Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective in collaboration with SWBMAI is proud to sponsor Steep Canyon Rangers, in concert Friday, Mar. 2 at 8pm at the First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave, Madison.

Tickets are $20 each, and may be purchased at the SWBMAI website via paypal, or in person at Lane’s Lutherie, 2345 Atwood Ave. in Madison. Seating is limited so please purchase your tickets in advance.

The Steep Canyon Rangers have been performing together since 2001, when they started picking during their college days at Chapel Hill, SouthCarolina. In recent years they have toured as a quintet, and also with actor and bluegrass musician Steve Martin. They have released six cds as the Steep Canyon Rangers with a seventh to be released by Rounder Records this March.

They are currently nominated for a Grammy and are reigning as 2011 IBMA entertainers of the year.

An event for all traditional music fans featuring the “Dean of Country Music” historian Bill Malone and his new “excellent and affectionate biography” of Mike Seeger. Mike touched the lives and careers of many traditional music artists and fans. During his concert at the 2008 Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival Mike Seeger was humble and awe inspiring at the same time.

Now Sugar Maple Fest emcee and pre-eminent traditional music historian Bill Malone has written a biography detailing his fascinating life. Join Bill Malone in conversation and concert with Hank Sapoznik, as they discuss Bill’s new book Music from The True Vine: Mike Seeger’s Life and Musical Journey and play Mike’s music with Tim Meehan on fiddle, Thursday January 26 at 7pm at the UW-Memorial Library, Room 126

Evan Murdock, former FLTMC President, and previously of the Lonesome Rogues and the Kentucky Waterfalls returns to the High Noon Saloon with his newest band: Evan Murdock and the Imperfect Strangers. The band includes members of the Cork n’Bottle String band, Count this Penny and North Country Drifters and Big Mouth Collective and is being advertised as music you might like.

It wont cost you much to find out, $4.00 gets you in the door, at the High Noon Saloon , Tues. Nov 1 from 6:30-9:30.

The James King Band , led by James King, the bluegrass story teller will be headed through the area and stopping to play the intimate Roxbury Tavern, northwest of Madison in the town of Roxbury. If you haven’t seen James King sing, you are in for a treat, he is truly bluegrass to the core and should not be missed. Only 50 tickets will be sold!

James King Band at Roxbury Tavern
7 to 9 PM on Oct. 2nd
$10
tix available at Roxbury Tavern or email
bbatyko1 [at] gmail [dot] com

Mike Compton will be playing a VERY rare solo performance at the Cafe Carpe, in Fort Atkinson, on Wednesday, Sept 21st (8pm). Mike will be playing and singing tunes off of his soon to be released solo record, including many of his unreleased original tunes.

You’ve probably heard Mike’s mastery of the mandolin from his work on two award winning projects: “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” and “Down From the Mountain”. And maybe you’ve caught him with The John Hartford String Band (or maybe with John himself!), The Nashville Bluegrass Band, or with Elvis Costello. But unless you live in Australia, you’ve probably not seen his solo show.

Now’s your chance!

The Carpe is in downtown Fort Atkinson, right off the Rock River and features excellent food, great beers and a great sounding, intimate listening room. Seating is very limited at the Carpe so reservations are recommended.

To reserve seats ($10) call the carpe at 920-563-939.

Former FLTMC President and rogue beard at large, Evan Murdock has shared many photos from this year’s Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival. Have a peek!

Please join us Friday, Aug 19, 2011 at 9pm at the Crystal Corner Bar for an evening of rockabilly, roots, & Bluegrass from Nashville with Sugar Maple fest alumni Jeff & Vida! This is their first show in Madison since their debut at the 2007 Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival. And this time, they have their full, five-piece band as featured on their 2010 release “Selma Chalk” heralded by Bluegrass Unlimited “contemporary bluegrass at its finest.” Sharing the stage is Madison’s native folk son, Josh Harty, and his band!

The first 40 Festival Volunteers & Friends (ages 21+) sporting an official Sugar Maple t-shirt get FREE admission! And perhaps a party favor, or two, but you’ll have to join us to find out. Grab your Sugar Maple shirt, and a friend or two, as we celebrate the volunteers and friends who make the Sugar Maple Trad. Music Fest a huge success!

Hello fans and friends,

Every year as the fest comes to a close there is a sense of relief that we get a small break before gearing up for the next year, and a sense that we did it again… we put together an awesome festival with a barebones volunteer board, brought in a heck of a line up, and along with countless fest volunteers for two days worked our hearts out. This year was no different, anyone who left before Karl and the Country Dutchmen missed a super fine show, and as I sat at the back of the tent in my perch at the mercantile, watching the tuba rock on… I was sad that it was over so quickly. I am home today with only a few loose ends to tie up, and no pressing fest business, only a promise that next year August 3rd and 4th , if karma is in my favor I will be there again, this festival truly holds a piece of my heart and I hope many of you feel the same way…. Okay so enough of my emotional, sad little ramblings….

FLTMC , the nonprofit producers of The Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival need to thank the following people:

Board members: Bob Batyko; President… Mark Schlutt; treasurer…. Kirsten Moore; Secretary… Stephanie Ramer; board member … Brian Ray; board member, Uber-Volunteers… Pat Logterman, Peter Bernstein, Al and Claudia Watson, Graphic Designer; Allyson Casey, our artists, emcee; interviewers, jam tenters, food vendors, Dane County Parks, festival volunteers, and about a thousand other folks.

If we owe you thanks, Thanks, if we owe you money, the check is in the mail …. I promiseJ.

We have lost and found- so if you have lost something email us and we will check our inventory. We hold on to things for a month or so and then donate or divide up the good stuff.

If you have comments, suggestions, concerns, let us know.

Thanks and we will see you on the flip side,

Theresa
FLTMC Board Vice President
Merchandise queen.