FBM Sep-Oct 09 8-22-09.indd - Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass

Fireball Mail
Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. Newsletter
September/October '09
Dave Bacholl: Leader of the Jam
This fall, bassist, guitarist and vocalist Dave
Bacholl kicked off another season as host of the
Monday night jam at the Dry Bean in Madison.
Fireball Mail
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Fireball Mail is published bimonthly: January,
March, May, July, September, and November.
Please send advertising inquiries,
articles, calendar information,
photos and letters to :
Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass
Music Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 7761
Madison, WI 53707-7761
Attn: Fireball Mail
E-mail: FireballMailEditor@gmail.com
Deadline for submissions is the 10th of the
month preceding the month of publication.
Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass
Music Association, Inc.
The Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. is a non-profit educational
organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of bluegrass music, and
supported by volunteer efforts. The SWBMAI mission as stated in the by-laws:
1) To promote bluegrass music and musicians
2) To bring together persons of all ages who enjoy singing, playing and listening to
bluegrass music
3) To hold regular bluegrass jam sessions
4) To publicize information about bluegrass concerts and festivals
5) To help younger persons obtain instruments and instruction in bluegrass music
6) To introduce bluegrass music to new listeners
SWBMAI Board of Directors
President; Marketing and Public Relations – Jean Knickelbine, jeanknick@gmail.com
Vice-President – Ellis Bauman, 608-257-2431, ellisabau@aol.com
Acting Secretary Rotation – Julie Cherney, Jim Knobloch
Membership Chair – Sharon Manion, 608-424-3408, smdw@charter.net
Treasurer – Jon Peik, jrpeik@yahoo.com
Attendant Board Members:
James Brocksmith, 414-803-7477, paxflyer@earthlink.net
Julie Cherney, 608-244-2184, cherney@uwalumni.com
Jim Hodges, 608 884-4278, thumbpik@charter.net
Jim Knobloch, knobhill@chorus.net
Catherine Rhyner, 608-835-8117, catherine.rhyner@gmail.com
Lane Venden, 608-442-0315, lanevenden@yahoo.com
Webmaster (non-voting board member) – Scott Knickelbine, swbmai@gmail.com
Other Member Volunteers: Dick (Doc) Althouse, Dave Bacholl, Phil Carey, John Fabke, Fay
Ferrington, Terry Gates, Christopher Gates, Mary Helmke, Beverly Hills, Jim Hodges, Dave
Nance, Bobbi Malone, Bruce Nichols, Chris Powers
SWBMAI is a member of IBMA (International
Bluegrass Music Association) and the
International Bluegrass Music Museum
Proud Supporter of WORT 89.9 FM
Every Tuesday
Pastures of Plenty,
9:00 am - noon with John Fabke
Every Wednesday
Back to the Country,
9:00 am - noon with Bill Malone
Every Friday
Mud Acres Bluegrass Special,
9:00 am - noon with Chris Powers
2 Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
Board Meetings
The board meets the first Thursday of each month, at 6:00 pm in the Germania Parlor of
the Hotel Ruby Marie , 524 E. Wilson St., Madison, WI. If you would like to attend, contact a
board member to be sure of the date, time and location as they are subject to change.
Board Meeting Minutes
The Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. board meeting minutes are
available on line at www.swbmai.org/swbmai-board-minutes/. If you would like
minutes mailed to you please send a stamped self-addressed envelope to SWBMAI, P.O.
Box 7761, Madison, WI 53707.
Fireball Mail
Please let us know whether you want e-mail delivery or mail delivery of your newsletter.
E-mail newsletters are in color and arrive sooner than the B&W mailed version. Please tell
us when renewing your membership or e-mail Sharon Manion at smdw@charter.net.
Mountain and Hammered Dulcimer Workshop & Concert
Sunday, September 20, 2009 • Milton, WI
Advanced beginner and intermediate musicians are
wanted for the mountain and hammered dulcimer
workshop being held in Milton,
WI on Saturday, September 20,
2009. David Foss from Madison
will teach the hammer dulcimer.
Katie LaRaye Waldren, also from
Madison, will teach the mountain
dulcimer. Attendees are asked to
arrive at 1:00 for check-in and
tuning. Workshops begin at 1:30.
At around 3:00, the two workshop
groups come together for duets in
a combined workshop. A two-hour public concert featuring Katie and Dave along with various local musicians
begins at 4:00.
Both workshops — as well as the late afternoon concert — will be held at The Gathering Place Recreation
Center, 715 Campus St., Milton, WI.
The Southern Wisconsin Dulcimer
Club, the Rock Prairie Dulcimers
and Gracenotes are some of the
participating groups. Fees for the
workshop and concert is $20.00 in
advance or $25 at door. All advance
registrations are due September
10th with a limit of 25 people per
class. The concert is only $5. For
more information or to register
please contact: Nancy Garrett at (608) 752-6514 or by
email at kyuk_04@yahoo.com.
Madison West High School Mando Club
Seeking Bluegrass Instrument Donations
The Madison West High School Mando Club has asked
our association for help in obtaining instruments for
their club. They specifically asked for mandolins but
would also be interested in obtaining banjos and
other traditional bluegrass instruments. The school
has a charitable foundation in place to accept these
donations which are usually tax deductible.
The club has been around for three years and meets
weekly during school lunch hours. The club's references include John Fabke and former SWBMAI president
Karen Sonnenblick.
