Some looked forward to 2009 as the year of change, while others argue it’s the same-old, same-old. Ironically, the two themes will fuse December 10 when the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective presents two innovatively charged, traditional music groups at the High Noon Saloon in Madison.

Mountain Heart (from Nashville, TN) and The Hot Seats (from Richmond, VA) simultaneously illustrate their own breakthroughs in traditional music, while reaching deep into the genre’s roots. Perhaps each groups’ sound is not your average pick-and-grin, but rather the echo each others holler across the wide
gorge from which they came.

Both bands make their Madison debut as part of the 2009/10 Sugar Maple Concert Series. Advance tickets are available for $12 at www.high-noon.com, or at the door for $15. Ages 21 and over only.

Sugar Maple Fest Alumns Bob Black (banjo) and Paul Kienitz (fiddle) will be playing two shows featuring all of the tunes from the classic album Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe,” which has been called “one of the best bluegrass records of all time.” Black was the banjo player on the original recording. The band will play a variety of songs and tunes as well in the second set.

The special live tribute will be performed Friday, November 6th at Mother Fool’s Coffehouse in Madison and Saturday, November 7th at the Richland Auditorium.

Bob Black is a master of the five string banjo and a veteran of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys. He has also performed with Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Emmylou Harris, Norman Blake and Rhonda Vincent and played the Grand Ole Opry. Paul Kienitz is one of the finest traditional bluegrass fiddle players in the upper Midwest. Paul has been a long standing member of the award-winning Nob Hill Boys and was a featured performer with a reunion of Blue Grass Boys at the 2008 Sugar Maple Festival.

Bob and Paul will be joined by Mark Hembree on bass (veteran of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys as well, and also the Nashville Bluegrass Band and the Dreadful Snakes with Bela’ Fleck and Jerry Douglas). Brian Ray on mandolin ((This is the) Squirrel Hunters) and John Fabke on guitar (Nob Hill Boys) will complete the line-up for this special Tribute.

Friday, November 6, Mother Fool’s Coffeehouse, 1101 Williamson St., Madison, WI, 8pm – Admission: $10.

Saturday, November 7, Richland Center City Auditorium, 182 N. Central Ave., Richland Center, WI., 7:30pm.

Advanced Tickets: Auditorium Antiques, 182 N. Central Ave., Richland Center, WI Info: 608-649-3456.
*A portion of the proceeds goes to RCPAC (Richland County Performing Arts Council) to fund the Auditorium Rehabilitation Project.*
Tickets: $10.

Listen to Bob Black talk about the show on WRCO! (starts about 6:15)

A quick video clip from last night’s Volunteer Holler featuring Frank Solivan II and Dirty Kitchen.

Saturday, October 3rd at 7pm. Sugar Maple Alumni Mike Compton and David Grier will take the stage at the Wil-Mar Center, 953 Jenifer Street on Madison’s near east side. Advance tickets are available online for only $14.99 or on the day of the show for $20.

If you haven’t heard these two wonderful artists together in concert, prepare to be dazzled! John Hartford once said that Mike Compton knows more about Bill Monroe style mandolin than the Father of Bluegrass himself. We have been fortunate to have Mike in Madison a few times over the past four years, but he always leaves us wanting more. David Grier, athree-time IBMA guitar player of the year, is partnering with Mike on a long overdue reunion tour. Their duet album, “Climbing the Walls”,set the bar for mandolin-guitar duets. Now 20 years have come and gone… Mike has played with the Nashville Bluegrass Band, John Hartford and he won a Grammy award for the “O Brother Where Art Thou” album. David has appeared on two Grammy- winning recordings: “True Life Blues-A Tribute to Bill Monroe” and “The Great Dobro Sessions.” They have both made an indelible mark in acoustic music and we are more than lucky to find Madison on their tour schedule.

This is a show that cannot be missed, but seating at the Wil-Mar is limited, so advanced tickets are strongly recommended.

The Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective will be kicking off the Sugar Maple Concert Series with our 3rd annual Volunteer Holler, Wednesday, September 23rd at the High-Noon Saloon! The concert series as a year-round celebration of the past, present and future of the annual summer Sugar Maple Festival. While the event is open to the public, it offers special nod to more than 100 volunteers who power the non-profit organization and it’s annual summer festival. These volunteers are welcome to attend the event for free.

Headlining the show is former member of the prestigious US Navy Country Current band, Frank Solivan II. Bluegrass Unlimited calls Solivan is “a major talent,” while Bluegrass Breakdown writes, “It would be relatively simple to describe Frank using standard marketing jargon and cliché terms of praise, but his creativity and unparalleled artistry seem to begin where those descriptions leave off” (Bluegrass Breakdown). A multi-instrumental master, Solivan sings with power and passion, writes articulate songs that go straight to the heart, and combines the pure, hard drive of classic bluegrass with twenty-first century sophistication. His quartet Dirty Kitchen, features a venerable line-up of nationally-connected pickers like banjo player Mike Munford, who has toured the world with top notch bluegrass artist like Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, the Rice Brothers
and Lynn Morris.

