Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. Newsletter January/February '10

Fireball Mail

SWBMAI's Got Talent! 1st place winner Pam Martz belted out soulful and classic renditions of vintage country tunes as well as a song of her own composition wowing the holiday party crowd and taking home $150. 4

The Jug Band won both the $100 2nd Place prize and took home the passed hat kitty for the Audience Favorite award. Members inlcude (l to r) Beverly Hills, Arvid Berge, Frank Parks, Scott Knickelbine and Dave Nance.

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3rd Place Winners kept the audience hooked their multimedia rendition of the bluegrass classic “Roses in the Snow.” The group won $50 and in-cluded (l to r) Mitch Rosefelt, Dale Ward, John Jirak, Sandy Nowack, Jim Carrier, little Natalie and Dan Hildebrand (not pictured).

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Catherine Rhyner and Jim Hodges took home Honorable Mention and $25 after performing their signature vintage country duets. Notice Jim's fancy-schmancy tuxedo which he wore to add even more class to his Emcee role.

4Holiday party chair Sharon

Manion posted a video of the winning acts from SWBMAI's Got Talent! See it at: www.youtube.

com/watch?v=NZtzeTCOosI

2 Fireball Mail/January-February '10

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.comDeadline for submissions is the 10th of the

month preceding the month of publication.

SWBMAI is a member of IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) and the

International Bluegrass Music Museum

V o l u m e 2 6 I s s u e 5

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 musicians2) To bring together persons of all ages who enjoy singing, playing and listening to bluegrass music3) To hold regular bluegrass jam sessions4) To publicize information about bluegrass concerts and festivals5) To help younger persons obtain instruments and instruction in bluegrass music6) To introduce bluegrass music to new listeners

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

SWBMAI Board of DirectorsPresident; Marketing and Public Relations – Jean Knickelbine, jeanknick@gmail.com Vice-President – Jim Hodges, 608-884-4278, thumbpik@charter.netActing Secretary – Sharon Manion, James Brocksmith, Julie CherneyTreasurer – Jon Peik, jrpeik@yahoo.com

Attendant Board Members:James Brocksmith, 414-803-7477, paxflyer@earthlink.netJulie Cherney, 608-244-2184, cherney@uwalumni.com

Jim Knobloch, knobhill@chorus.netCatherine Rhyner, 608-835-8117, catherine.rhyner@gmail.com Lane Venden, 608-442-0315, lanevenden@yahoo.comWebmaster (non-voting board member) – Scott Knickelbine, swbmai@gmail.comMembership Chair (non-voting) – Sharon Manion, 608-424-3408, smdw@charter.net

Other Member Volunteers: Dale Ward, Jamie Zahalka, Denise Berge, Mary Helmke, Dave Nance

Board MeetingsThe board meets monthly on the first Thursday at 5:00 pm at Jean & Scott Knickelbine's home, 6233 Countryside Lane., 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 MinutesThe 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 MailPlease 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.

Fireball Mail

2 Fireball Mail/January-February '10 Fireball Mail/January-February '10 3

Celebrate the 65th Birthday of musician, actor, humorist and culinary artist Paul Bentzen at this annual jambalaya and jamming extravaganza. Paul's jambalaya is available through the Spring Green General Store's restaurant beginning at noon. But like all good things it must end; so when it's gone, it's gone. Following in the New Orleans culinary theme is the inclusion of a small, plastic baby doll baked into the free birthday cake which will be handed out during the party. Tradition has it that the person who gets the piece of cake with the teeny doll in it has various privileges and obligations (such as buy-ing the cake for next year's celebration). Paul got the piece with the doll in it last year so we'll have to listen to his tales of privilege and obligation that he accumulated over this past year.

Free admission and birthday cake (while it lasts). Food and beverage available for purchase. Spring Green General Store; 137 South Albany, Spring Green, WI; (608) 588-7070; www.SpringGreenGeneralStore.com

16th Annual Paul Bentzen DayJambalaya at Noon • Jamming at 2:00Spring Green General Store

Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum will appear in concert on Saturday, January 23, at 7:00 pm at the High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Madison. WORT89.9FM will welcome the duo.