Some West High Mando Cub members have their own
instruments, but others aren't as fortunate. As an FYI:
the school has instruments available for its music
classes but because this is an extra-curricular club,
those instruments are not readily available for use.
Board member Lane
Venden (of Lane's Lutherie)
and SWBMAI member
Debra Amesqua have
volunteered to try and
restore donated instruments that need a
lutherier's skills.
Of course, new instruments or cash donations
would also be greatly
appreciated.
Instruments needing
repair can be dropped
off at Lane's Lutherie,
4269 W. Beltline Hwy., Madison, WI. Lane and Debra
will divide and conquer the work.
Cash or new instrument donations can be made
directly to West High School. Please contact SWBMAI's
Jean Knickelbine for details: jeanknick@gmail.com or
608-233-1233.
More info on the club can be found at at: www.
westweb.madison.k12.wi.us/node/1681
Fireball
Mail / September-October
'09
3
2009-2010 Subscriber List of the Southern Wisconsin
Bluegrass Music Association
Tom Alesia, Madison
Shauncey Ali, Madison
B. W. Alford, Appleton
Tom Allen, Menomonie
Richard Althouse, Verona
Bradley Alzen, Roberts
Debra Amesqua, Madison
Jon Augspurger, Madison
David L. Bacholl, Madison
Paul Bast, New Berlin
Bob Batyko, Madison
Ellis Bauman, Madison
Roger Beck, Lyndon Station
Michael Bell, Madison
Joy Bemowski, Appleton
Paul Bentzen, Lone Rock
Arvid Berge, Madison
Bill Biber, Baraboo
Art Blackburn, Ramsey, MN
Dale W. Boettcher, Oshkosh
Bruce Brechtl, Waunakee
Stephanie & Durrell Brenneman Ramer, Madison
James Brocksmith, Franklin
Martha Burch, West Bend
Carmen H. Burnett, Madison
Phil Carey, Madison
Marilyn Carien, Middleton
Roy Carley, Mazomanie
Glen Carlson, Lena, IL
Jim Carrier, Madison
Sandra L. Charnon, Cleveland
Julie Cherney, Madison
Cole Christianson, Minneapolis, MN
Eric Christopher, Minneapolis, MN
Doris A. Clayton, Sandwich, IL
Charles J. Connell, New Berlin
Kenneth A. Connors, Oregon
Jeff Couillard, Oconomowoc
Don, Moira & Henry Kelley-Creedy, Madison
Sherry Crownhart, Verona
Peggy & Robert Cullen, Blanchardville
Trent Cuthbert, Madison
Paul C. Davis, Sullivan
Sims Delaney-Potthoff, Madison
George Diak, Madison
Pat Downing, Blanchardville
Denny Egstad, Mt. Horeb
Dick & Nan Eischens, New Prague, MN
4 Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
Betty Elsner, Stoughton
Arthur A. Evans, Cuba City
Johanna B. Fabke, McFarland
John Fabke, Madison
Chris Falkner, Watertown
Kye & Julie Fingerson, Monona
Raymond Firebaugh, Readstown
Lisette M. Fonder, Madison
Judith Frazier, Monroe
Jerry Gaetske, Beloit
Tom & Nancy Garrett, Janesville
Terry Gates
David Golla, Stevens Point
Mary Gorman, Madison
Patti Graham, Madison
W.T. Graham, Madison
Stephen Grams, Oregon
Tad & Edward Greene, Beaver Dam
Lynn Gudmundsen, Baileys Harbor
Mike Hedding
Wayne & Shirlene Hefty, Verona
Carolyn Hegeler, Madison
Mary Helmke, McFarland
Rosabelle Helmke, McFarland
Douglas H. Henkle, Oshkosh
Beverly Hills, Madison
Ryan Hinshaw, Chicago, IL
Alan Hixson, Couderay
Bart Hobson, Wausau
Jim & Betty Hodges, Edgerton
Sharon Hovind, Milwaukee
Tony Hozeny, Madison
Edward Jacobsen, Lodi
Fritz & Donna Jaggi, Brodhead
David Jecha, Pewaukee
J. Ricard Johnson, Stoughton
Robert T. Kaminski, Pearl City, IL
Jim C. Kennedy, Kenosha
Jerald Ketchum, Paw Paw, IL
Paul Kienitz, Belleville
Stan & Margaret Kmiotek, Madison
Jean & Scott Knickelbine, Madison
Jim Knobloch & Linda L. Hilker, Cross Plains
John N. Koch, Madison
Kenneth J. Kuenzi, Colgate
Jeff Kunkel, Madison
Nova Kyburz, East Troy
Celia & Nick Lamper/Linden, McFarland
Image excerpted from original art by Jane Gay Sahr
2009-2010 Subscriber List of the Southern Wisconsin
Bluegrass Music Association (continued)
Dave Landreth, St. Louis, MO
Rick Les, Waterford
Douglas C. Lloyd, Spring Green
Lee Lorentz, North Prairie
Jerry P. Loughney, Wauwatosa
Archie Lowman, Madison
Gary Lugauer, South Milwaukee
Jack Lyon, Stoughton
Jim Maginnis, Mazomanie
Bill & Bobbie Malone, Madison
Sharon Manion & Dale Ward, Belleville
Jeff Mann
Greg & Donna Morgan, Two Rivers
Marty J. Marrone, St. Paul, MN
Eugene L. Matthews, Beaver Dam
William & Roberta May, Sheboygan
Dean E. Mueller, Madison
David Nance, Madison
Roger Neitzel, Beloit
David Nelson, Two Rivers
Fred Newmann, Madison
Bruce Nichols, Madison
Kevan Norin, Platteville
Tom Nowlin, Dousman
Robert E. Olsen, Madison
Kathy & Marty Ottem, Madison
Robert E. Patterson, Madison
