This year Sugar Maple is proud to offer a Suzuki to Roots Fiddle Workshop on the Roots & Reason Stage on Saturday, July 30 at 12:30 pm.

The workshop’s instructor is Madison’s own Chris Wagoner. An experience fiddle teacher and a founding member of Harmonious Wail, The Common Faces, The Bob Westfall Quartet, and The Moon Gypsies, Chris has had his foot in just about every musical circle in Madison. Classically trained as a violinist, Chris has been an in-demand performer and session musician in the region for almost two decades. He is the author of Hal Leonard’s Fiddle Method: Book 1 and is co-host of WORT’s Mad Toast Live. Chris and his band, the Stellanovas, will bring their swinging, original, and dynamic music to the Sugar Maple Festival’s Main Stage on Friday (July 29) night.

Open to Suzuki students, classical violinists who are interested in fiddling, or any other violinists, attendees should have 2-3 years of experience or be in the Suzuki Violin Book 2. The workshop will focus on one tune, Fire on the Mountain, which according to Chris is a quick and easy song to pick up by ear. “This will leave me some time to demonstrate different fiddle bowing techniques,” says Chris. “Bowing for fiddle is quite a bit different from classical bowing. It’s what gives this type of music its drive.”

Printed music will be available, although the ability to read music is not required. Students should bring their violin and a small music stand if using the printed music. Recording devises are also recommended.

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!

This marks the eighth year in a row Dave Landau has entertained children of all ages at the Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival. Storytelling and performing children’s music are two of Dave’s passions and talents. A former elementary school teacher, Dave has been performing as a full-time musician for the past eight years. A singer and guitarist with Madison based Cork n’ Bottle Bluegrass Band, his musical programs are educational, entertaining, and motivating.

Catch this award winning children’s entertainer at the Roots & Reason Stage both Friday and Saturday.

Jim Hurst, two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and former member of the Claire Lynch Band, comes to Madison November 13 for a guitar workshop and house concert at the home of Jim and Nancy Nikora.

Jim’s skill as a vocal and guitar instructor makes him highly sought-after. He teaches at guitar workshops, clinics, and music camps around the country.

“Jim is one of the most under-rated musicians on today’s acoustic scene. He always mines a deep groove and heats things up to a rolling boil. Combining strong country and bluegrass roots, subtle invention, and a big beautiful sound. Jim’s music is consistently fresh and friendly.” ~ Tim O’Brien

For concert information, contact Jim or Nancy Nikora at 608-233-0150, or email nancy [at] blue-note [dot] com. For workshop information, contact Julie Cherney at 608-244-2184 or email cherney [at] uwalumni [dot] com.

If you love flat-picking guitar and great musical arrangements, you’re in for a treat. Jim Hurst, two-time IBMA Guitar Player of the Year and member of the Grammy-nominated Claire Lynch Band, comes to Madison January 30 for a guitar workshop and concert.

Jim’s mastery of the guitar and expert vocal harmonies earned him membership in Trisha Yearwood’s band, as well as the opportunity to perform with Sara Evans, Travis Tritt, and the McCarter Sisters. As a popular Nashville studio musician, he’s performed and recorded with John Cowan, Mark Schatz, Tim O’Brien, and Sam Bush. Collaborating with bassist Missy Raines, the duet wowed the bluegrass community and won IBMA Guitar and Bass Player of the year for 2001 and 2002. Jim currently tours with the Claire Lynch Band not only as a wizard on the guitar, but also as a remarkable frailing banjoist.

Jim’s skill as a vocal and guitar instructor makes him highly sought-after. He teaches at guitar workshops, clinics, and music camps around the country. So take advantage of this opportunity to learn from and enjoy a concert by this maestro! For more information about Jim, go to www.jimhurst.com.

“There’s not a more inventive, talented guitar player in the bluegrass business than Jim Hurst. He brings a world of experience in so many different kinds of music and formats to everything he does.” – Tim Stafford

The workshop will be held at the Wil-Mar Center, Jan 30th, 1-4pm. The cost for the workshop is $60.

The concert will be held at Mother Fool’s Coffee House, Jan 30th, 8pm. Cost for the concert is $10.

For workshop registration or more information, call Julie Cherney at 608-244-2184, or email cherney [AT] uwalumni [DOT] com

Saturday, April 25, the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association, Inc. will present banjo player Bill Evans and fiddler Megan Lynch in a day of workshops and an evening concert. Bill and Megan will each give a 3-hour workshop on banjo and fiddle, respectively; a 2-hour jam workshop for all bluegrass instruments; and an evening concert. The event will be held at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center on the east side of Madison and emceed by country music historian Bill C. Malone, host of Back to the Country on WORT FM 89.9.

