Friday’s Line Up

Eddie Biebel and AJ Srubas

Eddie Biebel and AJ Srubas are a dynamic acoustic guitar, fiddle, vocal duo that perform an entertaining variety of Old-Time Country Music, which includes everything from Bob Wills to Bob Dylan to songs and tunes written before the Civil War. Eddie’s masterful guitar playing and warm baritone voice along with AJ’s stellar fiddling and down home vocals make a magical combination that captivates audiences wherever they perform. Though there are only two of them, Eddie and AJ put out a wall of music that will make you think there are ten people on stage. Eddie Biebel has been singing and playing guitar for over forty years and has played with master fiddler Vassar Clements, string wizard Mark O’Conner, mandolin virtuoso Jethro Burns and the multi-talented Country artist Vince Gill. AJ Srubas has played and performed on the fiddle since age12 with his family band. He has won several competitions around the state of Wisconsin and has traveled, on more than one occasion, to Ireland to soak up one of the many great styles of fiddle playing he loves.

The Tillers

The Tillers got their start in August 2007 when Cincinnati friends Mike Oberst, Sean Geil, and Jason Soudrette began thumping around with some banjos and guitars and a big wooden bass. They were clearly recovering punk rockers and their punk influence gave their sound a distinctive bite, setting them apart from most other folk acts- a hard-driving percussive strum and stomp that brought new pulse and vinegar to some very old songs. But their musical range soon proved itself as they floated from hard-tackle thumping to tender graceful melody, all the while topped by Oberst and Geil’s clear tenor harmonies. Magnetic showmen, mature musicians, and colorful storytellers, the band wears many hats. Their sound has proven to be an appropriate fit with a wide range of musical styles- traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock and anything else they might run into.

Robbie Fulks

Robbie Fulks write music. His songwriting is one part artful country, one part artful sendup of country and one part a little of everything else. But he is more than a songwriter. He’s a gifted guitarist, a soulful singer, and a natural performer. His performances feature a warm, wry wit and he is clearly one of America’s most unjustly unsung singer-songwriter. Like all great country songwriters, Fulks’s trademark is a manipulation of language: by rearranging the meanings of simple phrases, cracking a whiplash of wordplay, and carefully arranging rhymes within rhymes, he effectively demonstrates that no other conceivable structure would serve the song so well. When the dust settles on this year’s Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival, you may not be able to find a more intricate and perceptive example of intelligent songwriting.

Saturday’s Line Up

The Tillers

See Friday’s lineup…

Les Bassettes

Les Bassettes play traditional Cajun music from Southwest Louisiana. Drawn together by their appreciation for the older musical styles, songs and language of Acadiana, Les Bassettes are versatile musicians who delight in all facets of the Cajun tradition, from unaccompanied ballads to Cajun swing and country songs, back-porch fiddle tunes and traditional dancehall standards. With three female vocalists on guitar, accordion and double fiddles, their music is unique and varied while still being deeply rooted in the Cajun music tradition. The name “Les Bassettes” (pronounced lay bah-set) is a Cajun French term for petite females. It is not only a description of the band members, but is also a reminder of the richness and uniqueness of the Cajun language, which is a vital part of both the music and culture of Southwest Louisiana.

Joan Soriano

Born in the rural countryside near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Joan Soriano fashioned his first guitar from a tin can and fishing line and has never looked back. Soriano plays steel string bachata with equal parts romance and grit. The Afro-infused rhythm that permeates his music has made him a favorite among dancers. Bachata is essential to Dominican culture and draws upon a variety of influences from Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. A practitioner of palo and gaga, Joan blends Afro-Dominican sacred traditions with bachata, imparting his music with down to earth spirit and dance-ability. Joan preserves his bachata’s roots and expands on them. He is a rare combination of new and authentic. Soriano’s music is gorgeous. He displays an emotionally powerful voice, versatility with bachata’s classic style of guitar playing, and compelling original compositions about love and loss.

The Pine Leaf Boys

Louisiana’s finest, four-time Grammy-Nominated, world-renown Pine Leaf Boys have made a name for presenting their own inimitable brand of Cajun music with youthful exuberance. Hailing from the southwest Louisiana, the Pine Leaf Boys, known for their wild shows and thoughtful arrangements, have breathed new life into Cajun music, reviving ancient songs and bringing them to the bandstand. Being described in the New York Times as, “… the link that connects the young and the old generations,” and, “the best new, energetic, and fun Cajun band in a very long time,” the Pine Leaf Boys play the old fashion dance hall standards while making a priority to bring many of the more obscure songs of past masters into their repertoire and play them with gusto.

The variety and energy they release evolves through their shows, bringing multi-faceted angles to Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco. Their mission is to present the beautiful, powerful music of their ancestors and present the real Cajun music to the world and prove that it is still thriving and full of life.

Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz

Although Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwarz have been singing together only 16 years, their strong, soul-stirring singing makes you feel their devotion to the place from which their music springs. As they wrap their songs in stories of the people and the places of the music, audiences are transported to another time when life was more real and families were held close. Their harmonies are hair-raising and representative of the finest American traditional music.

Ginny is a native of Halifax County, Virginia where she grew up in a large extended family of singers and musicians. When they met in 1988, Tracy had already spent 26 years as a member of The New Lost City Ramblers, the traditional string band responsible for introducing urban audiences to southern rural music in the 60′s and 70′s. In concert, Ginny and Tracy will cover everything from the beautiful unaccompanied ballads of the south to early Bluegrass duets to the songs of The Carter Family. You’ll hear fiddle tunes, gospel songs as done in rural families, even some classic country songs. What their concerts will lack is “fillers.” Every song they do means something special to them and will invite you to join them in the celebration of your heritage.