Jonathan Peik, Wauwatosa
Richard Peik, Madison
Albert John Pfahler, Madison
Todd Pieper, Prairie du Sac
Jay Pierce, Eau Claire
Joyce Plummer, Beloit
James Polk, Edgerton
Gladyn Raatz, South Beloit, IL
Jennifer C. Ramm, Springfield, IL
James Reineke, Winona, MN
Glenn E. Reinl, Madison
Jill Reynolds & Wayne Manternach, Lake Delton
George Reynolds & Family, Madison
Catherine S. Rhyner & James Zahalka, Brooklyn
Harvey Riekoff, Racine
Jim & Jo Anne Robarts, Prairie du Sac
Jim, Jenny & Rebecca Rodwell, Lake Delton
William Rosa, Medford
Tracy Rose, Madison
Mitchell B. Rosefelt, Madison
Ruth Ross, Madison
Image excerpted from original art by Jane Gay Sahr
Suzanne Saxer, Geneva, IL
Mark Schlutt, Madison
Mary Schmidt, Poynette
Mike Schmidt
Terri Schmit, Blue Mounds
Richard Schroeder, Hartland
Larry Schultz, Middleton
Richard Schwartz, Hartland
Mary Ann Seaberg, Madison
Linda & Dan Servais, Janesville
John & Tracey Short, Ft. Atkinson
Jeffrey Smith, Waupun
Chirps Smith & Dot Kent, Whitewater
Carl Solander, Ashland
Bob, Hollis & Benjamin Spaier, Madison
Patrick Spaay, Madison
Robert M. Stanton, Madison
Liz Stattelman-Scanlan
Roman Stauber Jr., Marshfield
Ruth Sternemann, Delafield
Art Stevenson, Babcock
Roger Stowers, Wisconsin Dells
Amanda & Karl Struckmeyer, Madison
James J. Sullivan, Racine
Kelly S. Sweo, Eagle River
Mark Thone
Alice Tibbetts, Madison
Bill & Barb Townsend, Madison
Lane Venden, Madison
James Voit, Monticello
Bruce Wallace, Sycamore, IL
John & Carrie Wallace, Merrill
Nadine S. Walsten, Brooklyn
David L. Ward, Madison
Ken Ward, Davis, IL
Mona Wasow, Madison
Dave Westlake, Reeseville
Al & Lindy Wilson, Cross Plains
David Wilson, Beloit
Al Michael, Roselle, IL
Ross Thompson, Winnebago, IL
David Winters, Lake Mills
Mike & Jean Wipperfurth, Sauk City
Brad Wolbert, Madison
Stephen Yokofich, Muskego
Martin Yokofich, Mukwonago
Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
5
Swannanoa Tunnel by Wayne Erbsen ©2009
A train exits the east end of Swannanoa Tunnel,
Shielded from the rest of the state by towering mountains, residents in
western North Carolina longed to connect to the rail system then being
rebuilt after its near destruction during the Civil War. The chief obstacle
to the construction was massive Old Fort Mountain, just east of Asheville,
North Carolina. The engineer chosen for the task of building the difficult
road was ex-Confederate major James Wilson. Construction of the road
began in 1877. Armed with $800,000 in state funds and 500 black convict
laborers, Wilson was undaunted by the fact that his railroad would have to
climb some 891 feet in elevation, winding through seven tunnels. As if that
wasn’t enough, the main tunnel would have to be constructed through
solid granite rock with a length of 1832 feet. To speed construction of this
tunnel, Wilson attempted to bore toward the center of the tunnel from
each end at once, no mean feat. His efforts were successful some two
years later when crews building toward each other connected the tunnels perfectly. On March 11, 1879 North Carolina Governor Zebulon Vance
was notified that “daylight entered Buncombe Country today through
the Swannanoa Tunnel.” The construction of the Swannanoa Tunnel was
not without its human costs. Estimates of fatalities of the convict laborers
ranged from as low as 120 to a high of 400. The song, Swannanoa Tunnel,
was apparently composed and sung by crews building the tunnel. The
cave-in mentioned in the song perhaps refers to the accident in March of
1879 when twenty-three workers were killed. This article appeared in the
book Singing Rails, Railroadin’ Songs, Jokes & Stories by Wayne Erbsen.
I’m going back to that Swannanoa Tunnel, That’s my home, baby, that’s my home.
Asheville Junction, Swannanoa Tunnel, All caved in, baby, all caved in.
Last December, I remember, The wind blowed cold, baby, the wind blowed cold.
When you hear my watchdog howling, Somebody around, baby, somebody around.
When you hear that hoot owl squalling, Somebody dying, baby somebody dying.
Hammer falling from my shoulder All day long, baby, all day long.
Ain’t no hammer in this mountain Outrings mine, baby, outrings mine.
This old hammer, it killed John Henry, It didn’t kill me, baby, it didn’t kill me.
Riley Gardner, he killed my partner, He couldn’t kill me, baby, he couldn’t kill me.
Riley Rambler, he killed Jack Ambler He didn’t kill me, baby, he didn’t kill me.
