erbsen is a performer, author, radio host and publisher. He has written two books on cowboy songs including “Cowboy Songs, Jokes, Lingo ‘n Lore” and “Outlaw Ballads, Legends and Lore.” His cowboy recordings include “Cowboy Songs of the Wild Frontier” and “Authentic Outlaw Ballads.” Check out his instruction books for bluegrass banjo, clawhammer banjo, mandolin, fiddle and guitar at www.nativeground.com. If you would like to receive a free Native Ground Books & Music monthly enewsletter containing articles, tips, tabs and discount coupons send your name and email address to [email protected].
LaPlant Instrumentsmaker of fine
mandolins & guitars
Buy - TradeSell - Repair
(stringed instruments)
31751 LaPlant RoadGrand Rapids, MN 55744
218-326-4456
25July 2018
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www.LakesBluegrassFestival.com
Featuring the Best in National & Regional Bluegrass Bands!
800-728-6926 • [email protected]
August23-26, 2018
Pine River, MNCass County Fairgrounds
Festival ScheduleGates Open Tues. at 12pm
Wed. Night Old Time Dance, 6-9pmThu. Afternoon Square Dance, 1-3pm
Main StageThu. 5 - 11pm
Fri. & Sat. 11am - 11pmSun. 10am - 2pm
WorkshopsFri. & Sat. 10am -5pm
Plus workshops, dancing, camping, jamming, food & more!
13th Annual
Tickets Available for Purchase in Advance
or at Gate.
David Parmley & The Cardinal Tradition
Kentucky Fri. & Sat.
Rain/Sun Shelter in
Concert Area
The Malpass BrothersNorth CarolinaFri. & Sat.
Monroe CrossingMinnesota
Thu. & Fri.
The Bluegrass MartinsMissouri
Sat. & Sun.
The Purple HullsTexas
Sat. & Sun.The Darrell Webb Band
PennsylvaniaFri. & Sat.
Amanda Cook & Kennesaw Ridge
FloridaFri. & Sat.
Shaffers Lost 40Minnesota
Thu., Fri. & Sat.Tim & Cindy
& FriendsMinnesota
Sat. & Sun.
Eric’s Dance BandMinnesota
Wed. Night Old Time Dance
The Eel Pout Stringers& Dance Caller Robin Nelson
MinnesotaThu. Afternoon Square Dance
The Bluegrass ExpressMichigan
Thu. & Fri.
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27July 2018
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Bluegrass Saturday MorningBy Phil Nusbaum
Weather Musings Readers of this column recognize that these monthly
ramblings contain many weather references. It’s because our weather is so extreme and so varied. For example, the previous issue of this magazine referenced a weather highlight, the April blizzard of 2018. Well, we just received another highlight. The day before this piece was written, May 28, 2018, when I looked at my cellphone to check the weather report, I noticed the number “100” on the phone’s face. We knew the day would be a hot one, but as storm clouds gathered, we wondered if we would see triple digits. You might even say we were sweating it out. But just before a brief shower cooled things off, the number “100” was achieved. And great that we did so early in the year! Knowing that we broke through this important number in 2018, none of us will have to think about breaking the barrier the rest of the season.
The August FestivalTemperature readings of 100 remind us, too, that the
Bluegrass season is under way. It will still be going strong at the time of the August festival promoted by MBOTMA. The August festival is a time when bluegrass is like air. If you camp at the festival site, like at an all-inclusive resort, you do not have to go home when nighttime comes. Daily concerns slip away so you can enjoy the fellowship, the pickin’ and the professional talent on stage. Becky Buller’s performance is much more than a trip home for this award-winning songwriter. Hers are among the most thoughtful and pointed songs of our time. Take “Didn’t Die” from one Buller CD back. It’s about a woman, murdered by her husband, who somehow does not really die. Something of her spirit stays around to torment him the rest of his life. The song of course is a major entry in the “bluegrass macabre” catalog. MBOTMA Committees that pick bands are very good at finding great bands that few have heard of previously. For example, the Henhouse Prowlers has been around a long time. While the group does have the name recognition of some other touring bands, its resume includes state department tours, several CDs, and they have played previously in St. Paul at the Turf Club. It’s
a great band. There are also many local and regional bands on the bill. This column has pointed to Blue Hazard and the Eel Pout Stringers previously. I’m looking forward to another chance to see Blue Groove, a group that did a great job at last winter’s MBOTMA fund raiser.