String Ties

String Ties calls the hills of the upper Mississippi home, blending Bluegrass, Old-time Country, Swing, Gospel, and Folk into an engaging version of acoustic music, evoking nostalgia, love lost and found, moonshine hills, and sturdy shoes on a barn-dance floor. Featuring tight harmonies, powerful instrumentals, and good-natured fun this dynamic group has delighted audiences of all ages for more than a decade at parties, festivals, weddings, and everywhere the joy of great music is celebrated. These fans bear witness to “feeling (String Ties’) love of music, the crowd, and each other”…And of their magic to convert: “I never thought I would be a bluegrass fan, but after listening to them, you just can’t help it.” The String Ties feature Larry Dalton on stand-up bass, Tommy Pfaff on 5 string banjo, Wayne Beezley on mandolin, and Dan Sebranek on guitar.

Mark your calendars for the the 2012 Kick Off Concert! Saturday April 28th, 2012 at 5pm at the High Noon Saloon. We are presenting a special early family friendly concert featuring Dave Landau http://www.happytrails.biz/ (children’s entertainer extraordinaire) and the Cash Box Kings acoustic set, featuring Oscar Wilson, Joel Paterson, Beau Sample and Joe Nosek!

During the show take advantage of early bird, two-day, bargain basement price fest tickets priced at $25.00 each. Tickets are available at this price only on this day! You can also sign up for to volunteer at the fest, or join are mailing list. Tickets to the concert are $10 per person and available at the door. Humans 12 and under free with adult (so no excuses about not finding a baby-sitter)! Food will also be available for purchase from the Brass Ring.

We are proud to announce our first band signing of the year — The Tillers! Their sound encompasses a wide range of musical styles- traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz, punk rock and anything else they might run into. With a distinctive bite that sets them apart from most other folk acts-they feature a hard-driving percussive strum and stomp that brings new pulse and vinegar to some very old songs. With a musical range stretching from hard-tackle thumping to tender graceful melody, all topped by clear tenor harmonies, The Tillers approaches each show with an incredible amount of energy, talent and humor. They are magnetic showmen, mature musicians, and colorful storytellers. We are sure you won’t want to miss the Tillers!

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.

If you’re a fan of traditional Bluegrass, you’re a fan of Joe Mullins (or about to be). You may have seen him as a founding member of Traditional Grass or heard on of his recordings with Longview. Joe and the Radio Ramblers are the real deal and kick out some powerful Bluegrass!

Joe and the boys play two sets Saturday. You can catch Joe’s and Bruce Molsky’s workshop for Bluegrass and Old-time banjo. You’ll also hear Evan McGregor as part of our Fiddlers in the Round workshop.

Sugar Maple Fest is proud to present our Friday Night Headline act, Greg Brown w/ Bo Ramsey. Greg moves audiences with warmth, humor, a thundering voice and his unpretentious musical vision. He’s the folksinger of his generation, and a gifted spokesman for it. His roots run deep: to the land, to family, and to the richest and oldest veins of American music. Hillbilly country, black blues masters, and the history of American folk resonate together in his songs. Brown’s songwriting has been lauded by many, and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. He has also recorded more than a dozen albums, with One Big Town earning three and a half stars in Rolling Stone, chart-topping status in AAA and The Gavin Report’s Americana rankings and Brown’s first Indie Award from NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors). Don’t miss this opportunity to catch Greg Brown in an intimate setting under Sugar Maple Festival’s tent.

This just in… Bo Ramsey will be playing with Greg Brown Friday night!

Get your tickets!

The festival is officially a week away and as glad as we all are to see the rain today , we are hoping for beautiful weather for next Friday and Saturday. We are so excited to have you over to our little fest, to make it more smooth for everyone, here are some tips for the festival:

• We are a rain or shine event, all of our artists perform under tents or shelters. Bring sun screen, ponchos, a hand fan and bug dope.
• Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on, we have a limited number of chairs, and yours are more comfortable anyway.
• Please leave all pets at home, we all love our pets, but we are in close quarters and you never know who has an allergy to your dog, guinea pig, iguana, etc.
• Buying tickets in advance is your best deal, tickets at the door are a few dollars more expensive, you know you love us so save a few bucks and buy an advance ticket, they are available until Thursday at Willy Coop East, Whole Foods, Spruce Tree Music and online.
• Bring the kids, they are free! And we will have activities just for them!
• If you have an instrument, bring it and we can Jam in the Jam Tent. Even you newbies, skill and talent are optional, we are here to have a good time.
• Camping closest to the festival is rustic, primitive, and fun. Tents only, that means no cars, no westies, no RV’s in the camping area. If you have to have your car (under 20 ft in length) parked in the camping area its an additional $25, but you have to sleep in a tent. The fun part is that the jamming goes on all night, so if you are a light sleeper bring earplugs, or stay up and join in.
• Bring Cash, we try to have an ATM, but if you have some $ in your pocket when you come you will be all set.
• We have a great selection of food vendors; Santa Fe Trailer, FIBS, Curt’s Popcorn, La Fortuna Pizza and Cousins Subs/Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, and Tyranena beer, but you are also allowed to bring a picnic.
• Gates open at 1 including camping, prior to that you may be enlisted to help, the toilets always need a good scrub. So do us a favor and come after 1pm so we can get set up.

Any other questions let us know!