This old hammer rings like silver, Shines like gold, baby, it shines like gold.
Take this hammer, throw it in the river, It rings right on, baby, it shines right on.
Some of these days I’ll see that woman, Well that’s no dream, baby, that’s no dream
Song snippet at www.nativeground.com/MP3s/SwannanoaTunnel.mp3
6 Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
The verses of
Swannanoa
Tunnel were
collected by
Bascom Lamar
Lunsford. The
melody is
compliments
of Bucky Hanks,
whose great
grandfather
worked on
building the
Swannanoa
Tunnel.
Meet New Board Member Lane Venden
Lane Venden says
he cut his teeth on
bluegrass music. His
folks brought Lane
and his brother to
the Riley Tavern
jam when they
were just kids learning bluegrass as
they learned their
instruments.
worked for Ward Brodt. He then founded Lane's Lutherie
and originally worked out of his home. He quickly outgrew that and then leased space within Madison Music.
When the business outgrew that space, too, he moved
into his current space on the West Beltline in Madison.
In an interesting side note, Lane used to often hang out
at Ward Brodt during his high school years asking lots of
questions of long-time SWBMAI member and luthier Pat
Downing. Years down the road when Pat moved on from
Ward Brodt, Lane was hired to work under their new head
luthier. Another generation to generation success story!
Eventually Lane and
his brother formed
a band called "Home Grown Chicken" and opened for
acts all over the area. He's been in quite a few bands since
then including "Midnight Rider", seven years with "Under
the Gun" whose Jon Nicholson has since hit the Nashville
scene, and the past six years playing fiddle, mando, guitar
in addition to vocals for "Madison County."
Lane, his wife Kellee, and 8 year-old, drum-playing
Clayton live in a 120 year old house in Ridgeway. The
house belonged to Lane's grandparents, his father grew
up there, and Lane spent part of his childhood there, too.
It's not much of a surprise that someone who restores
instruments is also working at restoring and preserving
such an important part of his family's history.
In addition to making all that music for all those years,
Lane has also been helping other people make music.
Lane has been a luthier for the past 22 years. He first
At Lane's shop, he sees a lot of musicians which in turn
give him broad insights to share with the SWBMAI ...
Another great board addition! Thanks, Lane.
The Henhouse Prowlers:
One of Our Newest Member Bands
A big welcome to one of our association's newest
member bands — The Henhouse Prowlers. Chicago
serves as the intersection in
the lives of the group's five
musicians, two who hail from
Illinois and the others from as
far and near as North Carolina,
upstate New York and Missouri.
With a PBS series soundtrack
already to its credit and a
sophomore recording in the
works, The Henhouse Prowlers
have been barnstorming on
to the red hot bluegrass scene
since 2004. Two years ago,
the roughly thirty-something
quintet made the commitment to go the distance, to be a full-time touring
bluegrass band. But not just another bluegrass band.
The Henhouse Prowlers are positioning themselves for
nothing less than success. Each member does double
duty within the group, holding a business as well as
musical post, making it a total collaborative effort.
Dedicated equally to tradition
and innovation, The Henhouse
Prowlers center their sound on
that of the early, formative years
of bluegrass, while they keep
their pulse on today by covering contemporary topics in a
largely original repertoire. The
group wears the Bill Monroe
mantle with spit and polish.
They perform in suit-and-tie and
work in a tightly choreographed,
one-mic stage setting, which
adds a dynamic dimension to
their shows. Combining passion,
confidence and flair with instrumental and vocal prowess,
The Prowlers deliver bluegrass with an edge.
www.henhouseprowlers.com
Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
7
Jams & Open Mic Events September / October 2009
EVERY MONDAY
Bluegrass, Folk & Traditional Country Jam
and Open Mic, Dry Bean Saloon, 6:30 10:30 pm, 5264 Verona Rd., Madison, WI
Host: Dave Bacholl (Info: 608-906-6036)
EVERY TUESDAY
Instructor-Led Jam Classes at The Hotel Ruby Marie,
Germania Parlor, 524 East Wilson St. , Madison, WI.
SWBMAI sponsored instruction: 1st Tuesday Jon Peik 7:30
pm; 2nd Tuesday with Chris Powers 7:00 pm; 3rd Tuesday
with David Nance 8:00 pm; 4th Tuesday with Catherine
Rhyner and Mary Helmke 7:00 pm; 5th Tuesday with Guest
Instructor 7:00 pm. $5.00 instructor donation. (Info: Ellis
Bauman, 608-257-2431)
EVERY WEDNESDAY
Northland Ballroom, 8:00 - 11:00 pm, N10103 Hwy 49
between Rosholt and Iola, WI. Hosted by Art Stevenson,
Dale Reichert and Jim Prideaux. (Info: 715-677-3491 or visit
www.highwatermusic.com/northland_ballroom.htm)
1st & 3rd THURSDAY
Apple Holler Bluegrass Jam & BBQ, 6:00 - 9:00 pm; Apple Holler
Restaurant/ Orchard, 5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, WI
(Info: www.appleholler.com or call 1-800-238-3629)
3rd THURSDAY OF SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER
McCarthy's Bar Jam, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, 51 E. Main Street,
Benton, WI. Hosted by the Fever River String Band (Info:
608-759-3942 www.bentonwi.us/wp)
EVERY THURSDAY
Books & Brew Jam, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Old Junction Mill, 613 W.