The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is promoting the show in conjunction with its Snow Train, February 12-14, in North Freedom, WI. The concert will feature a draw-ing for two free first-class tickets on the Snow Train. (Info: 608-238-6863; www.midcontinent.org)

Fiddler/singer/songwriter Laurie Lewis and her longtime singing partner/mandolin player Tom Rozum are familiar to the Madison bluegrass community from several well-received performances in the past decade. Most recently they headlined Mid-Continent’s 2008 Gandy Dancer Festival with their band The Right Hands.

Laurie received a Grammy award for True Life Blues – The Songs of Bill Monroe, 1997; twice she was the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female

Vocalist of the Year; and Laurie and Tom’s 1996 album The Oak and the Laurel received a Grammy nomina-tion.

Bluegrass giant Sam Bush says of Laurie: “I just think of her as an artist: a great singer, terrific fiddle player, fine songwriter, and one very good band leader.” IBMA executive director Dan Hays says: “She spreads her talent over several genres – bluegrass, folk, country – and with the recognition

she has within all those fields, I would certainly say she’s one of the top five female artists of the last 30 years.”

One of the best sidemen in bluegrass, Tom Rozum is a fine lead vocalist, ace mandolin player and an accom-plished fiddle, mandola and guitar player. Tom and Lau-rie’s harmony singing rivals that of any male-female duo. Add to the mix Tom’s wry, quick sense of humor and you have a stage show renowned for lively, warm, front-porch friendliness. Together, they are superb.

Tickets are $14/Advance (at www.high-noon.com and at the High Noon) and $17 at the door.

Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum Saturday, January 23 • High Noon Saloon, Madisonby Carolyn Hegeler

A photo of Paul Bentzen taken last Spring in Banjo Heaven , aka the banjo room at

Mandolin Bros. on Staten Island.

4 Fireball Mail/January-February '10

A while back I was invited to bring an instrument to a pot-luck party of some friends of mine in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. I brought along my fiddle in the hopes of finding some bluegrass musicians to jam with.

When I arrived at the converted barn where the party was being held, I saw a guitar learning up against the corner, so I sidled up to the guitar’s owner and introduced myself. As I shook howdy with him I asked him what kind of music he played, so I’d know whether our styles would be com-patible. But that’s when the trouble began. As the seconds ticked by, his eyes rolled back in his head, his body started to sway, and a far-away look appeared on his face. Finally he says, “I play music with a POSITIVE message.” I just stood there staring at him. Unable to contain my mischievous side, I said, “well, I play music with a NEGATIVE message.”

Thinking my explanation wasn’t quite complete, I went on to say that “I just love songs of deep pain and suffering.” To put the icing on the cake, I told him “my favorites are songs of dying orphans and homeless widows” and finished it off with “you can’t hardly beat a good murder ballad.” The awkward silence that followed convinced me that our new relationship was in the gutter. I soon excused myself, and slipped off to get lost amongst the other party goers. Needless to say, we did not jam that night. The food at the potluck was so good that I forgot all about picking, and concentrated instead on some serious eating.

In thinking back on that night, I realize that the guitarist at the party must have thought me very strange. Somehow, it wasn’t the time or place to have a serious conversation with him about what, in my opinion, makes a good blue-grass song.

If the time had been right, and he would have been recep-tive, I would have told him that in the kind of music I play (bluegrass, old-time, gospel), most of the songs express the tragic side of life. These are the songs that had the deepest meaning to people whose lives had been hard. I would have said that many of the oldest English and Scot-

tish ballads were about murder and death. Building on the old ballads, most of the music of the 19th century was clearly of the sentimental variety. These tragic songs made their way into popular culture via late 19th century songsmiths who wrote for the popular stage. These professional songwrit-ers had offices in an area of New York City known as Tin Pan Alley. The leading publish-ers printed and sold lavishly illustrated sheet music of these tragic songs.

Eventually, many of these sad laments found their way into the repertoire of some of the same old-time musicians who pioneered the earliest roots of bluegrass. A quick look at the repertoire of such groups as the Carter Family, Charlie Poole

and the North Carolina Ramblers or even Jimmy Rogers will show a strong attraction toward these tragic songs.

When thinking of sad bluegrass songs, there are (of course) thousands of examples. To me, the first one that comes to mind is “Short Life of Trouble.” A short list of but a few of the artists who have recorded this song would include Burnett & Rutherford, Buell Kazee, Grayson & Whitter, Emry Arthur, Wade Mainer & Zeke Morris, the Blue Sky Boys, Ralph Stanley and Earl Taylor.

