This just in from Arlene:
Hey One and All!
Can’t wait to see everyone this weekend at the Broken Arrow! The weather is suppose to be PDN (pretty dang nice) and it should make for a whole bunch of fun pickin! Don’t forget to bring something for the ice cream social on Saturday afternoon about 1pm. Potlucks Sat night and Sun morning. Campfire evenings and mornings, and undoubtedly in-between. Fun anytime. Sore fingers expected. Laughter required!
So get here safely, get tuned up and let’s pick!
See ya’ll soon! arlene
p.s.  Please forward this to any interested others not on this list
Joe Nickell wrote a nice article about the Roots Festival. Check it out in the Missoulian Online
interesting story on the Idaho State Journal online about Diana Morgan who started the Pocatello Bannock County Bluegrass Festival. Go to the story online to see a short video interview with Diana and a little footage from the festival.
Doug Lindley/Idaho State Journal Diana Morgan is the president of the Bannock County Bluegrass Association that's putting on the 7th annual Bluegrass Festival at the Bannock County Fairgrounds, Friday through Sunday. featured
Posted: Saturday, August 28, 2010 3:59 am | Updated: 4:02 am, Sat Aug 28, 2010.
By John O’Connell joconnell@journalnet.com | 1 comment
POCATELLO — Diana Morgan, of Darrington, Wash., depleted the bulk of her personal savings in her effort to make a bluegrass festival she started at the Bannock County Fairgrounds a viable community event.
“I was born and raised in Pocatello. I just wanted to bring my music here,†Morgan said. “I think it’s great music, something our ancestors brought over from Ireland and England. It’s the roots of country music actually.â€
When it appeared Morgan would have to give up on the festival after its fifth year without substantial growth, she changed her approach. She started the nonprofit organization, called the Bannock County Bluegrass Association. Since then, her luck has changed.
The association has helped generate contributions from a host of corporations, and the local board members have helped volunteer to staff the event. Attendance has also been up — last year between 1,000 and 1,500 people attended the weekend festival. It was by far the event’s biggest crowd, and it was the first year that Morgan finished in the black.
This year, she anticipates duplicating that success. Indeed, the Bannock County Bluegrass Festival appears to be growing just as the festival she started 34 years ago in Darrington has.
“We broke our record this year (in Darrington). We had between 8,000 and 9,000 there,†Morgan said. “We couldn’t hold that many if we had that at the fairgrounds. We’d have to have one in the Minidome.â€
Musicians at the event assist with music workshops, and for the first time this year, a workshop is also scheduled for children.
The Seventh Annual Bannock County Bluegrass Festival started Friday and continues through Sunday at the fairgrounds, hosted at a new stage with a grassy seating area.
Q: You mentioned corporate sponsorship helped keep your bluegrass festival afloat. Who are some of those sponsors?
A: We’ve got Simplot and Agrium, Portneuf Medical Center, we’ve got just a ton of sponsors that have put forth either money or something to help out.
Q: How much do tickets cost?
A: If they come for the whole weekend it’s $35. Friday is $10. Saturday is $15 and Sunday is $10.
Q: How is the talent this year?
A: One of our best ones is Cold Creek. They’re from Salt Lake City. They’re extremely talented people. Every year when they come, everybody just loves them. We have New South Fork that’s from Idaho Falls. We have Tradition. They come from Nampa. They’re a really good band. We have a young group called the Panhandle Polecats. They’re from the panhandle of Idaho. They’re young kids.
Q: How do the bands get paid?
A: They get a gate split. We split all ticket sales with the bands.
Q: That must have been tough on some of the bands in those early years. How many people showed up for the first festival?
A: We had 150 the first year. I think each band made about $300. It did grow a little each year.
Q: Why do you think attendance has increased in this slower economy?
A: I think people are doing things closer to home. They’re finding their entertainment closer to home instead of traveling around. And I think after seven years with word of mouth, people come and they like it, and they tell somebody, “Next year you need to go.†People are starting to discover what bluegrass is, and they like it.
Q: How far are people traveling to come to this event?
A: My sister said she had a call from somebody in Florida. We’re drawing from California and all sorts of different places.
Posted in Local on Saturday, August 28, 2010 3:59 am. Updated: 4:02 am
The River City Roots Festival takes place this weekend in Missoula. It’s FREE
Li’l Smokies will be playing at the Top Hat on Saturday night
River City Roots Festival Website
Festival Mainstage Lineup
7th Annual Bannock County Bluegrass Festival
POCATELLO — The 7th Annual Bannock County Bluegrass Festival will be on Aug. 27, 28 and 29 at the Bannock County Fairgrounds.
Tickets are $35 for a weekend pass, $100 per family, or $10 for Friday, $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday. Camping will also be available for $10 per night with water and electricity hook ups or $5 for rough camping. Tickets can be purchased at Budget Tapes and Records and Mike’s Music in Pocatello.