Those are a few projected highlights. But at the August festival, you never know what might turn out to be a highlight. And it is just a month away.
Special Note about Music ListingsThe KBEM-FM online music listings contain many regular
events listed that no longer take place. The problem is that when regularly-occurring events are canceled, no one tells us. So if you know of these, kindly let us know and we’ll remove them from the listings. The listings are only worthwhile if they are trustworthy.
The written music listings took the place of the announcements we used to make. But so many listeners told us that they never seemed to have pencils at the ready to write down any of the details about the events. So, we compiled the listings and put them on the KBEM website, at this URL: http://www.jazz88.fm/2017/05/31/bsm-calendar/.
To get there, at www.jazz88.fm, click on schedule. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Bluegrass Saturday Morning. Then scroll down to Blog Posts and click on Bluegrass Saturday Acoustic Music Calendar.
Weekly Playlists, Listen Onlinewww.jazz88.fm To stream KBEM programming, at www.jazz88.fm, click on
“listen live.” Bluegrass Saturday Morning playlists are located at www.jazz88.fm. At the top of the home page on the right-hand side, select “playlists.” Then click on the desired date. To listen to archived shows, at www.jazz88.fm, click on “on-demand” Then click on the date and show.
Event Production Workshops!Learn from Professionals!
Learn how to run an event!Volunteer at a MBOTMA Event!!
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August 9-12, 2018
El Rancho Mañana
Richmond, MN
1-651-456-8919 - www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org
Beautiful Main Stage
Shaded Seating Area
35 Hours of Concerts
Nightly Dances
Instrument Showcases
Children’s Activities
Over 20 Workshops
Plenty of Campground Jam Sessions
30 Merchant & Food Booths
Campground with Showers & Beach
Shuttle Transportation
A Welcome & Safe Environment
Kids Are Free!
Four Time IBMA Event Of The Year Nominee!
Becky Buller BandChris Jones and the Night Drivers
Edgar Loudermilk Band feat. Jeff AutryHenhouse Prowlers
Red Squirrel ChasersThe Laurel Mountain Ramblers
DreamcatcherBob Bovee and Pop Wagner
Blue HazardHello Heartache
Blue GrooveDouble Down Daredevils
Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance LeagueEelpout Stringers
Singleton Street - Julian Davis
Tickets on Sale NOW!!
Guitar & Mandolin
www.zodaudio.com
Z O D AU D I O
29July 2018
MinnesotaBluegrass.org
Get a PDF of Minnesota Bluegrass - Save us postage. If you are already a member and want to receive Minnesota Bluegrass in electronic form instead of by postal mail, it will be emailed to you directly before it is available to the general public. If you only want the digital copy or you have problems opening the file, please contact the Minnesota Bluegrass editor at [email protected].
MBOTMA Calendar of EventsConcerts and events presented or supported by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association
The following events are presented by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA) or support-ed in part by MBOTMA, and made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Contribute to Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine.
Write a Review of a favorite concert or CD.Write an article about your favorite jam.
Tell us about how you came to like Bluegrass and Old-Time String Band Music.
MBOTMA’s Website:www.minnesotabluegrass.org
Info and news about our events.Buy tickets on line
DonateHistory
Complete calendar of Festivals
Magazine, read past issuesLinks to Member Bands
August 9-12, 2018, Thursday through SundayThe Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival: Richmond, MN: El Rancho Mañana Campground & Riding Sta-ble (27302B Ranch Rd 56368, 20 mi W of St Cloud, I-94 exit #153 at Avon, 9 mi S on Cty 9, L on Mañana Rd). Four-day outdoor music and camping festival with stage shows, dances, work-shops, showcases, children’s shows, demonstrations, crafts, and good food in five stage areas. Five time IBMA Event of the Year nominee. 2018 performers will include Becky Buller Band, Chris Jones & the Night Drivers, Edgar Loudermilk Band, Hen House Prowlers, Red Squirrel Chasers, and many more TBA. Mainstage showtimes are 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM Thursday, 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM Friday, 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM Saturday, and 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Sunday. For information or tickets call 651-456-8919 or visit www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org. Presented by the Minnesota Blue-grass & Old-Time Music Association.