Portions of this article are from Wayne Erbsen’s book Rural Roots of Bluegrass available from Native Ground Books & Music. www.nativeground.com

What’s Behind the Song: Happy Songs of Sunshine and Light by Wayne Erbsen ©2009

Image by Letoile Photos

Fireball Mail/January-February '10 54 Fireball Mail/January-February '10

Short life of troubleA few more words to part,Short life of trouble dear girl,Poor boy with a broken heart.

Remember what you promisedNot more than a week ago.You promised that you’d marry me,Standing in your mama’s back door. (Chorus)

Now you’ve broken your promiseGo marry who you may.For this old world’s so big and so wide,I’ll ramble back some day. (Chorus)

Now you’ve gone and left meAnd I don’t know what to do.I’ll give this world and half of my lifeJust to be married to you. (Chorus)

I hear the train a-comin’It’s blowing the station blow,I’d rather be dead in some lone some graveyardThan to see my darling go. (Chorus)

Short Life of Trouble

SWBMAI very regretfully accepted Sharon Manion's board resignation a few weeks ago. Sharon has been tireless in her efforts for the association donating thousands of hours for our benefit over the years. (She will continue to work as membership chair through the transition in naming a new one.) She and her husband, Dale Ward, will also continue to be very visible in the local bluegrass scene but they are going to be taking some much deserved time for themselves. Right now they're planning an extended trip to the Pacific North-west that includes kayaking among the orcas. Wow!

Sharon Manion and Dale Ward pose with their

niece last fall outside of a

cabin at Mecan River Outfitters.

6 Fireball Mail/January-February '10

Some years ago I went to a Doc Watson concert at the wonderful opera house in Woodstock, Illinois with the intent of not only hearing the master but also having an audience with him.

I started my cam-paign to see Wat-son with the ticket person who, in turn, sent me to the opera house man-ager who, in turn, explained he had no authority to arrange an audience. He, in turn, put me in con-tact with Doc's road manager. I told the road manager how much I admired Doc and that I wanted to meet him. He told me Doc never granted visits.

"Why not?" I asked. He said, "Well, as you know, Doc is blind and in the past he has been hurt by people who are don't know how to act around blind people."

Quickly I remembered the one-and-only blind person I'd casually known years before. I burst out with "I know blind people! I know how to act properly with them!"

The manager told me that he didn't think a visit would happen and walked away leaving me feeling rejected and dejected. But, I had a great seat and heard a wonder-ful concert by Doc who performed with Jack Lawrence. (Jack is a whole 'nother world picker, too.)

I was on my way out the door after the show ended — happy as can be with the concert, but still disappointed I couldn't visit Doc. Suddenly a hand grasped my shoulder and a voice said "Doc will see you!"

I was led to a door and Doc's manager said, "He's in there" motioning me to go in. I opened the door and

saw Doc sitting in a straight-backed wood chair about twenty feet away. I was striding briskly into the room when I suddenly realized I could see myself. Doc wasn't twenty feet away -- he was only twenty inches away, and I was bearing down on him like a runaway train. The

impression that Doc was on the other side of the room was due to the fact that I was actually seeing him in a mirrored wall!

I watched in horror as my reflected image showed me levitating in mid-air over Doc. I'm not sure how, but somehow I got back to standing in front of him and calmly went right into a conversation. I don't think he ever knew what tragedy almost struck him from behind. So much for my ex-pertise in dealing sensitively with the blind.

I had a wonderful visit with him. He was most gracious. After a good half hour I was beginning to think I was overstaying my welcome and began a departure when he said: "Don't go yet." Doc made it plain he wanted to listen to ME! I had told him how my dad named me for Jimmie Rodgers and he wanted to hear more. Who was visiting whom here?

Just this past Wednesday I was at a restaurant with some geezer friends when at the table behind me sat the very person I was thinking of when I told Doc Watson's road manager I knew blind people. Her name is Darlene. I went and properly introduced myself to renew our acquain-tance. Years before I used to go behind her, put my hands over her eyes, and say "Guess who?" She always knew. I told her the story of how she had helped me get in to see Doc Watson. She wasn't familiar with Doc but boy, did she want know about him! I'm making that happen.

