It’s just in from Mike Conroy
Howdy. We’re signing up bands for the 2013 Lone Rock Festival april
13th. If your band would like to play a half hour set- email ASAP to
reserve a slot- as the 18 band slots usually are filled in 24 hours….
As usual, each band will be given a cd of their set and they can donate
a song to the upcoming MRBA 2013 compilation cd.. Thanks Mike and Tari
Email Mike and Tari at
tariconroy@webtv.net
Mike Auldridge
(photo by Jennie Scott)
The following is from the Mike Auldridge Tribute
Dec. 29, 2012: It is with great sadness that we report that Mike Auldridge passed away this morning. We know that Mike was very touched by the tributes posted in the guest book. A heartfelt thanks to each of you who participated.
Welcome to the Mike Auldridge Tribute website, celebrating the 2012 award of the National Endowment for the Art’s highest honor, the National Heritage Fellowship, to Mike Auldridge.
A major purpose of this site is to provide a place for Mike’s many friends and fans to post a tribute to Mike. We hope you’ll click on the Guest Book link and share your tribute: what Mike has meant to you and your music, your reflections on his contributions and influence, stories, anecdotes, or whatever you would like to share.
Visit the NEA’s bio page for Mike to read more about Mike and hear sound clips of some of his music.
In 2007, the International Bluegrass Music Association presented Mike with its prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award. Visit this page to read the text of Rob Ickes’ presentation of this award to Mike.
The influence Mike has wielded is incalculable. From the moment his first solo album, Dobro, was released in 1972, the very sound of the dobro was indelibly and profoundly changed. To borrow from Steve Martin’s assessment of Earl Scruggs’ influence on the banjo: Before Mike Auldridge, no one sounded like Mike Auldridge on the dobro. After Mike Auldridge, everyone aspired to sound like Mike Auldridge. As Rob Ickes noted in his IBMA presentation, “To this day, [Mike’s] tone is the holy grail of contemporary resophonic guitar players.” Rob also particularly noted how Mike stretched the boundaries of the instrument in terms of technique, musical vision and elegant taste firmly rooted in a “less is more” ethic.
Thanks for sharing your own tributes to Mike in the Guest Book, and for joining in this celebration of Mike Auldridge and his richly deserved National Heritage Fellowship.
Feb 15-17, 2013Featuring in Concert:
Vendors’ Fair. Regional artisans will display instruments, art, jewelry, crafts and more! Vendors please contact Ron Jones at rcopejones@comcast.net or 303-840-9594
Concert Times: Friday 6 pm – 11 pm / Saturday 10 am – 11 pm / Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
WORKSHOPS/ATRIUM JAMMING/INDOOR POOL/LOTS OF FREE PARKING/BEGINNERS’ JAMS
Shelby Ann
Tragic news this morning from a bluegrass icon. James King’s 18 year old daughter, Shelby Ann, was killed last night in an automobile accident in Amelia County, VA.
According to Julie King, James’ wife and Shelby’s stepmother, Shelby was driving home from work last night around 6:00 p.m., and was involved in a single vehicle accident. She was the only occupant in the car, which rolled several times. Witnesses reported that Shelby climbed out of the car, and immediately collapsed. Attempts to revive her on the scene were unsuccessful.
Shelby was a talented bluegrass singer in her own right. Here is a brief clip of her on stage two years ago.
More information about arrangements will be forthcoming.
Messages can be sent to James at:
The James King FamilyI’m sure that the entire bluegrass world joins us in extending sincerest condolences to James, Shelby’s mom, and all their many friends and family members.
The Zoo Music Awards (ZooMA) are designed to thank and celebrate the talented musicians and show support to local music in our community. Our goal is to provide a platform for local artists to gain recognition and exposure in Missoula’s music scenes and, hopefully, beyond!
The ZooMA program has many components to it: It starts with band submissions followed by public voting (it’s important to us… that the public is invested in this in order for it to truly be a community event), then a showcase on February 16, 2013 and, finally, an awards ceremony – red-carpet style – at the Wilma on March 22, 2013.
The Voting Process: The polls will open to the public on January 10, 2013. The voter can vote on one artist/band per category. The public votes will determine the top five in each category who will then move on to the Showcase. Voting will close on February 10, 2013.
