If you enjoyed the jam tents at the Sugar Maple Music Festival, then you don’t want to miss the Fall String Gathering!

A weekend of traditional, old-time, bluegrass, Irish, and Cajun music-sharing; organized by musicians, for musicians. Open to all skill levels and acoustic instruments.

Hosted at the Clarion Convention Center in Baraboo, WI, the gathering will feature impromptu jamming as well as several scheduled jams and a washtub bass workshop.

November 16-18, 2018

Friday 6 pm – Sunday 11 am

Friday 7:30 – 9:00 pm  Gypsy Jazz Jam – 4th floor

?Sat 10:00 – 11:30 am  – Slow/Half Speed Jam – 5th floor

Sat 1:00 – 2:30 pm   Irish Session – 4th floor?

Sat 2:00 – 3:00 pm Washtub Bass Workshop – 5th floor?

Sat 3:00 – 4:30 pm   Cajun Circle – 5th floor

The String Gathering provides an opportunity for bluegrass and old-time musicians across Wisconsin, its bordering states and beyond, to come together and celebrate their common love of music.

More information at String Gathering

Chulrua (pronounced cool-ROO-ah) is an internationally acclaimed trio of the most respected and unique exponents of Irish traditional music. Their music, which is comprised of the old instrumental dance melodies of Ireland: jigs, reels, and hornpipes, will transport you to the Emerald Isle and make you dream of Erin. Button accordion icon Paddy O’Brien is a true master and is revered by Irish music aficionados worldwide. Together with Dale Russ (fiddle) and Brian Miller (guitar and vocals) they have almost 70 years of experience performing at community fairs and festivals, colleges and universities, folk clubs, and a variety of other venues—doing concerts, workshops, dances, and school residencies all over the United States. Chulrua concerts are in keeping with the old tradition—music in a relaxed, intimate atmosphere, and tunes offered as they were handed down from generation to generation in Ireland. Prepare to be enchanted and delighted. You may even catch yourself doing a jig.

You can catch Chulrua several times during the festival-performing on the Main stage and in a more intimate, workshop setting on the Roots & Reasons stage Friday night!

The Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective will host the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival Kick Off Show on Friday, May 6th, 9:00 PM at the High Noon Saloon, in Madison, Wisconsin. The kick off show with feature two artists that played the Festival last year: The Modern Sounds and the Currach.

The Modern Sounds is a Chicago based trio featuring Joel Paterson on guitar and vocals; Beau Sample on string bass and vocals; Alex Hall on drums and vocals. This big little band is dedicated to performing traditional American music; specializing in rockabilly, hot jazz, western swing, classic blues and everything in between.

The Currach, features Darl Ridgley on bodhrán, Josh Perkins on guitar and Daithi Wolf on fiddle. This group is a Madison institution in the Irish traditional music scene, treating audiences with lively jigs and reels—“the stuff that’s been played in Irish pubs for hundreds of years,” according to Daithi Wolfe.

During the show, fans will have the opportunity to purchase weekend passes to the 2011 Sugar Maple Festival at a special Kick Off Show price of only $25! Amongst the acts lined up for this year’s Fest are Chulrua, a traditional Irish band who delivers music that has been handed down from generation to generation in Ireland, and folk legend Greg Brown, whose songwriting has been recorded by the likes of Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin, and many more.

As a special Saint Patrick’s Day treat, we’re announcing that traditional Irish band Chulrua will be playing this year’s fest!