Stay tuned. Jimmie

Levitating Over Doc Watson: Musings from the Titular Vice-Head*

(*Jim Hodges' self-appointed title since being named SWBMAI's Vice President)

Jim Hurst Concert and Workshop January 30, 2010 • MadisonIf you love flat-picking guitar and great musical ar-rangements, you’re in for a treat. Jim Hurst, two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and former member of the Grammy-nominated Claire Lynch Band, comes to Madison Saturday, January 30 for a guitar workshop and concert.

Jim’s mastery of the guitar and expert vocal harmonies earned him membership in Trisha Yearwood’s band, as well as the opportunity to perform with Sara Evans, Travis Tritt, and the McCarter Sisters. As a popular Nashville studio musician, he’s performed and recorded with John Cowan, Mark Schatz, Tim O'Brien, and Sam Bush. Col-laborating with bassist Missy Raines, the duet wowed the bluegrass community and won IBMA Guitar and Bass Player of the year for 2001 and 2002. Jim is a wizard on the guitar, but also is a remark-able frailing banjoist.

His skill as a vocal and guitar instructor makes Jim highly sought-after. He teaches at guitar workshops, clinics, and music camps around the country. So take advantage of this opportunity to learn from and enjoy a concert by this

maestro! For more information about Jim, go to www.jimhurst.com.

Workshop, $60; 1:00 -4:00 pm at the Wil-Mar Neighbor-hood Center, 953 Jenifer St., Madison, WI 53703. For work-

shop registration, e-mail Julie Cherney at cherney@uwalumni.com or call at 608-244-2184.

Some workshop topics include flat-picking and finger-style gui-tar, rhythm and melodies, solos and improvisation, timing, tone, and taste, practice techniques, time management. Emphasis on raising the enjoyment level.

Concert, $10; 8:00 pm at Mother Fool’s Coffee House, 1101 Williamson St., Madison, WI

53703, (608) 259-1301, www.motherfools.com

"There's not a more inventive, talented guitar player in the bluegrass business than Jim Hurst. He brings a world of experience in so many different kinds of music and formats to everything he does."

- Tim Stafford

2009-2010 Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. New Member List

Terry Abney-Bane, AppletonGregg BennettSid Boersma, StoughtonHoward Boersma, Portage Janet & Jim Deeds, Roscoe, ILSteve Dolan, BrookfieldJerry Duncan, Huntley, ILBetty Elsner, StoughtonKye & Julie Fingerson, Monona

Murten & Shirley Hess, HartfordDan Hildebrand, MadisonBeverly Hills & Rick Romer, MadisonJohn Jirak, Madison Claude Kazanski, MadisonBob LilleyCalvin Langdok, Madison Pamela Martz & Family, Lanark, ILSandy Nowak, Madison

Robert E. Olsen, MadisonBen Olson, Wisconsin DellsBarry & Deb Riese, MadisonRandy Tackett , MonroeJeffrey Wagner, German Valley, ILPeter Werts, Madison

Q. A.

What do you say to a banjo player in a three-piece suit?

"Will the defendant please rise?"

Fireball Mail/January-February '10 7

EVERY MONDAYBluegrass, 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 TUESDAYInstructor-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 instruc-tor donation. (Info: SWBMAIjamclass@gmail.com)

1st & 3rd THURSDAYApple Holler Bluegrass Jam & BBQ, 6:00 - 9:00 pm; Apple Holler Restaurant, 5006 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, WI (Info: www.appleholler.com or call 1-800-238-3629)

EVERY THURSDAYBooks & Brew Jam, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Old Junction Mill, 613 W. Madison Ave., Milton, WI Non-amplified acoustic music. (Info: Carla 608-868-3371)

1st FRIDAYKenosha Folk Hootenany, 7:00 - 10:00 pm, Anderson Arts Center informal gathering in an old Lake Michigan mansion, 121 66th. St., Kenosha WI

2nd FRIDAYRon'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 FRIDAYAcoustic Open Mic, Crossroads Coffeehouse, 7:00 - 9:30 pm, 2020 Main St, Cross Plains, WI. Info: joesnare@tds.net or call 608-798-2080) Host: Joe Snare