Madison Ave., Milton, WI A variety of acoustic music played
without amplification (Info: Carla 608-868-3371)
1st FRIDAY
Kenosha Folk Hootenany celebrating their 21st year! 7:00
- 10:00 pm, Anderson Arts Center informal gathering in an
old Lake Michigan mansion, 121 66th. St., Kenosha WI
2nd FRIDAY
Ron's Old-Time Jam, Black Earth Bank, 1:00 - 4:00 pm,
(lower level meeting room) Black Earth, WI. Host: Ron Poast
(Info: 608-767-2553) www.ragtime88.com/swotfa
3rd FRIDAY
Acoustic Open Mic, Crossroads Coffeehouse, 7:00 - 9:30 pm,
2020 Main St, Cross Plains, WI. Info: joesnare@tds.net or call
Mary at the Crossroads, 608-798-2080) Host: Joe Snare
EVERY OTHER SATURDAY
Spirits, 735 S Watertown St, Waupun 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. All
playing abilities welcome. (Info: Jeff Smith 920-324-3977)
8 Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
1st SATURDAY
Riley Tavern, 2:00 pm, 8205 Klevenville-Riley Rd., Verona, WI
Take CTH PD to CTH J turn north on CTH J. Between Mt. Horeb
& Verona. Host: Archie Lowman (Info: 608-845-9150)
Waukesha Church of Christ, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, 2816 Madison
St., Waukesha, WI. Host: Pastor Greg (Info: 262-470-3644)
2nd SATURDAY
R.H. Landmark Saloon, 3:00 - 6:30 pm, 138 S. Main St.
Jefferson, WI. Host: John Short (Info: 920-563-7441)
Spring Green General Store, 3:00 - 6:00 pm, 137 S. Albany
St., Spring Green, WI. Host: Paul Bentzen, Doug Lloyd and
Michael Connors (Info: 608-588-7070)
EVERY OTHER SUNDAY
Old Time Acoustic Jam, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Alchemy Cafe, 1980
Atwood Ave., Madison (Info: Scott Knickelbine scottk@
lcs-impact.com)
1st SUNDAY
OCT. 4 IS THE FIRST ONE OF THE SEASON! Fritz & Donna's
Orfordville Jam, Noon - 6:00 PM, American Legion Hall,
Highway 213, Orfordville, WI (Info: (608) 214-4286) NOTE:
December jam will be held on November 29.
Life Spring Coffee Shop, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, 7578 Hwy 51,
Minocqua WI Host: Rich Gadow (Info: 715-588-9498)
www.headforthedome.com
2nd SUNDAY
Hazelhurst (Yawkey) Town Hall, 1:00 - 5:00 pm, Hwy 51,
Hazelhurst, WI. Host: Keith Justice (Info: 715-356-3793)
BBMA Bluegrass Jam, 2:00 - 5:00 pm, Borders Books, River
Point Shopping Center, 8705 N. Port Washington, Fox Point,
WI (Info: 414-540-1427 http://badgerlandbluegrass.org )
3rd SUNDAY
Lake Country Jam,1:00 - 4:00 pm. Good Harvest Market
community room. 1850 Meadow Lane, Pewaukee, WI. www.
goodharvestmarket.com/classes_events/Calendar_of_
Events_Classes_Workshops_and_tours.html
4th SUNDAY
Viroqua Bluegrass & Gospel Music Association Bluegrass
Jam, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, Park View Ct, Viroqua, WI (Info: 608637-3820 dlpeterson@mwt.net www.viroquabluegrass.com)
Acoustic Jam, The Attic, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, 730 Bodart Street,
Green Bay (Info: www.theatticbooks.com or 920-855-2627)
Festivals, Workshops, Camps & Concerts
SEPT 12
Washington County Bluegrass Festival, 2:30 – 10:00 pm, Lake Elmo Park, 1515 Keats Avenue N, Lake Elmo,
MN. Featuring SWBMAI band Monroe Crossing. Free with a Washington County Park vehicle permit ($5/day).
12
Brian Wicklund & FiddlePals Outdoor Concert, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, River Falls, WI www.fiddlepal.com
12
Dr. Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Stoughton Opera House, 381 E. Main Street,
Stoughton, WI . Tickets $40. www.keithcase.com/profiles/Ralph/index.htm www.drralphstanley.com
www.cityofstoughton.com/index.asp?
12-13 East Troy Bluegrass Festival, Saturday: 1:00 – 6:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Town Square, East Troy,
WI . Saturday's line up includes SWBMAI bands Cream City at 1:00, Spare Time Bluegrass Band at 2:00., and
Liberty Bluegrass Band at 4:00.
17-20 38th Annual Davis Co. Country & Old Time Music festival, Bloomfield, IA Info: Bob Wilson, 641-664-1428
19
2nd Annual Shindig in the Pines, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm, Pine Acres Resort located on High Falls Flowage north
west of Crivitz . www.fishingboatingoutdoor.com
20
Mountain and Hammer Dulcimer Workshop conducted by David Foss and Katie LaRaye Waldren, 1:00 –
3:35 pm, The Gathering Place, 715 Campus St., Milton, WI. $20.00 adv. Info: Nancy Garrett 608-752-6514 or
email: kyuk_04@yahoo.com
20
Mountain and Hammer Dulcimer Concert, 4:00 - 6:00 PM featuring Southern Wisconsin Dulcimer Club, Rock
Prairie Dulcimers, Gracenotes, David Foss and Katie LaRaye Waldren $5.