A 35-year veteran of the banjo, Bill has created a varied and highly successful musical career. He toured with Dry Branch Fire Squad from 1993-1997, currently plays with Bluegrass Intentions and tours extensively with Megan Lynch. He is a regular performer at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco and also performs with the California-based Bill Evan’s Stringed Summit.

He hosts the annual NashCamp Banjo Retreat with Sonny Osborne and teaches at almost every important music camp in the U.S and the U.K.; NashCamp, California Bluegrass Associations Music Camp, Midwest Banjo Camp, and Sore Fingers Bluegrass Week to name a few. He also presents workshops at folk and bluegrass festivals across the country.

Megan Lynch is a six-time National Fiddle Champion. She is also a regular performer at the Grand Ole’ Opry. Megan has played with country star Pam Tillis as well as bluegrass greats Roland White, Larry Cordle, Jim Hurst, and Chris Jones. She is a former member of Koch recording artists 3 Fox Drive and West Coast group Due West. She is also the founder and director of FiddleStar Youth and Adult Fiddle Camps and is in high demand as an instructor for bluegrass camps across the country. “Fiddlers come out of the woodwork when they hear that Megan is leading a workshop,” states Bill Evans.

Advance tickets for the concert only are $13. Concert tickets for students with ID are $10; children under 12 admitted free. Tickets will be available in early February at locations to be announced on www.swbmai.org. You can get advance concert tickets and/or more information by contacting Julie Cherney at 608-260-2675 or cherney [at] uwalumni [dot] com. You can also download the registration form and mail it the old fashioned way.

The fifth annual Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival is one of Madison’s most cozy educational events, encouraging close interaction between artists and attendees.

“We started the festival to encourage people to learn from the artists and from each other,” said Evan Murdock, president of the non-profit Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective.

The festival will feature a wide variety of workshops that enable traditional music fans to learn directly from the artists in a relaxed atmosphere. Workshops include: banjo instruction by one of traditional music’s legendary performers, Mike Seeger. Also, Grammy-award winning mandolin player Mike Compton will conduct a workshop on the mandolin styles of Bill Monroe. “This year’s workshops are the best we’ve had yet,” said workshop coordinator Bob Batyko.

The Roots & Reasons Stage will also feature children’s artists Dave Landauon both Friday and Saturday. Kids 12 and under are admitted free. As always, there is space for musicians to get together and jam.

True to its mission, Sugar Maple Music Festival is as much about education as it is about great performances. In the intimate setting of shelter #3, the Roots & Reasons Stage, offers a variety of hands-on instruction as well as in-depth discussion led by a variety of this year’s Mainstage musicians. In addition, interactive music sing-alongs and story telling especially for kids is added to the Roots & Reason schedule. And what’s that yonder sound? The freestyle frenzy of the new Jam Tent. The following is a tentative schedule of educational offerings at the 2008 festival, with more information coming soon.

FRIDAY AUG 1, 2008

6:00pm – Dave Landau (KIDS’ SHOW! In his fifth annual appearance at Sugar Maple, Dave plays his first of three shows this weekend.)
6:45pm – Banjo Styles (Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Mike Seeger discusses and demonstrates clawhammer, two finger uppicking, index lead, and three finger styles. Jim Robarts, Moderator.)
7:45pm – Square & Contra Dance Class (Get your legs ready for this evening’s Mainstage Sugar Maple Square Dance w/ caller Dot Kent and friends.)
8:00pm – Open Jam* (host TBA)

SATURDAY AUG 2, 2008

1:00pm – Old-Time Jam* (hosted by Chirps Smith, one of the foremost and formidable master fiddlers on the old time scene today.)

2:45pm – When Tracks Were Wax (Moderated by Tom Martin-Erickson, host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Simply Folk” program, The Goose Island Ramblers discuss the history of their first label Cuca Records.)
3:00pm – Bluegrass Jam* (Hosted by Bob & Lisa Steeno, who return to Sugar Maple for their second straight year direct from Florida.)
3:30pm – Dave Landau (KIDS SHOW! In his fifth annual appearance at Sugar Maple, Dave brings back all the favorites of his participatory kids show.

4:15pm – Mandolin Styles (Grammy Award winner Mike Compton discusses and demonstrates the styles fathered by the late Bill Monroe. Jim Robarts, Moderator)
5:00pm – Life as a Bluegrass Boy (Songs and stories from the understudies and stage-mates Bill Monroe. Jim Robarts, Moderator.)
5:00pm – Stringband Blues Styles* (Discussion and demonstration with Sugar Maple alum Charlie Parr, and Adam Tanner. Karen Sonnenblick, Moderator.)
6:00pm – Dave Landau (ENCORE KIDS SHOW! Parents Choice award-winning music and sing-alongs.)
7:00pm – Open Jam* (host TBD.)