Norris Hot Springs

This Memorial Day – Monday May 25th, Norris Hot Springs will be hosting their 5th annual Holy Bucket Bluegrass Festival. Enjoy a soak in the Water of the Gods while listening to the best live acoustic music in the region. Featured performers this year:
4:00 The John Lowell Band

5:30 Anne & Pete Sibley

7:30 Sally Newsome & the Norris Hot Strings

John Lowell, the founder and cornerstone of nationally acclaimed Kane’s River, is a master of driving rhythm and inventive flatpicking lead guitar. A sensitive, clear-voiced singer, John is hailed as one of the genre’s finest songwriters. His work has been performed by Bluegrass Etc., Valerie Smith, and other national recording artists. This year’s festival set will feature over fifteen of John’s great original compositions. John is a veteran of Wheel Hoss, one of Montana’s best early bluegrass bands, and he toured with Loose Ties throughout the 90s. He has released three well-received recordings with Ben Winship as the Growling Old Men. John was honored by Flatpicking Magazine with a cover photo and feature article in their January, 2009 issue. The John Lowell Band will feature Russ Smith on the doghouse bass and the hot picking Tom Murphy, on the mandolin.

This Year’s First Place Winners of Prairie Home Companion’s annual talent show, the Great American Duet Sing-Off, Anne and Pete Sibley are about the vocals – the words and the harmonies. Anne & Pete have been singing together since they met in their high school choir. They were inspired by duet performers of traditional acoustic music when they began performing at their local Hootenanny in Jackson, Wyoming. Anne’s powerful songwriting, vocals and guitar paired with Pete’s solid melodic clawhammer banjo and soulful harmonies highlight their recordings and live performances. Since 2004 they have been offering their blend of original folk, bluegrass, old-timey and traditional yet original songs to wider audiences. They played at Merle Fest last month and will be performing on the main stage at Colorado’s Rocky Grass festival this July. Don’t miss this great chance to hear locally one of the best duets in the business.

Sally Newsome and Tom Murphy starting playing music next to the pool at Norris Hot Springs five years ago. It soon became clear that soakers counted on the poolside performances, coming as much to hear these talented performers as to heal their aching bodies in the Water of the Gods. Thus began the tradition of live acoustic music at Norris. When Kris Clone returned to Montana that same year, the Norris Hot Strings were formed. For the next two years Sally and the Norris Hot Strings played in the Poolside Dome twice a week, often joined by their friend Quinton King on lead acoustic guitar. Sally Newsome, a native to Bozeman, grew up singing. She was lead singer right our of high school for various bands including The Sol Congress and Bluejack, before picking up the guitar in 2000 and beginning her own songwriting. Sally’s amazing voice and warm stage presence have become a favorite to all that have been lucky enough to catch her performances. There’s a special magic that happens when Kris, Quinton and Tom lock in to Sally’s vocal groove. It is a rare treat to behold.

So check out The Holy Bucket. Montana Meat on the grill, local salads and specials, T-shirts and hats, and cold beer, wine, and soft drinks will be for sale. Gates open at 3:30. Tickets are an affordable $15 /adults and $3 /kids under 12, for an evening of music and a memorable soak. No Advance Sales. Rain or Shine. Please Carpool. For their sake, leave pets at home.