25
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Stoughton Opera House, 381 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI
Tickets $30. www.keithcase.com/profiles/Peter/index.htm www.peter-rowan.com . www.cityofstoughton.
com/index.asp?
25-27 17th Annual Threshermen's Bluegrass Festival, Pontiac, IL featuring SWBMAI band Truman's Ridge at 6:00 pm
Friday night. Admission: $12 Friday, $18 Saturday (all day), $12 Saturday (after 6 pm), $5 Sunday, or $30 for
a weekend.pass. Kids under 12 FREE with an adult. Rain or shine. Indoor concerts. Bring lawn chairs. (Info: 815844-3560 or visit www.threshermenbluegrass.com)
Harvest Moon Fall Festival, 6:00 – 9:00 pm, Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Road, Madison, WI
OCT 2
Friends of Capital Springs Recreation Area 5th Annual Fundraiser. $3 per person, kids 12 & under FREE. Torch-lit,
guided trail hikes, Silent auction and bluegrass music featuring SWBMAI band The Oak Street Ramblers! Info:
608 224-3604 www.fwsp.org/capitalsprings
3
Mike Compton & David Grier, 7:00 – 10:00 pm, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, 953 Jenifer Street, Madison, WI
$14.99 in advance or $20 at the door. To order advance tickets go to http://www.deadmessenger.com
9
Bluegrass Caravan Traveling Bluegrass Show with the Henhouse Prowlers, Liberty Bluegrass Band, & The
High 48s, 8:00 – 11:00 pm, Shank Hall, 1434 Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. $12 21+ SWBMAI Sponsored!
10 O'Brien Barn Dance, 5:30 – 11:30 pm, The O'Brien Barn, 552 Glenway Road, Brooklyn, WI www.obrienbarn.com
10 Bluegrass Caravan Traveling Bluegrass Show with the Henhouse Prowlers, Liberty Bluegrass Band, & The
High 48s, 8:00 – 11:00 pm, Al Ringling Theatre, 136 4th Avenue, Baraboo, WI. $15 SWBMAI Sponsored!
15 Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, 7:30 – 11:00 pm, Two Rivers High School Auditorium, 4519 Lincoln Ave., Two
Rivers, WI Advance Tickets $15 (Adults) $5.00 (Ages 8-17) At the Door $20 (Adults) $8.00 (Ages 8-17) / Under 8
FREE http://www.bluegrassbrad.org/index.htm
16 The Dan Tyminski Band, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Stoughton Opera House, 381 E. Main Street, Stoughton, WI. Tickets
$35 www.dantyminski.com www.cityofstoughton.com/index.asp?
27 Emmylou Harris & her Red Dirt Boys, 7:30 – 11:00 pm, Overture Center, 201 State Street, Madison, WI. Tickets
$39.50 - $65 available by phone (608-258-4141), or online www.overturecenter.com
SWBMAI Holiday Party • Saturday, December 5
Goodman Community Center • Late Afternoon Kick Off
Help Make Party Decisions • Please Go to:
w w w.swbmai.org/holidaypar typoll/ for 6 Question Survey
Meet New Board Member
Jim Hodges
Hi! My name is Jim Hodges. I'm your friend.
Don't be afraid.
I've had a long relationship with SWBMAI starting in the
late 1980s when I would come to the jams with my dad.
Back then the jams were at the Country Mill out on the
east end of the beltline. I just chauffeured dad and carried his guitar. He was the player/singer. He knew about
2,000 songs. I didn't know all the words to any song.
My playing at that time was just to accompany my dad,
Jack Hodges. At least that was the name he used but
that's another story for another time.
It's strange how I could hear him sing so many wonderful songs without actually LISTENING! I knew the tunes,
which I played, but I didn't start to actually learn the
words till after he died in 1993. (I've only about 1,950
songs to go!)
He was a great influence on me. He was very diligent
in teaching me the importance of the artists that so
influenced him — Jimmie Rogers (in whose honor I am
named), Vernon Dalhart, Gene Autry, Bob Wills, Ernest
Tubb, Sons of the Pioneers with Roy Rodgers, and many
others of the era. He also taught me about his favorite
movie stars like Ken Maynard (in whose name I'm also
honored), Buck Jones and Tom Mix.
So that's from whence I came. I think that's pretty much
the same roots from which bluegrass evolved. I started
to sort of play around the group's edges when the jams
were held at the Green Room in Madison. Then I started
to sing a little when the jams were held at the Speedway
10
Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
Photo by Arvid Berge
sounding not unlike Alvin the Chipmunk and going
down hill from there. (Editor's Note: He's lying.)
Though I like the music at the jams, the biggest reward
is the people who are like family and all with so many
different backgrounds. I thought it was about time I
became more involved with the association and am
pleased to be invited to the board.
I have some ideas to offer at a later time (so that I don't
get pilloried and stoned right away). I am confident that
SWBMAI has had a bigger beneficial effect on my life
than anyone else out there, though there are few who
are aware of it. But that's another story for another time.
You don't have to tell anyone outside SWBMAI that my
real first name is Kenneth which is an old Gaelic name
that means "handsome."
Stay tuned.
Jim
Book a Member Band for Your Holiday Party!
