Although Jordan Kroeger (bass) and Ryan Ogburn (mandolin) began their musical relationship in the Wisconsin jamband scene, Chicken Wire Empire began as a 4 piece traditional bluegrass band in Milwaukee, WI.  The band honed its traditional sound, encapsulating it in 2014 with their debut album Chicken Wire Empire.  With half of the group rooted in bluegrass, and the other half steeped in jamband music, a change occurred when CWE performed an Old & In The Way tribute show.  With the addition of Jon Peik (banjo), Ernest Brusubardis IV (fiddle), and Greg Brundage (guitar), a new sound was found in Milwaukee, and Chicken Wire Empire joined the roster of high energy jamgrass.   

Chicken Wire Empire has been blessed with opportunities to share the stage with renowned musicians (Yonder Mountain String Band, 30db, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Big Wu, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades) and performing in many regional festivals (Blue Ox and Boats & Bluegrass).  With support from their local scene, friends, and families, Chicken Wire Empire looks to the future, with a goal to strengthen Wisconsin’s bluegrass scene, and further the appreciation of acoustic music.

We’re thrilled to welcome Chicken Wire Empire to the Sugar Maple Music Festival on Saturday, August 7. Tickets on sale here.

On Saturday, Aug. 1, Appalachian Roadshow will play the 17^th Annual Sugar Maple Music Festival. Appalachian Roadshow honors the music, traditions and history of the Appalachian people and regions. The group is comprised of banjoist Barry Abernathy, mandolinist-extraordinaire Darrell Webb, Grammy-award winning fiddler Jim Vancleve, and legendary upright bassist Todd Phillips. On guitar is Zeb Snyder, a young phenom taking acoustic guitar circles by storm.

~written by Kimberly Schmitt

Fronted by banjoist, singer and songwriter Gina Furtado, the Gina Furtado Project lays heavy emphasis on catchy, relatable, original material that spans the gamut from bluegrass to swing to gypsy jazz and beyond. 

Twice nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year, Gina began touring up and down the east coast in her tween years with her siblings, earning countless ribbons from fiddlers conventions, a strong reputation in the regional bluegrass scene, and a stamp from Bluegrass Today as “absurdly talented”. 

Her debut album, True Colors, was released in September 2017 and debuted at #13 on Bluegrass Billboard Charts, and boasts two #1 songs on Bluegrass Today Charts. Never one to drop the ball, she followed quickly with a second album, “I Hope You Have a Good Life”,  which was released in September 2019 and debuted at #6 on Bluegrass Billboard Charts. No Depression promptly declared the project to be “fun, energetic and riveting.”

Don’t miss the Gina Furtado Project at the 2020 Sugar Maple Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 1. 

~written by Kimberly Schmitt

Get set to see and hear some of the world’s most accomplished musicians — and then grab your instrument and make music with them!

Scheduled jams kick-off Saturday with the bluegrass Bloody Mary jam at the Roots & Reasons stage. This year’s featured jam leaders include
Wood & Wire (bluegrass), Hubby Jenkins (old-time) and Jeffrey Broussard (Cajun). Don’t miss this opportunity!

Check out the jam tent schedule at
https://sugarmaplefest.org/2019-festival-schedule/