EVERY OTHER SATURDAYSpirits, 735 S Watertown St, Waupun 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. All playing abilities welcome. (Info: Jeff Smith 920-324-3977)

1st SATURDAYWaukesha Church of Christ, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, 2816 Madison St., Waukesha, WI. Host: Pastor Greg (Info: 262-470-3644)

Riley Tavern, 2:00 pm, 8205 Klevenville-Riley Rd. Between Mt. Horeb & Verona off CTH J. Host: Archie Lowman (Info: 608-845-9150)

2nd SATURDAYR.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 SUNDAYOld Time Acoustic Jam, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Alchemy Cafe, 1980 Atwood Ave., Madison (Info: Scott Knickelbine scottk@lcs-impact.com)

1st SUNDAYFritz & Donna's Orfordville Jam, Noon - 6:00 pm, American Legion Hall, Highway 213, Orfordville, WI (Info: (608) 214-4286)

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 SUNDAYHazelhurst (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, 8705 N. Port Washington, Fox Point, WI (Info: 414-540-1427 http://badgerlandbluegrass.org)

3rd SUNDAYLake Country Jam,1:00 - 4:00 pm. Good Harvest Market, 1850 Meadow Lane, Pewaukee, WI. www.goodharvestmarket.com

4th SUNDAYViroqua Bluegrass & Gospel Music Association Jam, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, Park View Ct, Viroqua, WI (Info: 608-637-3820) 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)

Jams & Open Mic Events January / February 2010

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Festivals, Workshops, Concerts & Special EventsJanuary / February 2010

23 Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, 7:00 – 10:00 pm, High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is presenting the duo in conjunction with Mid-Continent's Snow Train on February 12-14. The concert features a drawing for two free first-class tickets on the Snow Train. $14 in advance at the High Noon or online, $17 day of show.

24 Jim Hodge's 70th Birthday Jam, 1:00 pm, Non-Toxic Teen Center, 512 North Main Street, Edgerton, WI. Please bring a food pantry item.

29-30 Tom O'Neil Educational Endowment Fundraiser, 7:00 pm – 12:00 am, Dulono's Pizza. 607 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN. A dozen bands over two nights performing bluegrass, old-time stringband, and related forms of acoustic music.! Donations will be solicited. All proceeds to benefit the Tom O'Neill Endowment Fund of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association. FREE.

30 Jim Hurst Workshop, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, 953 Jenifer Street, Madison, WI. Two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and former member of the Grammy-nominated Claire Lynch Band. To register call Julie Cherney (608-244-2184) or email her at cherney@uwalumni.com. Space is limited! $60.

30 Cork 'n Bottle String Band, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI. Isthmus Beer & Cheese Fest 2010. The best of both worlds: sample great beer (over 70 different microbrews) & eat fine cheese (over 70 different varieties from all over Wisconsin)! Tickets: $40 on sale now at the Isthmus Office, Star Liquor, Fromagination, The Malt House, & all Steve's Liquor locations.

30 Jim Hurst in Concert 8:00 – 10:00 pm, Mother Fool's Coffee House, 1101 Williamson Street, Madison, WI. $10 at the door. No advance ticket sales.

6 Great American Bluegrass Bash, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am, Majestic Theatre, 115 King Street, Madison, WI. 2nd Annual Great American Bluegrass Bash. Featuring bands that combine traditional bluegrass with innovative improvisation and experimentation to foster the evolution of American acoustic music. Featuring SWBMAI member band SweetGrass. Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 day of show.

10-11 Swamp 'N Grass 2010, 6:00 pm 2/10 – 6:00 pm 2/11, Victorian Village Resort, 279 Lake Street, Elkhart Lake, WI. Featuring SWBMAI member band Art Stevenson & High Water.

13 Paul Bentzen's Jambalaya and Jammin'' 65th Birthday Bash, Spring Green General Store, 3:00 - 6:00 pm, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green, WI. Jambalaya available at noon; jamming starts at 2:00 pm. Free admission and birthday cake (while it lasts). Food and beverage available for purchase.

14 9th Annual United Way Bluegrass Concert, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, Barrymore Theatre, 2090 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI. Featuring SWBMAI member SpareTime Bluegrass Band with ineffable Lorie Docken on bass! And SWBMAI member band Oak Street Ramblers will be putting a chicken in every pot! Tickets available at the door: $10 adults, $5 children ages 5-12 (under 5 free), $20 for the whole family!