Above the Town – Jerry Loughney; 262-510-1128, jerry@
abovethetown.com
Alzen Family Bluegrass Band – Brad Alzen; 715-749-3977,
bwalzen@pressenter.com
Art Stevenson & High Water – Art Stevenson; 715-884-6996,
artstevenson@tds.net
Big Cedar – Marty Burch 262-338-6954 or Keith Keehn; 262338-0538, mdrbears@aol.com
Cream City Bluegrass and Gospel Music – Harvey Riekoff;
262-497-3024, tjbanjo@wi.rr.com, http://creamcitybluegrass.net
Down from the Hills – Pat Downing; 608-527-2472, downhome@tds.net
eleike – Michael Bell; 608-238-2223, mike@michaelmbell.net,
www.michaelmbell.net/eleike-presskit.htm
The Front Porch Boys – Tom Nowlin; 262-719-2991, dr_geo_@
yahoo.com, www.frontporchboys.com
The Henhouse Prowlers – Ryan Hinshaw; 847-924-5298,
contact@henhouseprowlers.com
The High 48s – Eric Christopher; 651-271-4392, eric@
thehigh48s.com
Jefferson County Bluegrass Band – Dale Ward; 608-712-8054,
http://jeffersoncountybluegrass.com
Sept.
Oct.
Liberty Bluegrass Band – James Brocksmith; 414-803-7477,
www.libertybluegrass.com
Monroe Crossing – Art Blackburn; 763-213-1349, art@
monroecrossing.com
New Bad Habits – Chirps Smith; chirpsdot@aol.com
Northern Comfort – Tony Hozeny; 608-215-7676, thozeny46@
sbcglobal.net
Oak Street Ramblers – Jeff Schoen; 608-669-3991, kunklej@gmail.com
'Round the Bend – Fred Newmann; 608-238-6863, fnewmann@wisc.edu
Spare Time Bluegrass Band – Bobby Batyko; 608-575-9945,
bbatyko1@tds.net
SweetGrass – Trent Cuthbert; 608-658-6353, sweetgrasspickin@
gmail.com, www.myspace.com/sweetgrasspickin
Tangled Roots – Marty Marrone; 651-295-1376, marty@tangled
rootsbluegrass.com
Truman's Ridge – Bruce Wallace; 815-603-1441, trumansridge@
yahoo.com
Turtle Creek Ramblers – Dave & Michelle Wilson; 608-361-0770,
www.turtlecreekramblers.com
Wooden Bridges Bluegrass Band – Rich Schwartz; 262-719-3549,
http://home.wi.rr.com/woodenbridges/
Member Band Schedules September / October 2009
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Turtle Creek Ramblers, 9:30 – 10:30 am, Northwoods Care Centre, 2250 Pearl St., Belvidere, IL FREE
Turtle Creek Ramblers, 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Maple Crest Care Centre, 4452 Squaw Prairie Rd., Belvidere, IL FREE
Monroe Crossing, 3:30 – 5:15 pm, Washington County Bluegrass Festival, 1515 Keats Ave. N, Lake Elmo, MN
Big Cedar, 4:30 – 6:30 pm, Bluegrass & Brats, Marion Church, Wisconsin Valley Road, Fennimore, WI
Truman's Ridge, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Egyptian Theater Charity Fundraiser, 135 N. Second Street, DeKalb, IL Adults $15,
Students & Seniors $10, kids 12 & under $5.00
Big Cedar, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, Lac Lawrann Nature Conservancy, 300 Schmit Road, West Bend, WI. $12.00
Turtle Creek Ramblers, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, NorthPointe Terrace, 5601 East Rockton Rd., Roscoe, IL FREE
Monroe Crossing, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Community Lutheran Church of Geneva Centennial, 106 Third St. SE, Geneva, MN
Big Cedar, 7:00 – 8:15 pm, Gospel Concert at Christ Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street, Watertown, WI
Oak Street Ramblers, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, The Malt House, 2609 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI FREE
Monroe Crossing, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville, MN
Monroe Crossing, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN
Truman's Ridge, 7:30 – 9:15 pm, The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
Art Stevenson & High Water, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Remington Town Hall, Babcock, WI
The High 48s, 8:00 – 11:00 pm, 318 Cafe, 318 Water Street, Excelsior, MN
Oak Street Ramblers, 9:00 – 11:30 pm, Alchemy Cafe, 1980 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI FREE
Big Cedar, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, Still Waters Community Church, 3617 Scenic Road, Jackson, WI
Bluegrass Caravan Traveling Bluegrass Show featuring The Henhouse Prowlers, Liberty Bluegrass Band, & The
High 48s, 8:00 – 11:00 pm, Shank Hall, 1434 Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. 21 and over show. $12
Turtle Creek Ramblers, 9:30 – 10:30 am, Northwoods Care Centre, 2250 Pearl St., Belvidere, IL FREE
Turtle Creek Ramblers, 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Maple Crest Care Centre, 4452 Squaw Prairie Rd., Belvidere, IL FREE
Truman's Ridge, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Royal Oaks Farm Orchard, 15908 Hebron Road, Harvard, IL FREE
Bluegrass Caravan Traveling Bluegrass Show featuring The Henhouse Prowlers, Liberty Bluegrass Band, & The
High 48s, 8:00 – 11:00 pm, Al Ringling Theatre, 136 4th Avenue, Baraboo, WI. $15
Liberty Bluegrass Band & Henhouse Prowlers, 8:00 – 11:30 pm, Fitzgerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL
Turtle Creek Ramblers, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, NorthPointe Terrace, 5601 East Rockton Rd., Roscoe, IL FREE
Oak Street Ramblers, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, The Malt House, 2609 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI FREE
The High 48s, 8:00 – Midnight, Dulono's Pizza, 607 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN
Art Stevenson & High Water, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Bear Lake Resort, N4715 State Road 22 & 110, Manawa, WI
The High 48s, 8:00 – Midnight, Dulono's Pizza, 607 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN
The
Bluegrass
Caravan
Featuring
Bl u eg rass
Dream Season
Tickets:
(608) 877-4400
Dr. Ralph Stanley
& His Clinch
Mountain Boys
Sat, Sept 12 • 7:30
pm • $40
the best from IL, MN and WI.