Aug 30 and Sep 1, 2018 - Friday and Saturday2018 Minnesota Americana-Roots Music Contests: At the Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul, MN. For more information 651-456-8919 or www.MinnesotaBluegrass. org. Presented by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association.
July 13, 2018 - FridayPo Ramblin Boys: Eagles #34, 2507 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, MN. Supported by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association.
July 14, 2018 - SaturdayPo Ramblin Boys: Loy Showbarn, 6914 60th Ave, NW, Oronoco, MN Tickets trhough Eventbrite. Supported by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association.
September 3, 2018 - MondayLaughing Waters Bluegrass Festival: Minneapolis, MN, 1:00-6:30pm, Minnehaha Park. Middle Spunk Creek Boys 50th Anniversary Show, King Wilkie’s Dream, Sawtooth Brothers, Pride of the Prairie, Becky Thompson and Old School. Supported by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association.
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Coming Up
318: The 318 Café, 318 Water Street, Excelsior, 952-401-7902, www.three-eighteen.com331C: 331 Club, 331 13th Ave NE, Mpls, 612-331-1746, www.331.mnAGr: Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, 394 S Lake Ave, Duluth, 218-723-0075, www.amazinggraceduluth.comAST: Aster Cafe, 125 SE Main St, Mpls, 612-379-3138, www.astercafe.comBSC: Black Sheep Coffee Cafe, 705 Southview Blvd., South St. Paul, 651-554-0155, www.blacksheepcoffee.comBTC: Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, WI, 888-244-8368, www.bigtop.orgBoDD: BoDiddley’s Pub and Deli, 129 25th Ave S, St. Cloud, 320-252-9475CED: Cedar Cultural Center, 415 Cedar Ave S, Mpls, 612-338-2674, www.thecedar.orgCJ: Celtic Junction, 836 Prior Ave, St Paul, 651-330-4685, www.thecelticjunction.comCrH: Creek House Concerts, www.creekhouseconcerts.com, 651-633-5353. MUST call and reserve for these events.DAK: Dakota Jazz Club, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls, 612-332-1010, www.dakotacooks.comDuG: Dunn Brothers on Grand, 1569 Grand Ave, St. PaulEAG: Eagles Club, 2507 E 25th St, Mpls, 612-729-4469, www.Mplseagles34.orgFITZ: Fitzgerald Theater, 10 E Exchange St, St Paul, 651-290-1200, www.fitzgeraldtheater.publicradio.org
Venue abbreviations
6/25 - Monday• Paige Hargrove & Josh Miranda, DuG,
7pm• Roe Family Singers, 331C, 8pm• New Riverside Ramblers, EAG,
7:30pm• Sarah Beatty, Kellogg Park, 62 Kellogg
Blvd E, St Paul, 12pm
GINK: Ginkgo Coffeehouse, 721 N Snelling Ave, St Paul, 651-645-2647, www.ginkgocoffee.comGKb: Grand Kabaret, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 507-359-9222, www.thegrandnewulm.comHOB: The Loft at Hobgoblin Music, 920 State Hwy 19, Red Wing, 877-866-3936, www.stoneyend.comMER: Merlins Rest, 3601 E Lake St, Mpls, 612-216-2419OAK: Oak Center General Store, 67011 Hwy 63, Lake City, 507-753-2080, www.oakcentergeneralstore.comRIV: Riverview Café & Wine Bar, 3747 42nd Ave S, Mpls, 612-729-4200, theriverview.comROCK: Rockwoods, 9100 Quaday Ave NE, Elk River, 763-222-4353, www.nograsslimit.com/RockwoodsCalendar.htmlSHL: Sheldon Theatre, 443 W 3rd St, Red Wing, 800-899-5759, www.sheldontheatre.orgTAP: Tapestry Folkdance Center, 3748 Minnehaha Ave S, Mpls, 612-722-2914, www.tapestryfolkdance.orgUMC: Underground Music Café, 1579 Hamline Ave N, Falcon Hts, 651-644-9959, undergroundmusiccafe.comVC: Vieux Carre, 408 St Peter St, St Paul, 651-291-2715, vieux-carre.comWmH: The Warming House, 4001 Bryant Ave S, lower level, Mpls, 877-987-6487, thewarminghouse.netZUM: Crossings at Carnegie, 320 East Ave, Zumbrota, 507-732-7616, www.crossingsatcarnegie.com
