The legendary Tuesday night Top Hat bluegrass jams are back.
Date: Tuesday (weekly)
Time: 7-9pm
Price: FREE
Description: This jam is hosted by Al Byrd and Larry Gangi, Sr. All levels are welcome. Keep it acoustic.
Address:
134 W Front St
Missoula, MT 59801
406-728-9865
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see bluegrass reference at 3:06
Thanks to Fred for posting this funny on facebook. Ok, the next funny will not be a banjo slam… promise.
Weekly Bluegrass pickin’ circleDay: Thursdays
Time: 6-9pm
Place: Tangled Tones Studio
2005 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 396-3352
Price: Suggested donation $1
Description: All acoustic bluegrass musicians of all levels welcome. Bring your guitars, dobros, basses, banjos, fiddles and your smiling faces and join us for an evening of sharing bluegrass tunes.
For immediate release: September 30, 2011
Press Info: Judy McDonough, JEMMedia (615) 243-5994, mcdonoughmedia1@yahoo.com
STEVE MARTIN & THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS NAMED IBMA ENTERTAINERS OF THE YEAR
On the strength of a busy touring schedule, a string of national television appearances and the release of a new album, Rare Bird Alert on Rounder Records, Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers took home the Entertainer of the Year award at the 22nd annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Thursday night, September 29 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Martin, who always included banjo picking in his early stand-up comedy routines, has become more serious about recording and performing bluegrass music during the past two years, with the release of two albums of original music.
Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers, a young group based in North Carolina named IBMA’s Emerging Artist of the Year in 2007, played “Me and Paul Revere” during the Awards Show—a song Martin wrote from the perspective of Revere’s horse and performed on national television at the Capitol 4th Concert in Washington, D.C. July 4. There’s always been something a little magic about fiddle and banjo music, and Martin’s deft clawhammer style underscored by Nicky Sanders’ exuberant fiddling and soaring three-part vocal harmony from the Rangers definitely did the trick.
Martin appeared at the microphone to receive the bluegrass music industry’s highest music award, leapt a few times into the air, congratulated the other Entertainer of the Year nominees and jokingly thanked them for losing. He went on to thank producers John McEuen and Tony Trischka as well as his band mates, and then he talked about how hard they’ve been working on their music, as well as the humor and entertainment aspects of their show, while trying to never denigrate the music. Martin said that while half of their audience usually comes to see him, not knowing anything about bluegrass, “They all leave loving it, and maybe they seek out other musicians. We’re really, really honored to win this award tonight.”
Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer, Woody Platt quipped, “Working with Steve, we might be the most entertained of all. Most of all we thank Steve for giving us this most amazing ride.”
…Read the rest of this article…
The 2011 International Bluegrass Awards:
Don’t forget the 5th Annual Big Sky Big Grass Bluegrass Festival this weekend.
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band ( Missouri Ballroom Friday 2/18 9:15pm w/ Crooked Still and Emmitt?Nershi Band $25) Grammy?award winner and five?time Grammy nominee, Peter Rowan is a bluegrass singer?songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, and following his stint in Old & In the Way with Jerry Garcia and subsequent breakout as both a solo performer and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through his continuous stream of original recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring. On the road, Rowan performs internationally as a solo singer?songwriter and the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band, a quartet featuring Jody Stecher, Keith Little, and Paul Knight.
Emmitt –Nershi Band (Missouri Ballroom Friday 7:30pm $25 Whiskey Jack Saturday 11pm $15) With years of collective experience under their belts, Drew Emmitt and Bill Nershi exemplify the forward? thinking modern bluegrass musician. As linchpins of two legendary jam?bands ?? Drew with Leftover Salmon, Bill with the String Cheese Incident??both men have done the stadium?filling, high?profile rock ‘n’ roll thing to perfection. Along the way, however, they’ve honed their songwriting and playing chops and studied the bluegrass, rock and jazz masters they admire. Above all, Drew and Bill have shared a commitment to keeping music human?scaled and hones
Infamous Stringdusters (Whisky Jack Friday 11pm $15– Whiskey Jack Sunday 9:30pm ) The Infamous Stringdusters are the new vanguard of acoustic music. Well crafted songs, vivid arrangements, instrumental virtuosity, stunning improvisation, unique individuality and complete harmony… Bluegrass, Rock, Country, Blues, Folk, and Jazz, the “IS†is American Acoustic Music. ’ Fork in the Road was named Album of the Year by the International Bluegrass Musicm Association. Its title named Song of the Year, and the band itself earned the honor of best emerging artist in a competitive field.