14 28th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands, 1:00 – 8:00 pm, Cabooze, 917 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. The oldest jug band gathering in the known universe! Watch 20 bands slug it out. Featuring SWBMAI members Beverly Hills, Arvid Berge, Catherine Rhyner, Dave Bacholl, Lane Venden and Scott Knickelbine performing as the Mad City Jug Band at 4:20 pm. Potluck dinner; bring a dish to pass and food pantry donation.

Jan

Feb

Fireball Mail/January-February '10 9

www.uniontheater.wisc.edu - 608.265.arts Memorial union, 800 langdon street, Madison, wi 53706

Porter and Lou Butts theater Fund

Wisconsin Union Theater

Punch BrothersA super-quintet featuring Chris Thile, formerly of the Grammy-winning Nickel CreekThursday, March 4, 2010, 8 pm

Looking for a cheap date?Want to impress your special someone and not break the bank?

Come check out the Wisconsin Union Theater’s season.

Jazz SeriesLuciana Souza, Cyro Baptista, and Romero Lubambo Friday, February 12, 2010, 8pm

Emerson String Quartet Friday, January 22, 2010, 8pm

Alonzo King’s LINES Contemporary BalletSaturday, February 6, 2010, 8 pm

Red Stick RamblersFriday, February 26, 2010, 8pm Music Hall

Barbara and Frank Manley cultural arts Fund

dane county cultural affairs commission

h. douglas and elizabeth weaver Fund for the Performing arts

Jean hodgin Fund

Lowell and Grace clark Frautschi Fund for the union theater

wisconsin union theater endowment Fund

Fan taylor Fund for the Performing arts

national endowment for the arts & new england Foundation for the arts

An Evening of Broadwaywith Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, and Four Seasons Theatre Orchestra & Chorus Friday, February 19, 2010, 8pm

The Theater Season is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Member Band Schedules November / December 2009

JANUARY20 Truman's Ridge, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL.22 Cream City, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am, Paddy's Pub, 2339 N. Murray Ave. Milwaukee, WI.30 Liberty Bluegrass Band, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Milwaukee Bucks pre-game party, Bradley Center, 1001 North Fourth Street, Milwaukee, WI.30 Art Stevenson & High Water, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Performance Hall, Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts, 208 S. Chestnut Ave., Marshfield, WI.30 SweetGrass, 10:00 pm – 12:00 am, Crystal Corner Bar , 1302 Williamson St., Madison, WI. $5 cover.

FEBRUARY4 Liberty Bluegrass Band, 8:00 – 11:00 pm, Maxie's Southern Comfort, 6732 W. Fairview Ave., Milwuakee, WI.6 Oak Street Ramblers, 9:00 – 10:30 pm, The Alchemy, 1980 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI FREE12 Monroe Crossing, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, State Theater, 88 E. Fourth Street, Zumbrota, MN13 Turtle Creek Ramblers, 9:30 – 10:30 am, Northwoods Care Centre, 2250 Pearl St., Belvidere, IL FREE13 Turtle Creek Ramblers, 1:30 – 2:30 pm, Maple Crest Care Centre, 4452 Squaw Prairie Rd., Belvidere, IL FREE15 Oak Street Ramblers, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, The Malt House, 2609 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI FREE17 Truman's Ridge, 7:30 – 10:00 pm, The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL.19 Monroe Crossing, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, 8000 75th Street N, Mahtomedi, MN20 Monroe Crossing, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Watertown Performing Arts Center, 1001 Hwy 25 NW, Watertown, MN.27 Monroe Crossing, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Paul Bunyan Playhouse, 314 Beltrami Avenue, Bemidji, MN.28 Monroe Crossing with The Woodpicks, 3:00 – 6:00 pm, Kezar Music, 315 Duluth Avenue N, Thief River Falls, MN.

Excerpted from Wikipedia . . .

"Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of country music. It has roots in Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English traditional music. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of immigrants from the United Kingdom and Ireland (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants in Appalachia), and African-Americans, particularly through genres such as jazz and blues. In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and im-provising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns.

This is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument carries the lead throughout while the others provide

accompaniment. Traditional bluegrass is typically based around a small set of acoustic stringed instruments in-cluding mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, resonator guitar and upright bass, with or without vocals.