To post gigs and events to this calendar, request the link to our online submission form to [email protected]
6/26 - Tuesday• Not Available! & Just Us, 318, 7pm• Rough Draft Songwriter Night, WmH,
8pm6/27 - Wednesday• Lenz and Frenz, 331C, 9:30pm• Rupert Wates, David Stoddard, WmH,
8pm
6/28 - Thursday• Monroe Crossing, Music In The Park,
Lakeside Park, 111 Lakeshore Dr, Big Lake, 7pm
• Tim Houlihan w/ Gather In The Rambler, 318, 8pm
• Broadfork Stringband, Music in the Park, Library Park, Mora, (320) 679
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONSMother Banjo
July 15Sunday
Lake Harriet Bandshell4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy,
Minneapolis, MN2pm
Pamela Longtine with Dick Kimmel and The
Gritpickers July 15Sunday
CD ReleaseNautilus Music Theater
308 Prince St, St Paul, MN #1904pm
MN Waldorf School North American Roots Festival
July 14Saturday
with Blue Groove, Monroe Crossing, Sawtooth Brothers, High 48s, more,
MN Waldorf School, 70 E County Rd B, St Paul, MN
mwsmusicfestival.org
31July 2018
MinnesotaBluegrass.org
-1511, 6:30pm• Dick Kimmel & Pamela Longtine,
Cass County Fair, Pine River, 4:30pm• Tony Rook Band, Thursday Night at
the Park Concert, Long Prairie, 7pm• Open Mic Night, Veterans Memorial
Amphitheater, 913 W. St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, 320-259-5463, 7pm
• Open Mic, WmH, 7pm• Free Music Thursdays - Josh Harty,
WmH, 9pm• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan,
Waldmann Brewery, 445 Smith Ave, St Paul, 7:30 pm
6/29 - Friday• Billy Johnson, 318, 8pm
• Frank Johnson & Guests, GKb, 7:30pm
• The Fish Heads, Sir Benedict’s Tavern, 805 E. Superior St, Duluth, 218-728-1192, 6pm
• Jillian Rae, Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 7:30pm
• Jason Roberts, Minnehaha Bandstand, Mpls, 7pm
• David Hanners, Bernie King, WmH, 8pm
6/30 - Saturday• Billy McLaughlin, ZUM, 8pm• Greenwood Tree, Prior Lake Farmers
Market, Main St, Prior Lake, 9am• Monroe Crossing, Prospect House
Museum, 112 Main St, Battle Lake, TBA
• Popdooks, MER, 8:30pm• Two Girls & A Boyd, 318, 8pm• Alternate Route, BSC, 10am• Americana Song Circle, WmH, 10am• Dick Kimmel & Pamela Longtine,
Maplewood State Park, Pelican Rapids,
• Richard Smith, CrH, 7pm• Tim Sparks, The Icehouse, 2528
Nicollet Ave, Mpls, 6:30pm
Classified AdsFor sale: Deering 6-string banjo; Fender Telecaster (maple); Martin Backpacker; Kentucky KM-675 man-dolin; ChromaHarp 15-chord au-toharp. Excellent condition. E-mail [email protected] or call 651-457-2547
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Mpls, 6:30pm7/11 - Wednesday• Jourdan Thibodeaux et les
Rodaîlleurs, EAG, 7:30pm• Cooker John, DuG, 7pm• Tim Sparks & Phil Heywood,
Northrup Auditorium, Plaza U of MN, 12pm
• The Dollys, Red Wing Arts Assn., 418 Levee St. Red Wing, 7pm
• Monroe Crossing, Music In Plymouth, Hide Performance Center, 3450 Plymouth Blvd, Plymouth, 5:40pm
• Pat Donohue & Dean Magraw, Crooners, 6161 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley, 763-760-0062, 7:30pm
• The High 48s, Silverwood Park Concert Series, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, 763-694-7707, 6:30pm
7/12 - Thursday• Zach Spirov, 318, 8pm• The Uku Ladies, 331C, 9:30pm• Wild Colonial Bhoys & Sister Tree,
