Shotgun Party returns to Madison to headline the 2010 Sugar Maple Festival Kick Off Concert at the High Noon Saloon, Friday, April 30th. The show also features Frog Water (2009 alumns) and Jim James and the Damn Shames. During the show we will be announcing the lineup for the 2010 Sugar Maple Fest and you’ll be able to purchase the ever popular extremely early, early bird special price on a weekend pass for only $20! The Kickoff Concert starts promptly at 8pm (21 and up) and is a modest $10 cover charge.

The original Shotgun Party trio met in a little Texas dive bar in 2006. They got their start performing weekly at Austin’s own Continental Club. Sparks flew and now Shotgun Party, the Austin based trio, really knows how to fire up a crowd! Their original songs are beautiful and timeless drawing influences from early blues, country, bluegrass and depression era swing. Katy Rose Cox’s fearless fiddling is simply virtuosic. Miss Jenny Parrott’s gorgeous vocals and addictive songs will bring you to your knees …and
introducing Shotgun Party’s newest member, (and Madison native) Andrew Austin-Petersen on show stopping upright bass! The group became an instant sensation at the 2009 Sugar Maple Music Festival!

Frogwater features a cross-pollination of musical styles: Celtic, Bluegrass, old-time, and blues. Their performances are particularly influenced by their love of Irish and Scottish music. Alongside Susan Nicholson’s flashing fingers on the fiddle, husband John adds his prowess on Celtic, Blues, and fingerstyle guitar.

Jim James and the Damn Shames started playing together in Madison in 2002. UW Grad Student and freelance arts & science writer James Travis leads the quartet’s original Americana Rock tunes that suit the front porch to the main stage.

8PM: Frogwater
9PM: Jim James & The Damn Shames
10PM: Shotgun Party