traditional
bluegrass
Shank Hall
October 9, 2009
@ 8 PM
1434 Farwell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI
www.shankhall.com
AL. Ringling
Theatre
October 10, 2009
@ 8 PM
Baraboo, WI
www.alringling.com
Sponsored by
Dr. Ralph Stanley has been performing for 55 years and is a grand master
of the mountain style of folk music—an older, sadder, less adorned style of
mountain music than bluegrass. He has performed on nearly 200 albums,
has received a Living Legend award from the Library of Congress, is the first
recipient of the Traditional American Music award from the National Endowment of the Arts, has won multiple Grammy Awards, and the National Medal
of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence. Ralph Stanley’s
voice is not of this century, or of the last one for that matter. Its stark emotional urgency is rooted in a darker time, when pain was the common coin
of life and the world offered sinful humanity no hope of refuge. Preserved
in the cultural amber of remote Appalachia, this terse, forlorn sound is the
heartbeat of Ralph Stanley.
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Fri, Sept 25 • 7:30 pm • $30
Talk about a bluegrass
pedigree: lead singer
for Bill Monroe, Old &
In The Way with Jerry
Garcia and Vassar
Clements, Earth Opera
with David Grisman,
Crucial Country and
so much more. Peter
Rowan is one of the
major cult bluegrass
artists of the ages
winning a devoted,
international fan base
through his independent records and constant touring. A skilled singer/songwriter, Rowan yodels,
plays numerous stringed instruments, a saxophone and has written such classic songs as “Panama Red,” “Midnight Moonlight” and “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy.”
There’s going to be a whole lot of sweet vocals, chestnut songs and hot licks.
Bluegrass Dream Season (continued)
Tickets: (608) 877-4400
Dan Tyminski Band
Fri, Oct 16 • 7:30 pm • $35
Many people
know Dan
Tyminski as
the Grammywinning
singing
voice behind
George
Clooney’s
character in
the hit film
O Brother,
Where Art
Thou? Others recognize him as the ace guitarist/mandolinist in Alison Krauss’s Union Station band for the past
13 years. What’s clear is that Dan is a performer at the
very top of his profession, thanks to abundant talent,
steady creativity, and a personality that’s as outgoing
and friendly offstage as on. Dan Tyminski just may be
the closest thing bluegrass
music has to a Renaissance
man; a mandolin player,
guitarist, recording engineer,
producer, and a vocalist who
can switch from delicate harmonies to fiery, hard-edged
leads at the drop of a hat.
Tony Rice Unit
Fri, Nov 13 •
7:30 pm • $30
Tony Rice was the first instrumentalist to seize upon the
innovations of guitarists
like Clarence White and Doc
Watson and propel them
into new flights of rhythmic,
harmonic, and textural virtuosity. By doing so in the context of a bluegrass band, he redefined that instrument’s
role in bluegrass, and raised the bar for a new generation
of acoustic six-stringers. Rice is recognized as a visionary
of the new acoustic music that he calls “spacegrass.”
David Grisman & John Sebastian
Sat, Dec 12 • 7:30 pm • $40
David Grisman and John Sebastian made their first
recording together as members of the Even Dozen Jug
Band with future luminaries Maria Muldaur, Stefan Grossman and others. The rest, of course, is musical history.
John Sebastian became lead singer and songwriter of one
of America’s most popular bands—the Lovin’ Spoonful.
David Grisman spearheaded an acoustic music revolution
with his genre-defying “Dawg” music. After a 40+ year
hiatus, their paths crossed again and it became obvious
they should continue collaborating. David and John's
concert will be a memorable evening of acoustic duets
featuring traditional folk tunes, blues, classy instrumentals, and originals by
these two legendary
masters.
Riders in
the Sky:
Christmas
the Cowboy
Way
Fri, Dec 18 •
7:30 pm • $35
The Riders in the
Sky perform authentic renditions of old classic cowboy and western songs,
as well as original works and various comedic skits and
songs. For thirty years this cowboy quartet has been
keepers of the flame passed on by the Sons of the Pioneers, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers, reviving and revitalizing the genre. While remaining true to the integrity of
classic western music, they have themselves become
modern-day icons.
Fireball Mail/ September-October '09
13
Join These Little Rascals In Some
Old-Time Family Fun!
Beautifully
Renovated Barn!
Yummy Potluck
Dinner!
Huge Hay Bale
Tables & Chairs!
Dancing in the Hayloft!
Cows Mooing Outside the Door!
(There's Even Indoor Plumbing!)
Check out last year's fun: www.
youtube.com/watch?v=vogTVCL-qhc
The Fireball Mail is a publication of the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. Visit our web site at www.swbmai.org
Send change of address to:
Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass
Music Association Inc.
P.O. Box 7761 Madison, WI 53707-7761
Attn: Fireball Mail
In Memory of
Jeff Hickey