Harriet Island St Paul, 6:30pm• Curtis & Loretta, Campbell Park,
Huron, SD, • Sonic Love Child, Minnehaha
Bandstand, Mpls, 7pm• SouthSide Aces, EAG, 8pm
7/1 - Sunday• Monroe Crossing, Salem Lutheran
Church Gabezo, 1340 Cty Rd 5 Longville, 5pm
• King Wilkie’s Dream, Brookside Bar & Grill, 140 Judd St, Marine on St. Croix, 3pm
• Amy & Adams, Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 2pm
• Swing Brunch with Patty & the Buttons, AST, 11am
• Switched at Birth, Glewwe’s Castle Brewery Open House, 4620 207th St E, Prior Lake, 1:30pm
7/2 - Monday• Jugsluggers, DuG, 7pm• Roe Family Singers, 331C, 8pm
7/3 - Tuesday• Clay Borrell, 318, 7pm• Yonder Mountain String Band,
Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, 952-431-9200
7/4 - Wednesday• Monroe Crossing, North Morristown
4th of July, 10500 215th St SW Morristown, TBA
• Daddy Squeeze, Spring Cafe, 1360 Lexington Pkway N, St Paul, 6pm
7/5 - Thursday• Tom Hipps, 318, 8pm• Eilen Jewell, DAK, 7pm• Just Us, DuG, 7pm• Greenwood Tree, Centennial Lakes
Market, 7499 France Ave Edina, 3:30pm
• Monroe Crossing, Music In The Park, City Park, W 230 Aurora St, Antigo WI, 6:30pm
• The Swamp Poppas, EAG, 8pm• Yonder Mountain String Band with
The Sweet Water Warblers and The Lowest Pair, BTC, 7:30pm
7/6 - Friday• Billy McLaughlin, 318, 8pm• Dan Rumsey, DuG, 7pm• Tony Cuchetti & David Melby,
Falconer Vineyards, 3572 Old Tyler Rd, Red Wing, 6pm
• Nici Peper & Jamie Wagonner, Leo And Leona’s, W1436 WI-33, Bangor, WI, 7:30pm
• Bonnie & The Clydes, Contented Cow, 302B Division St S, Northfield, 6pm
• Greenwood Tree, Music In The Park, Veterans Park River Falls, WI, 7pm
• Monroe Crossing, Three Lakes Center, 1760 Superior St, Three Lakes,
WI, 8pm• Sawtooth Brothers, Meet Me Under
the Bridge, Wabasha, 7pm7/7 - Saturday• The New Shoes, 318, 8pm• The Uku Ladies w/ DeKam &
Johnson, 318, 8pm• Greenwood Tree, St. Paul Farmers
Market, 290 E 5th St, St. Paul, 9am• Greenwood Tree, Lumberyard Pub,
3121 St Croix Trail So, Afton, 5:30pm• Alternate Route, BSC, 10am
7/8 - Sunday• Ray Wylie Hubbard, DAK, 7pm• Phil Heywood, The Icehouse, 2528
Nicollet Ave, Mpls, 11am7/9 - Monday• Roe Family Singers, 331C, 8pm• Joe Fingers, DuG, 7pm• DL Cajun Band, EAG, 7:30pm
7/10 - Tuesday• Dave Dvorak & Jerry Esnough, 318,
7pm• The Middle Spunk Creek Boys, Frank
Rog Amphitheater, Central Park, 2540 Lexington Ave, Roseville, 7pm
• Bob & Lynn Dixon, Midtown Farmers Market, 2225 E Lake St, Mpls, 3:30pm
• One Ukulele, Bryant Square Park,
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• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Ragged Roots Festival, Wisconsin Dells, raggedroots.com,
7/13 - Friday• Po Ramblin’ Boys, EAG, 7:30pm• Dave Cofell & Bill Mann, 318, 8pm• Brad Cattadoris, DuG, 7pm• Robert Bell & Anna Stine, Gkb,
7:30pm• Bob Bovee with Rina Rossi and AJ
Srubas, Lanesboro Barn Dance, DreamAcres, 17289 County Rd. 8, Wykoff, 7:30 PM
• Belfast to Bluegrass, BTC, 7:30pm• Blue Groove Bluegrass Band,
Minnehaha Bandstand, Mpls, 7pm• Curtis & Loretta, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Pageant, DeSmet, SD• Emily Haavik & the 35s, Lake Harriet
Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 7:30pm
• Lucie Blue Tremblay, CrH, 7:30pm• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Ragged
Roots Festival, Wisconsin Dells, raggedroots.com
7/14 - Saturday• Adam Levy & Peter J Sands, 318, 8pm• Peter Mayer, ZUM, 8pm• Cousin Dad, Excelsior Brewing Co,