The show starts at 8pm with Kristy Larson Honky Tonk Trio. Country music historian, author, musician and WORT radio host Bill Malone describes Kristy Larson as “one of the shining lights of Madison roots music”. Her light burns even brighter as she joins forces with husband and multi-instrumentalist Mark Roeder. Together, they’re a midwestern Rawlins and Welch.

The tent stands empty and quiet and another Sugar Maple Festival has come and gone. Each year of the fest builds on the previous year and each takes on its own personality. Previous years have included the “hot year”, the “wet year” and the “insane mosquito year” (as opposed to the normal mosquitos every year). With this year’s record breaking temperature lows and brisk winds, 2009 could be considered the “cool year” but another possibility might be the “easy year”. Everything just seemed to come together especially smoothly and for this, we at the Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective are especially thankful to everyone involved.

First off, big thanks to all of our volunteers. We’ve said it before and we will continue to say it: the fest would not go without you. Your generous contributions of time are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Next, our performers. Your fantastic music and knowledge are the engine of the festival and the reason for it’s existence. This year’s performances were nothing short of fantastic. Thank you.

The festival could not succeed without the considerable contributions from our sponsors. This includes not only their financial contributions, but also their resources and support in the community. Thank you.

The audience at the Sugar Maple Fest is one of the most attentive, responsive and appreciative crowds there is, and is consistently remarked on by bands. Your contribution to the “vibe” of the festival is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

And lastly, to our fellow folks on or associated with the FLTMC board. Thank you for your year-round commitment to this diverse community resource.

Thank you all.

See more pictures from this years fest on our photos page

The Wisconsin State Journal published a nice piece on the Sugar Maple Fest today, calling the fest a “charmer”…

Like the sounds it celebrates, Madison’s Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival maintains its charm and grassroots spirit as the event enters its sixth year. The two-day, family-friendly event specializes in old-fashioned tunes, songs that sound like they were originally aired on bulky radios before television’s launch. ~ Tom Alesia

And from the Onion’s Decider comes more kind words…

In a town that doesn’t hesitate to show its affection for bluegrass, folk, Cajun, or country music, the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival is looking pretty strong going into its sixth year. The annual event (which returns Friday and Saturday to Lake Farm County Park) consistently manages to feature respected artists from across America’s genres of acoustic music, as well as workshops that allow musicians like Madison-raised guitarist Joel Paterson to share their craft in greater depth. Granted, names like this year’s headliner J.D. Crowe And The New South might not mean much at first to those new to these kinds of music, but that’s why Sugar Maple is a good place to start exploring. ~ Scott Gordon

Named for grain-harvesting machinery, The Combine is a powerful driving string band built to fuel great dances. A combination of forces from two renowned Illinois bands, the Volo Bogtrotters and the Allen Street String band, The Combine features fiddlers Lynn “Chirps” Smith and Fred Campeau, Dave Landreth on banjo, and Steve Rosen on guitar. All are prizewinning old-time musicians and veterans of countless dance events and workshops. The Combine first joined forces to play for Seattle’s Wannadance Uptown, then moved cross country for Pinewoods American Dance Week. They are well loved throughout the Midwest and beyond: “mowing your wheat, mowing your clover — nine ways ‘til Sunday.”

Lynn “Chirps” Smith started out playing old-time music on mandolin in the 1970’s with the venerable Indian Creek Delta Boys. Through extensive seeking out and field recording of older fiddlers in rural Illinois, the band preserved a vanishing repertoire of tunes from the pre-radio era. Chirps has continued to share this wealth of traditional dance tunes through his work with the Volo Bogtrotters, New Bad Habits and the myriad musicians of the Chicago Barn Dance Company, and aspiring fiddlers across the country.

Fred Campeau has been a favorite performer of old-time, folk and blues music around Chicago since his early days hosting open mike sessions in the 1970s. He has played with the Chicago Barn Dance Company since its inception in 1978. Equally at home on all string band instruments, he played banjo with the CBDC’s touring band The Polecats. In 1985 he joined with Chirps in creating the double fiddle sound of the Volo Bogtrotters. With The Combine, Fred and Chirps continue to explore and expand the interplay of melody, harmonies and rhythm that make a tune exceptionally danceable.

Dave Landreth has toured and taught old-time banjo for over two decades, as a solo performer and with the Allen Street String band, appearing at festivals, dances, workshops and venues of all sizes. Though based in St. Louis, MO (a long way from Chicago), Dave crossed paths with the Volos often, and the late night jam sessions were truly great. Drafted for The Combine, Dave speedily incorporated his masterful picking into the ensemble’s sound, providing a rolling momentum and lift to the dancing.

Tim Foss will be playing the guitar though he is very well known as an outstanding fiddler. He is form Wisconsin and is a revered treasure. He also plays in New Bad Habits with Chirps and Dave. He is a multi instrumentalist as can be witnessed on his solo cd “The Cat Came Back” where he plays all of the instruments.

The Combine play the Old-Time dance Friday night and at various workshops and jams on Saturday. Bring your dancin’ shoes, and instrument, or both!