Bluegrass music has attracted a diverse and extremely loyal following world-wide. Many enthusiasts often de-scribe their introduction to the genre as akin to having 'caught the bug.' Though summaries as the one above are a place to begin exploring this rich tradition, many 'hardcore' musicians and listeners of bluegrass balk at such sterile portraits.

In the words of the accepted 'father of bluegrass,' Bill Monroe, bluegrass is 'Scotch bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound. It's plain music that tells a good story. It's played from my heart to your heart, and it will touch you. Bluegrass is music that matters.'"

Fireball Mail/January-February '10 11

12 Fireball Mail/January-February '10

Talent Show Honorees Going to Battle of the Jug BandsSunday, February 14 • Minneapolis

The band that took 2nd Place (as well as the Audi-ence Choice Award) at the SWBMAI’s Got Talent! competition is going on to the Battle of the Jug Bands in Minneapolis on February 14th.

Billed as “The Oldest Jug Band Gathering in the Known Universe,” the Battle of the Jug Bands draws contestants from across the Midwest to compete for the coveted Waffle Iron traveling trophy. The potluck event also raises donations for the Emergency Food Network, and is one of the largest donor events for that organization. The day's fun is held at The Cabooze Lounge, 917 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis.

SWBMAI honorees Arvid Berge, Beverly “Kween of the Kazoo” Hills and Scott Knickelbine will be joined by Catherine Rhyner (mandolin), Lane Venden (fiddle), Dave Bacholl (bass) and Denise Berge (washboard) for the Valentine’s Day jug-fest, performing at 4:20 pm as

The Mad City Jug Band. The group is one of three Wis-consin bands to get a coveted slot in the competition.

Not many people realize that jug band music was one of the precursors of bluegrass, according to band organizer Scott Knickelbine. “The first jug bands were string bands that were typically composed of guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle, with a jug standing in for the bass,” Knickelbine said. “Bands like Cannon’s Jug Stompers and the Memphis Jug Band were adding first blues and jazz influences to traditional string band music way back in the 20s. Songs like ‘Sitting on Top of the World,’ ‘John Henry’ and ‘Bugle Call Rag’ were recorded by jug bands before they were record-ed by bluegrass bands,” he said.

More information on the Battle of the Jug Bands can be found at http://jugbandbattle.net/home.html.

Fisher House Marathon Bluegrass Jam FundraiserSaturday, February 27 • Eau ClaireThe Fisher House Charities have been providing free or very inexpensive room and board to the families of soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors who are convalescing at military or VA hospitals away from their homes.

Bluegrass musicians nationwide have taken up this very worthwhile cause and have held Marathon Jam Sessions for the last six years en-couraging pledges and donations.

The first Marathon Jam Session in Wisconsin will be on Saturday, February 27th, noon until 9:00 pm. It is produced by the Bluegrass Jammers and support-ed by Burger King Restaurants. It will be held at the

Burger King Restaurant, London and Golf Road, Eau Claire. If you can’t attend the event, donation checks

can be made payable to Fisher House, Minneapolis and mailed to: Fisher House Marathon Jam, c/o R. Galvin, P.O. Box 316, Birchwood, WI, 54817.

Or, stop by the Burger King at London and Golf Road, Eau Claire on Feb. 27th and drop a dollar or two in the pot and make those jammers keep playing!

All bluegrass bands and musicians are invited to play and jam. Call

715-834-8565 or 715-828-1655 with event questions. Further info: www.fisherhouse.org.

Fireball Mail/January-February '10 13

Nashville may be 600 miles away, but this group of local songwriters is gaining inspiration from MusicCity as members of the Madison chapter of the Nash-ville Songwriters Association International.

Country singer-songwriter Gerry Grothues, 46, of Bel-leville, who in 2002 briefly had a song on the charts of a Nashville music industry publication, started the Madison chapter three years ago. The group meets monthly for three hours in space donated by the recording studio Paradyme Productions above Kelley's Market on West Washington Avenue. The group gets a songwriting lesson prepared by a pro-fessional musician in Nashville, then they consult via Skype WebCam and critique each other's lyrics.

Members perform their songs live or play recordings on CD. The songwriters pass out lyric sheets sotheir colleagues can follow along and give feedback.