421 3rd St, Excelsior, 8pm• Monroe Crossing, Minnesota Waldorf
School Bluegrass Festival, 70 E Cty Rd B, St Paul, 7pm
• Phil Nusbaum and Sherry Minnick, The Ice House, 2528 Nicollet Av, Mpls, 612-276-6523, 11am
• King Wilkie’s Dream, Superior Ribfest, Eastside Park, Morris, 3pm
• Troy Flemming, Waseca County Free Fair, Waseca County Fairgrounds, 409 8th Ave NE, Waseca, 5:30 pm
• Alternate Route, BSC, 10am• Curtis & Loretta, Brookings Summer
Arts Festival, Brookings, SD• Douglas Wood and the WildSpirit
Band, Paramount Center for the Arts, 913 W. St. Germain St, St. Cloud, 320-259-5463, 7:30pm
• MN Waldorf School North American Roots Festival with Blue Groove, Monroe Crossing, Sawtooth Brothers, High 48s, more, MN Waldorf School, 70 E County Rd B, St Paul, mwsmusicfestival.org
• Sherry Minnick & Phil Nusbaum, The Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Ave, Mpls, 11am
• Songwriter’s Showcase with Dick
CD ReleaseThe Gritpickers Oldtime String
Band
SundayJuly 15, 2018
4 p.m.The Nautilus Music-Theater308 Prince St., #190, Lowertown St. Paul
Near the Blackdog Café and the Union Depot Station on the green line
Come help The Gritpickers and Pamela celebrate our new CDs! (The Nautilus is a great space, and second time’s the charm!)
Pamela Longtine & friends
Kimmel, Lori Jean, Andrea Lyn, Le Bon, Springfield
• Woody Guthrie’d “Bound for Glory” 75th Anniversary Concert with Charlie Maguire, Tony Glover and Pop Wagner, Crooners, 6161 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley, 763-760-0062, 6pm
• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Ragged Roots Festival, Wisconsin Dells, raggedroots.com
7/15 - Sunday• Mother Banjo, Lake Harriet
Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 2pm
• King Wilkie’s Dream, St, Paul Yacht Club, 100 Yacht Club Rd, St. Paul, 7pm
• Curtis & Loretta, Brookings Summer Arts Festival, Brookings, SD,
• Pamela Longtine with Dick Kimmel and The Gritpickers - CD Release, Nautilus Music Theater, 308 Prince St, St Paul, #190, 4pm
7/16 - Monday• Roe Family Singers, 331C, 8pm• Joe Fingers, DuG, 7pm• Granger’s Moonshine, Kellogg Park,
62 Kellogg Blvd E, St Paul, 12pm• The High 48s, Town Green, 7991
Main St, Maple Grove, 7pm7/17 - Tuesday• Bill Cagley, DuG, 7pm• Eelpout Stringers, Lakeside Memorial
Park, 95 E Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, 6:30pm
7/18 - Wednesday• Monroe Crossing, Historic Holmes
Theater, 806 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes, 7:30pm
• Bob Bovee, Concert on the Green, Winona State University, Winona, 12:30pm
• Brian Laidlaw and the Family Trade, Silverwood Park Concert Series, 2500 County Rd E, St Anthony, 763-694-7707, 6:30pm
• The Handsome Family with Chris Crofton, CED, 7:30pm
• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Spring Cafe, 1360 Lexington Pkway N, St Paul, 7pm
7/19 - Thursday• Thomas Zachary, DuG, 7pm• Arlo Guthrie, BTC, 7:30pm• The High 48s, Summer Concert
Series, Long Prairie, 7pm7/20 - Friday• Pushing Chain, 318, 8pm• Simon Balto & Count This Penny, Leo
And Leona’s, W1436 WI-33, Bangor,
34 July 2018
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WI, 7:30pm• Monroe Crossing, Sounds of Spirit
Lake, Spirit Lake Beach Area, Menahga, 7pm
• The Fish Heads, Sir Benedict’s Tavern, 805 E Superior St, Duluth, 218-728-1192, 6pm
• No Man’s String Band, Minnehaha Bandstand, Mpls, 7pm
• Sam Moss, Her Crooked Heart, WmH, 8pm
• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Okoboji Brewing Co, Spirit Lake, IA
• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan, Ingredients Cafe, White Bear Lake, 6pm
7/21 - Saturday• Daisy Dillman Accoustic, 318, 8pm• Ann Reed & Dan Chouinard, ZUM,
8pm (Benefit for Peter Ostrousko)• Minnesota Blue , DuG, 7pm• Fred Montana, Falconer Vineyards,
3572 Old Tyler Rd, Red Wing, 5pm• Medicine Brothers, Leo And Leona’s,
W1436 WI-33, Bangor, WI, 7:30pm• Greenwood Tree, Prior Lakes Farmers
Market, Main St, Prior Lake, 9am• Alternate Route, BSC, 10am• Brass Lassie at the Minnesota Scottish
Fair, Eagan Central Park, 1501 Central Pkwy, Eagan, www.mnscottishfair.org
• Curtis & Loretta, Family Festival at City Park, Walnut Grove
• Ethan Becker, Bothy Folk Club, Emy Frentz Arts Guild, 523 2nd St, Mankato, 507-217-0408, 7pm
• Mark Kreitzer, LCAA Music Center, 220 Chestnut St, Lake City, 651-448-8665, [email protected], 7pm
• Pat Donohue & Dean Magraw, Spring Cafe, 1360 Lexington Pkway N, St Paul, 7pm
• Switched at Birth, St Paul Farmers Market, 290 5th St E, St Paul, 9am
• The Gentlemen’s Anti-Temperance League, Franconia Sculpture Garden, 29836 St Croix Trl, Shafer, MN, 651-257-6668
• Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, New London Water Days, New London
• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan, Mill City Farmers Market, Mpls, 11am
7/22 - Sunday• Monroe Crossing, Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, 16023 Mtka Blvd Minnetonka, 9:30pm
• Katey Belleville and those SOBs, The Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Ave, Mpls,
11am• Switched at Birth, Rice County Fair,
Faribault, ricecountyfair.net, 1pm7/23 - Monday• Roe Family Singers, 331C, 8pm• Bluegrass Day Camp, BTC
7/24 - Tuesday• Ava Ewald, 318, 7pm• Troy Flemming, Lanesboro Public
Library, 202 Parkway Ave S, Lanesboro, 3pm
• Ann Reed & Dan Chouinard, Crooners, 6161 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley, 763-760-0062, 7:30pm
• Bluegrass Day Camp, BTC• Eelpout Stringers at Community
Street Square Dance, Art House North, 793 Armstrong Ave, West St Paul, 6:30pm
7/25 - Wednesday• Lenz and Frenz, 331C, 9:30pm• Monroe Crossing, Harmony in
The Parks, Lions Park Bandshell, Lindstrom, 7pm
• Bluegrass Day Camp, BTC7/26 - Thursday• Martin Zellar, 318, 8pm• Ingeborg von Agassiz, 331C, 9:30pm• Monroe Crossing, Arts In The Park,
Normandale Lakes Bandshell, 5901 W 84th, Bloomington, 7pm
• New Riverside Ramblers, Party in the Park, Rotary Pavilion in Levee Park, 20 Ramsey St, Hastings, 5:30 pm
• Bob Bovee, Isis Music Hall, Asheville, NC, 7:00 PM
• Troy Flemming, Blue Earth County Fair, Shady Oaks Campground, 340 Fairgrounds St, Garden City, 3pm
• Belfast to Bluegrass, BTC, 7:30pm• Ecaudor Manta, Salo Park
Ampthitheater, 39th Ave, St Anthony, saloparkconseries.com, 7pm
• Open Mic Night, Bryant Square Park, Mpls, 6:30pm
• Mary DuShane & Nick Jordan, Waldmann Brewery, St Paul 7:30 pm
7/27 - Friday• Aimee Lee & The Snazzy Band, 318,
8pm• The Haws, DuG, 7pm• Martin Zellar, Falconer Vineyards,
3572 Old Tyler Rd, Red Wing, 7pm• Rough & Tumble, Leo And Leona’s,
W1436 WI-33, Bangor, WI, 7:30pm• Alma Andina, CED, 8pm• Rufus Wainwright (Corey Chisel and
Adriel Denae open), BTC7/28 - Saturday
• Tom Lieberman, 318, 8pm• Alice Peacock, ZUM, 8pm• George Faber, Falconer Vineyards,
3572 Old Tyler Rd, Red Wing, 2pm• King Wilkie’s Dream, Wild Mountain
Winery, 16906 Wild Mountain Rd, Taylor’s Falls, 3pm
• Alternate Route, BSC, 10am• Curtis & Loretta, Farmstead