Bluegrass bands from around Idaho and the west will perform including New South Fork from Idaho Falls and Red Desert Ramblers from Salt Lake City.
There will be adult and children’s music workshops, jam sessions, a band scramble, open mic time as well as food and drinks for sale. Bring your lawn chair or blanket to sit on the grassy area in front of the stage.
For more information go to bannockcountybluegrassfestival.com
7th Annual Bannock County Bluegrass Festival this weekend:
This band comes from the Treasure Valley in Idaho. They first got together at a jam session in 2005 and had so much fun that they decided to form a band and find some places to play in public. In 2006 they gathered at the Old Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, ID and competed in the Battle of the Bluegrass Bands. They won first place and competed again in 2009 and won again. They play every chance they get and have had the opportunity to open for some great groups such as Valery Smith & Liberty Pike, Mike Compton and Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain.
The band members are Brian Haken, guitar & vocals, Dennis Stokes, mandolin & vocals, Bill Cates, banjo, Harry Strung, bass & vocals and Rue Frisbee, fiddle.
PANHANDLE POLECATS
These polecats come from Rathdrum, ID. In just 5 short years the Panhandle Polecats have gone from just another cute family band to Dogs (er, Cats) in the thriving inland Northwest scene. The lighting fast picking, tight vocals and infectious stage presence of these five siblings have won a devoted following throughout the region.
The band consist of Jenny Little, bass fiddle & vocals, Hank Little, dobro and vocals, Molly Little (Wilbur) mandolin & vocals, Austin Little, banjo & vocals and Bonnie Little (Campbell)Â guitar & vocals.
RED DESERT RAMBLERS
They come from Salt Lake City, UT. Red desert plays bluegrass, old country and swing music. With combined experience of over 150 years, members blend traditional harmonies with smoking instrumental breaks. This band is very very popular at festivals and has performed at bluegrass and folk festivals in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado. The band members are, Steve Hewson, mandolin, guitar & vocals, Dave Bates, bass & vocals, Joe Farmer, mandolin & vocals, Rick Martinez, banjo & vocals and Sharon Mitchell, hammered dulcimer & vocals.
NEW SOUTH FORK
New South fork is a group formed in Idaho Falls, ID. They have recently welcomed new members to create a great band which loves to do up-tempo original and traditional bluegrass music. Three of the members have been together for several years, and have played in several venues throughout Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Washington including Arizona and California. New members who will be adding their own style and talents are great musicians in their own rights and have played with very successful groups in and around the area. On banjo and vocals- Fred Frank, bass and vocals – Emily Frank, fiddle – Jeff Forbes, guitar and vocals – Joel Kaserman, mandolin – Chad Fadely. A group that loves to have fun and play bluegrass. Hope you enjoy the ride.
BLUEGRASS COALITION
Part of this band comes from Montana and part come from Idaho. Mike and Tari Conroy, from Connor Montana, love Old Time Bluegrass and love to perform the old style songs they have performed around the house for years. The Conroy’s have had many years of duet singing and have done 9 recordings. They are considered by many to be pioneers in Montana Bluegrass. Now with Mike playing banjo and Tari playing her Martin guitar, they are very excited to be merging their style with the very talented Fred & Emily Frank. Fred and Emily Frank regularly perform as a duet and are also members of the well known band New South Fork from Idaho Falls, ID. They have played at many prestigious festivals, in Washington, Colorado and California. Emily is a prolific song writer and wonderful bluegrass singer. Fred is a multi — Instrumentalist, playing guitar, banjo and mandolin. He is also a great bluegrass singer.
HAMMER DOWN
This group comes from the Salt Lake City, Utah area. The group was originally formed by Mark Jenkins in the early spring of 2003 and to date has had several talented local musicians associated with the group. Hammer Down has played at several major festivals across the country and is well known for their hard driving traditional and contemporary bluegrass sound. The band members are, Mark Jenkins, guitar and lead vocals, Katelyn Jenkins, fiddle & vocals, Fairley Sparks dobro & vocals,
Tim Morrison, bass & vocals, Jake Workman, mandolin & vocals and Rick Martinez, banjo & vocals.