Crooked Still (Missouri Ballroom Friday 6:00pm, $25 Talus Room at the Summit Hotel, Saturday 7:15 pm $10) Crooked Still is now on the cusp of a new musical chapter. The quintet became five with the addition of fiddler Brittany Haas and Tristan Clarridge on cello and second fiddle. With Haas and Clarridge, the band has proven themselves to be even more adventurous, breathing their cosmic fire into old songs. O’Donovan says. “Brittney adds another female presence to the band; I can hear my voice in her fiddling. Tristan has a refined cello tone, with a powerful, restrained energy. They bring a fresh outlook to the arrangements that keep the music
exciting.
Great American Taxi ( Whiskey Jack Sunday 10:30 pm $15) Great American Taxi has been equated with roots rockers like the New Riders of the Purple Sage, Grateful Dead, Wilcox, Uncle Tupelo, The Byrds, and LittleFeat. Herman finds the comparisons flattering. “We’re definitely connected to all the acts in the country/rock spectrum, as well as the spirit of Gram Parsons and Woody Guthrie,†he says. “We want to address the issues appropriate to our times, while making music that gets people up and moving.†They’ve made their reputation as an exciting live band, willing to invite the audience on stage for impromptu jams and sing?alongs. “When strangers join in to sing and play, you don’t know what’s going to happen,†Herman grins. “It keeps you on your toes musically and brings out feelings of camaraderie and community.â€
Two Bit Stringband, Bluebird Sky, 8 Party Line and Random Canyon Growlers round out this year’s line?ups. These artists represent our local /regional community and present blends of traditional music with bluegrass and old time influences. You will be delighted by adventurous instrumentation, sweet harmonies, and savvy improvisational prowess.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
2:30 p.m. (show) 2:00 p.m. (doors open)
Pilgrim Church, 2118 South Third Avenue, Bozeman
TICKETS : (only at door) $15 general / $13 BFS & seniors / $5 children 5-12
CONTACT : Rik James (406) 586-4123Â (406) 586-4123 D28Rik@msn.com
Each winter, Chicago’s Special Consensus, led by banjo veteran Greg Cahill, has braved the elements to come to Montana to perform. And this year, Bozeman happens to be one of their stops, this time for an afternoon show.
This road tested, award winning group, also known as the “Special C” band, is a traditional hard-driving bluegrass quartet. And their leader, Greg Cahill, has mentored dozens of musicians along the way. This year the band celebrates its 35th anniversary, and it has released its 15th album, succinctly titled “35,” on Compass Records. The new album features six songs from previous out-of-print recordings, and six songs newly recorded with the most recent band lineup of Greg Cahill on banjo and vocals, Rick Faris on mandolin and vocals, David Thomas on bass and vocals, and Ryan Roberts on guitar and vocals. Songs from all of the band recordings since 1998 have appeared on the National Bluegrass Survey chart in Bluegrass Unlimited and on the charts in Bluegrass Now.
The current Special Consensus is regarded as one of the best bands Greg has ever put together. Rick Faris plays mandolin and sings lead, baritone, tenor and high baritone vocals. David Thomas plays bass and sings lead, baritone, tenor and high baritone vocals. Ryan Roberts plays guitar and sings lead, baritone, bass and tenor vocals. Ryan, David, and Rick are tasteful players and strong singers who not only pull off any of the standard bluegrass repertoire, but are also writing their own songs.
Chicago born and bred, Greg Cahill has been playing bluegrass banjo since the early 1970s and formed The Special Consensus in 1975. He has composed many banjo instrumentals and released three albums featuring his unique style: Lone Star (1980) with guests Jethro Burns and Byron Berline, Blue Skies (1992) with fellow Chicagoan Don Stiernberg, and Night Skies (1998) with Don and guests Sam Bush, Glen Duncan and Tom Boyd. In addition to conducting workshops at festivals, teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and teaching banjo at music camps, Greg has released four instructional videos/DVDs. He served as Vice Chairperson of the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Board of Directors for several years and was elected President/Board Chair of that organization in 2006.
More information at their web site: http://www.specialc.com
For more information about concerts in general,
call Rik James at (406) 586-4123 (406) 586-4123
Put on by Bozeman Folklore Society