Son Mudanza, of Madison, WI, is a group of friends and activists that have come together sharing their passion for music, cultural autonomy, movement and community. The group, deeply influenced and trained by Son del Centro, a Chicano son group, dedicating its efforts to activism through Son Jarocho music, was created to disseminate culture as a form of resistance. Son Jarocho, originally found in the state and region of Veracruz, on the gulf coast of Mexico, has been practiced for the past 200 years. It is a mixture of Indigenous, African, and Spanish elements, each influenced by various forms of political, economical, and social expressions, leading to manifestations of societal and ideological struggles. Son Mudanza, consisting primarily of graduate students at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, strives to use music as a form of resistance, while simultaneously providing entertainment, education, and an opportunity to dance. In addition to performing music, several of the members also dance.

Son Mudanza plays Saturday, 1pm and hosts a workshop at 2pm.

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Jackstraw was born when rhythm guitarist Darrin Craig and lead player Jon Neufeld, met mandolin picker David Pugh and bassist Jesse Withers in 1997 at Artichoke Music–a Portland guitar store and acoustic music institution. Not long after their formation, Jackstraw recorded their first album and hit the road. Five albums later, Jackstraw is now a Northwest institution. While they typically play bluegrass, Jackstraw also has a deep collection of well crafted originals, and performs honky-tonk and rock ‘n roll as well.

A Jackstraw show is truly an inclusive, multi-generational experience. The band’s devoted following includes bluegrass purists, alt-country fans, kids who want to dance, and people who know a good tune when they hear one. They have shared bills with many bluegrass greats such as Del McCoury and Tim O’Brien and included legends like Danny Barnes (Bill Frisell, Robert Earl Keen, Bad Livers) and Tony Furtado (Earl Scruggs, Alison Krauss) as temporary band mates.

Jackstraw plays Friday at 6pm and again Saturday at 3pm.

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We are proud to have two great bands are set to kick off each day of the Sugar Maple Fest. Ida Jo and the Show on Friday evening (5pm) and The Currach, Saturday at noon (aka the Irish Coffee set). Both bands are from Madison and both are deserving of your attention.

Ida Jo began playing violin at the age of seven and earned the Emerson Scholarship to Interlochen Arts Center at the age of 14. At age 15, she participated in several performances at the Winnipeg Folk Festival at 15. From this background, she developed a distinct style, including utilizing “chopping”, a technique commonly associated with folk fiddle styles. On her debut album, Providence, which was released earlier this year, Ida Jo utilizes a myriad of musical styles and genres, including folk, pop, and rock. She will be joined on stage with The Show that includes Scott Lamps on upright bass and Fred Ecenrode on drums.

The Currach, features Darl Ridgley on bodhrán, Josh Perkins on guitar and Daithi Wolf (of Yid Vicious) on fiddle. This group is a Madison institution in the Irish traditional music scene, as illustrated by the four years of Friday night performances at the Brocach Pub (5:30pm). They are a crowd favorite and are frequently joined by various guest members. If you’ve not seen these boys, make sure to catch them at the Sugar Maple Fest!

Friday, 5:00 – Ida Jo and the Show
Saturday, Noon – The Currach (Traditional Irish)