The Showcase: The Showcase is planned for February 16, 2013 and will feature 45 bands at nine venues, representing nine genres, all in one night. The Showcase again encourages community involvement in the voting process. After the showcase night, each genre will be narrowed down to three finalist. A panel of judges from each venue will then be tasked with choosing a winner in each of the nine category. The nine venues and categories are:
The Awards Show: The Awards ceremony will be at the Wilma Theater on March 22, 2013. The top three artist and bands of each genre will be given free tickets to the award show. During the ceremony the winners will be announced. This must see event will feature local celebrity presenters, as well as live performances by national and local artists.
Prizes: The winner of EACH category will receive:
How to enter the ZOO MUSIC AWARDS:
Annual Meeting Dec 8, 2pm at Ruby’s
Date: Saturday, Dec 8, 2012
Dinner: MRBA will supply the Entree – sides will be potluck
Location:
Ruby’s Inn & Convention Center, 4825 North Reserve, Missoula, MT
Time: 2pm to midnight or later
We’ll kick off the meeting at 2pm. The annual meeting includes the Treasurer’s and Presidents reports and election of officers for the coming year. This is a great time to meet the leadership team and contribute your own ideas for how to continue to make this association better and better.
Pickin’ will commence immediately following the meeting followed by dinner at 5:30 or 6:00pm. After dinner we will pick into the wee hours of Sunday morning. As in years past we will have several different rooms available to have jams of all levels of players. Ruby’s Inn is offering their normal Bluegrass Rate for those who want to stay over on Saturday Night.
email annual meeting agenda items to mrba@mtbluegrass.com
Roger, from Billings, writes
PROGRESSIVE BLUEGRASS: “JAM GRASS IN MONTANA” A strong following has developed around this region for a number of bands which might be categorized as playing a form of progressive bluegrass which has come to be called. “jam grass
They play a strong dance beat and have been filling the dance floors in venues like Bones, Manny’s, or the Garage Pub in Billings, the Emerson in Bozeman and the Top Hat in Missoula. They tend to play typical bluegrass instruments often with a full drum trap set. Some of them are acoustic while others may be electric and have keyboards or additional percussion. Groups include the Infamous Stringband, Leftover Salmon, Fruition, Greensky Bluegrass, the 23 Stringband, and Hot Buttered Rum. While this movement began back in the 1970s with the Grateful Dead, Newgrass Revival, Yonder Mountain Stringband, the String Cheese Incident and Rare Earth, it has continued to evolve into the jam grass bands of today. Others include Elephant Revival, Watertower Bucket Boys, the Quick and Easy Boys, and Dead Winter Carpenters. If any bluegrass traditionalists think these sound more like rock than bluegrass names it is no accident. There is plenty of rocking going on in these jam grass groups. The good aspect of their music for all of us has to do with developing their own fans and exposing more young people to bluegrass influenced music. That definitely ain’t all bad! …. read more in his newsletter
They play a strong dance beat and have been filling the dance floors in venues like Bones, Manny’s, or the Garage Pub in Billings, the Emerson in Bozeman and the Top Hat in Missoula. They tend to play typical bluegrass instruments often with a full drum trap set. Some of them are acoustic while others may be electric and have keyboards or additional percussion. Groups include the Infamous Stringband, Leftover Salmon, Fruition, Greensky Bluegrass, the 23 Stringband, and Hot Buttered Rum. While this movement began back in the 1970s with the Grateful Dead, Newgrass Revival, Yonder Mountain Stringband, the String Cheese Incident and Rare Earth, it has continued to evolve into the jam grass bands of today. Others include Elephant Revival, Watertower Bucket Boys, the Quick and Easy Boys, and Dead Winter Carpenters. If any bluegrass traditionalists think these sound more like rock than bluegrass names it is no accident. There is plenty of rocking going on in these jam grass groups. The good aspect of their music for all of us has to do with developing their own fans and exposing more young people to bluegrass influenced music. That definitely ain’t all bad!
Tonight at the Top Hat
Happy Halloween
The latest newsletter.
Nov 3, 2012
6th Bozeman Bluegrass Festival
Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture
Sat: Nov 03, 2012
7:00 pm
The line up is The Kitchen Dwellers, Flatt Cheddar, Holler ‘n Pine, and The Bridger Creek Boys. It is at the Emerson Ballroom, on Sat. Nov 3rd. Music 7-11:30. Food and beverages will be available.