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STRINGS ATTACHED
This band comes from the Twin Falls, Idaho area. Strings Attached has appeared at the Northern Rockies Folk Festival, the National Old Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, ID, the National Country Music Festival in Avoca, Iowa, the Southern Utah Bluegrass Festival in Kanab, several times at the Bannock County Bluegrass Festival in Pocatello, ID and many other bluegrass events around the US. They are a traditional bluegrass band with a little folk flavor. They have also played for square dances and contra dances. The members are Jon Jacobson, guitar & vocals, Jenni Jacobson, fiddle & vocals, Mike McCarthy, banjo & vocals, and David Quinley, bass & vocals
TRADITION
This band comes from Nampa Idaho. The band consists of six members steeped heavily in solid bluegrass. They have built the band of a good base of influences that include, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jessie and the Stanley Brothers. Their music is also influenced by some of the more modern bands of today such as, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Alison Krauss & Union Station, JD Crow & the New South and the Seldom Scene. Each member brings their own stylistic variance together into a culmination, which becomes the distinct sound of Tradition. The band members are, Doug Jenkins, fiddle & vocals, Pat Massie, dobro & vocals, Emily Frank, bass & vocals, Bob Greer, guitar & vocals, Fred Frank, mandolin & vocals and Ron Hillier, banjo & vocals,
COLD CREEK
They come from American Fork, UT. Cold Creek is Utah’s premier bluegrass group. They perform across Utah and the Western States. The music of Cold Creek is a captivation blend of traditional and progressive bluegrass. It features tight harmonies, incredible picking and playing and interesting arrangements. The band members are Bill Sprunger, guitar & lead vocals. Bill is also a champion fiddle and mandolin player, Blaine Nelson, on banjo. Bill holds the 2003 Utah State Banjo Championship. Rob Ricks, fiddle. He has won many awards which include The Telluride Fiddle Contest and Te Telluride Band Contest. Andrea Ivey Banner, bass, lead vocals and harmonies, Jake Workman, mandolin & vocals. Jake is the youngest one of the group and is a multi instrumentalist. He also plays banjo and guitar.
By Paula J. McGarvey for The Montana Standard
Above is a group picture of the Montana-based members of the band Mountain Bluegrass Gospel: The Gilbert family of Sheridan: Ernie, left, Alice, and Ernie Gene on fiddle, with Sharon Severance on upright bass. Photo courtesy of Sharon and Lynn Severance
Five years ago, a group of friends with a passion for their faith and their music came together to “jam†and play gospel music and ended up forming the band Mountain Bluegrass Gospel.
The group started playing in more public venues in order to spread the gospel through music.
“It’s a fun venue,†Sharon Severance, who plays upright bass and sings high tenor.
Severance said that the band is composed of musicians living in Montana and Arizona, and will be playing local venues throughout the month of August. (See schedule)
“We mostly do churches. We love singing for the Lord,†Severance said.
Severance and her husband, Lynn, who handles the band’s public relations, spend summers in Sheridan and winter in Spring Valley, Ariz. While in Montana, the two play with the Gilbert family of Sheridan.
The Gilberts are active in the music ministry at the Ruby Valley Baptist Church and include Ernie, who plays rhythm guitar; his wife, Alice, on vocals; and 10-year-old son, Ernie Gene, on the fiddle. Ernie Gene is also an active member of the Dillon Junior Fiddlers and is learning to play the mandolin.
While in Arizona, Sharon and Lynn “jam†with Rick Rhodes, who plays banjo, guitar, and sings lead vocals. An active member and past president of the Arizona Bluegrass Association, his wife Leslie serves as the association’s president, Severance said.
Rhodes will join the band in Montana during August and accompany them when they play at area churches and outdoor sites.
Mountain Bluegrass Gospel schedule
Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. — Old Church at Bannack State Park west of Dillon
Sunday, Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m. — Barrett Campground at Rattlesnake Cliffs south of Dillon, sponsored by the Dillon Evangelical Lutheran Church
Sunday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. — First Baptist Church, Montana and Broadway, Butte.
Sunday, Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. — Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 2300 Florence Ave., Butte
Sunday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. — Bethel Methodist Church in Sheridan. The performance will be followed by and ice cream social.
Bozeman Jam - Pine Creek Lodge
Check out this and many other regular jams here on our website calendar
Open Bluegrass Jam
7:30 PM
Description: The Open Bluegrass Jam continues through the summer at the Pine Creek Café every Thursday night beginning at 7:30pm. This informal night of bluegrass music has become increasingly popular as musicians come from far and wide to jam together. Be sure to come enjoy (or participate) in this wonderful community tradition.
Age Group: All Ages
Venue: Pine Creek Lodge
Address: 2496 East River Road
Livingston, MT 59047
Phone: 406 222 3628
THE NOMINEES for the
2010 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS
MUSIC AWARDS
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Recording Title, Artist(s), Producer(s), Label
SONG OF THE YEAR
Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s)
RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Song Title, Artist(s), Songwriter(s), Producer, Label
INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Tune Title, Artist(s), Songwriter, Producer(s), Label
EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
BANJO
BASS
FIDDLE
DOBRO
GUITAR
MANDOLIN
BLUEGRASS EVENT OF THE YEAR
BLUEGRASS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR:
PRINT MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR
LINER NOTES FOR RECORDED PROJECT
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR RECORDED PROJECT
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: John Hartford, Louise Scruggs
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS: Sherry Boyd, Benjamin F. “Tex†Logan, Lynn Morris, Richard Weize, Pete Wernick