Creamery and Cafe, Hayward, WI, 6pm
• Root River Jam, more, Loring Park Art Festival, Loring Park, 1382 Willow St, Mpls, 612-203-9911
• Rufus Wainwright with Lucy Wainwright Roche, Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, 952-431-9200, 7:30pm
7/29 - Sunday• Monroe Crossing, Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave So, Mpls, 9am, 10:15am
• Bob Bovee, Cradle of Forestry Historic Site, Brevard, NC, 4pm
• Acoustic Guitar Showcase with Sam Breckenridge, Elgin Foster, Gabriel Andrews, The Icehouse, 2528 Nicollet Ave, Mpls, 11am
• Ecaudor Manta, Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 2pm
• MN Mandolin Orchestra, more, Loring Park Art Festival, Loring Park, 1382 Willow St, Mpls, 612-203-9911,
7/30 - Monday• Roe Family Singers, 331C, 8pm• Sherwin Linton, Lake Harriet
Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 7:30pm
7/31 - Tuesday• Ben Aaron, 318, 7pm• Chris Silver & The Good Intentions,
Univ of Wisc River Falls WI, Amphitheater, 7pm
• Erik Koskinen, Randy Weeks & Dave Moore, Hook and Ladder, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Mpls, thehookmpls.com, 8pm
• Gypsy Mania Hot Club Quartet, Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W Lake Harriet Pkwy, Mpls, 7pm
• Sarah Morris, Father Hennepin Bluff Park, Mpls, 7pm
8/2 - Thursday• John Louis, Bryant Square Park, Mpls,
6:30pm• Swamp Poppas, EAG, 8pm
35July 2018
MinnesotaBluegrass.org
Tab:Flop Eared MuleBy Bob Douglas
I learned this tune from Canadian fiddler John Everatt while playing with him on the streets of Western Germany as a member of the String Band. It’s widely known in the US fiddle repertoire with an impressive range of titles such as Big-Eared Mule, Long-Eared Mule, Lop-Eared Mule, Bluebell Polka, College Schottische, Detroit Schottische, Ranger’s Hornpipe, Monkey in the Barbershop... you get the gist. I’ve personally found the tune to be quite popular with children if sung with the lyrics: “Flop eared mule, Flop eared mule, Flop eared, Flop eared, Flop eared mule” on the A part and then “Mule, Mule, Mule, Mule, Flop eared,
Flop Eared Mule
Flop eared, Flop eared mule” on the B part. We probably owe such profound lyrics to The Holy Modal Rounders, the duo of Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber. During the folk scare of the 60s and 70s, the Rounders blended folk tunes with their own acoustic psychedelia and had impact on a number of the nascent old time musicians of their time. The Rounder’s second verse (and the title they gave to the tune) was “Real World.” In singing for kids, I’ve found they delight in the use of their own names, or their teacher’s, or unexpected food items. But I digress...
I’ve written the entire tune in D
though it could have been written in two keys with the key of D in the A part and in the key of A in the second. I just sharped the G note a couple of times in the B part for the same effect. I’ve written the tune as AABB with the first A and first B being a bare bones rendition of the tune and the second A and B giving some simple variations. It’s a fun tune to play and an easy one to add your own variations and ideas. No doubt the variations and added ideas are a good reason for the tune having garnered so many different titles. It’s a good square dance tune and can move at a pretty good clip once you get a handle on it.
Questions or alternative opinions are still welcome.
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