NSAI was formed by three Nashville songwriters in 1967 and has more than 8,000 members worldwide. The nonprofit trade association helps develop professional and amateur songwriters working in all genres of music. Member-ship costs $150 a year, but inter-ested songwriters can attend two meetings for free. There

are 148 chapters in the NSAI, but the Madison group is "probably is one of the strongest groups in the Nash-ville Songwriters," accomplished Nashville songwriter Tirk Wilder said.

For more information call (800) 321-6008 or visit: http://nashvillesongwriters.com/

A Warm Welcome to Old Cool

Group offers criticism, support for songwritersExcerpted from a Wisconsin State Journal article by Samara Kalk Derby

Join Old Cool on a musical road trip through Americana, classic country, bluegrass and a bit of gypsy jazz. This acous-tic band performs cool new renditions of old cool songs, along with a few old treasures in their classic form. Old Cool features strong vocals, and more than a hundred years of combined experience in guitar and fiddle. Energy. Passion. Great music with beautiful arrangements.

The band has been playing together for two years now. Members include Sandy Nowack belting out vocals, Mark Kunkel on guitar, Bob Lilley on bass, Gregg Bennett doing double duty on fiddle and dobro, and Dan Hildebrand on guitar. The group has just recently added multi-instrumentalist Dale Ward who will focus on the mandolin as well as John Jirak who is now the group's banjo man.

P.O. Box 7761 Madison, WI 53707-7761

Attn: Fireball Mail

S e n d c h a n g e o f a d d r e s s t o :

The Fireball Mail is a publication of the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. Visit our web site at www.swbmai.org

Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association Inc.

When sending her regrets for the holiday party, Margaret Kmiotek also sent this 1986 photo featuring Ken Connors, Fred Newmann, Stan Kmiotek, Ellen Tyler, and Norris & Alice Tibbetts of the After Five Bluegrass Band who played every Tuesday at 5 p.m. for over 20 years.

Above the Town – Jerry Loughney; 262-510-1128, jerry@ abovethetown.comAlzen Family Bluegrass Band – Brad Alzen; 715-749-3977, bwalzen@pressenter.comArt Stevenson & High Water – Art Stevenson; 715-884-6996, artstevenson@tds.netBig Cedar – Marty Burch 262-338-6954 or Keith Keehn; 262- 338-0538, mdrbears@aol.comCream City Bluegrass and Gospel Music – Harvey Riekoff; 262-497-3024, tjbanjo@wi.rr.com, http://creamcitybluegrass.netDown from the Hills – Pat Downing; 608-527-2472, downhome@tds.neteleike – Michael Bell; 608-238-2223, mike@michaelmbell.net, www.michaelmbell.net/eleike-presskit.htmThe Front Porch Boys – Tom Nowlin; 262-719-2991, dr_geo_@ yahoo.com, www.frontporchboys.comThe Henhouse Prowlers – Ryan Hinshaw; 847-924-5298, contact@henhouseprowlers.comThe High 48s – Eric Christopher; 651-271-4392, eric@ thehigh48s.comJefferson County Bluegrass Band – Dale Ward; 608-712-8054, http://jeffersoncountybluegrass.comLiberty Bluegrass Band – James Brocksmith; 414-803-7477, www.libertybluegrass.com

Monroe Crossing – Art Blackburn; 763-213-1349, art@ monroecrossing.comNew Bad Habits – Chirps Smith; chirpsdot@aol.comNorthern Comfort – Tony Hozeny; 608-215-7676, thozeny46@ sbcglobal.netOak Street Ramblers – Jeff Schoen; 608-669-3991, kunklej@gmail.comOld Cool – Dan Hildebrand; 608-836-3045, danraster@gmail. com, www.oldcoolmusic.com'Round the Bend – Fred Newmann; 608-238-6863, fnewmann@wisc.edu Spare Time Bluegrass Band – Bobby Batyko; 608-575-9945, bbatyko1@tds.netSweetGrass – Trent Cuthbert; 608-658-6353, sweetgrasspickin@ gmail.com, www.myspace.com/sweetgrasspickinTangled Roots – Marty Marrone; 651-295-1376, marty@tangled rootsbluegrass.comTruman's Ridge – Bruce Wallace; 815-603-1441, trumansridge@ yahoo.comTurtle 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/

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