Spruce Tree Music & Repair first opened its Madison shop at 851 East Johnson Street on December 1st, 1980. That was 36 years ago and the store is still going strong. Stop in this holiday season to say, “Happy Anniversary!” and discover gorgeous gifts for the musicians in your life. Here are just a few of the things you’ll find.

Spencer Walts created the graphic for these 100% cotton (preshrunk) t-shirts. Available in Rusty Bronze, Cactus Green, and Pine Green, Medium, Large, XL and 2XL. $16 each ($18 for 2XL). Shipping for 1-2 shirts is $6.95 via USPS Priority Mail (within the U.S.).

Spruce Tree Posters

This Hatch Show Print was made to celebrate Spruce Tree’s 30th Anniversary. Hatch Show Print is a Nashville company that’s been designing and hand-printing posters since 1879. Measuring 22-1/2 x 13 inches, this 3-color poster is printed on smooth cardstock, and is $5.95.

Spruce Tree’s 25th Anniversary poster. It measures 19 x 13 inches and is $5.95.

Fraulini Guitars

Fraulini Guitars are built by Todd Cambio in Madison, Wisconsin. Todd’s guitars follow the construction details, cosmetic appointments and tonal qualities of guitars built in the 1920s and 1930s. Construction methods include dovetail neck joints, varnish finishes, handmade wood purfling and hot hide glue.

Linus Guitars

Linus Guitars are built by Brian Bauhs, known in Madison for being the lead guitarist of Marques Bovre and the Evil Twins. Brian also worked at Spruce Tree Music doing instrument repair work. He now lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he has become increasingly involved in building guitars (as well as the occasional ukulele).

Diamond Bottlenecks

Made in England of hand-blown leaded glass, Diamond’s Ultimate slides are fun to look at and produce a clean tone with plenty of punch when you want it. No two bottlenecks are identical. $35

Rickard Banjos

Rickard Banjos are built in Aurora, Ontario. Bill Rickard is a long-time banjo enthusiast with an engineer’s understanding of metalwork. Consequently, his finely crafted banjos are built with high-grade hardware that is entirely manufactured in-house (tuning machines being the small exception). The wood components are built with the same diligent attention. These instruments are part of a renaissance in open back banjos. They’re solidly made, built with an eye toward seeing (and hearing) them played throughout the next 100 years.

To see more of Spruce Tree’s stunning hand-made instruments and accessories, visit http://www.sprucetreemusic.com/.

written by Jennifer Phistry

What a weekend!  From the Thursday pre-fest show at the Union Terrace with Devil in a Woodpile to the closing notes of the Jay Farrar trio Saturday night, Sugar Maple #13 was just about perfect.  For all you do to support this festival, THANK YOU!

Mark your calendars!  The 14^th annual Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival will be August 4-5, 2017.

The Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective (FLTMC) is the non-profit group who puts on the Sugar Maple fest.  We’ll take August off and then jump right in to start planning for 2017.  Interested in getting involved?  Have comments or suggestions?   Drop us a line at fourlakesmusic@gmail.com.  We’d love to hear your ideas!

Check out all the 2016 festival photos courtesy of Kent Sweitzer Photography.

This year Sugar Maple Fest will be holding raffles for the first time ever. Now you’ll have a chance to take part in not just one, but three types of raffles: 50/50 Raffles, Prize Raffles, and a Bikers’ Raffle. Keep reading for details about prizes and ticket prices. Winners must be present at 50/50 Raffle drawings and Prize Raffle drawings to claim prizes, so check the schedules so you won’t miss out. Remember, the more you enter, the more likely you’ll be one of the lucky winners.

50/50 Raffles – Half of ticket sales for each 50/50 Raffle go to the festival—the other half goes to the winner.

Tickets – $2 each or $20 for an arm-length

Friday
9:00pm (after Art Stevenson and High Water)

Saturday
5:45pm (after Piedmont Bluz)
8:50pm (after Aoife O’Donovan)

Prize Raffles – Buy Prize Raffle tickets for a chance to win gifts from outstanding area businesses

Tickets – $5 for one, $10 for three, $20 for eight

Tornado Room
Julep
Ward Brodt
Greg’s Guitar Shop
Waypoint Public House
New Concepts Salon
Natspiel
Stoughton Opera House
Whole Foods
Seafood Center
Steve’s McKee
Chocolaterian
Trader Joe’s
Alchemy
Mad Gael
Underground Butcher
Greenbush
VomFoss
Stone Fence
Orange Tree Imports

Friday
9:00pm (after Art Stevenson and High Water)

Saturday
4:20pm (after Ed Poullard, Jesse Lége and Charlie Terr)
7:05pm (after Finnders and Youngberg)

Bikers’ Raffle – Attention all cyclists! Festival-goers who ride a bicycle to the park are eligible to win a Bones® 3-Bike Rack from Saris. Just stop at a ticket table to let us know you rode your bike to the festival. The winner of this raffle does NOT need to be present at the drawing to win.

Saturday
4:20pm (after Ed Poullard, Jesse Lége and Charlie Terr)

Howdy Friends!

We are just two days away from the 13^th annual Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival.  Are you as excited as we are?!  Share this link and spread the love.  Let’s pack the big tent and show our artists just how much we appreciate their music!

Want a sneak preview of the fest?  Check out Devil in a Woodpile at the UW Union Terrace Thursday August 4 from 5-7 pm.

Schedule and ticket info is available at www.sugarmaplefest.org but here are some last minute tips:

• Get your tickets now!  Advance tickets are available through Thursday on-line and at Willy St. Co-op East and West, Whole Foods, Spruce Tree Music, and Orange Tree Imports.
• Bring the kids; ages 17 and under are free!
• Ride your bike to the fest and enter a drawing for a 3 bones bike rack from our sponsor Saris!  Drawing to be held around 4 pm on Saturday.
• We have food!  This year’s vendors include El Grito Taqueria, Underground Butcher, Toast Food Cart / Gili’s Paninis, Wadizzit Traveling Food and El Sabor de Puebla
• We have drinks!  Beer from Tyranena Brewing Company and mead from Bos Meadery.  Yum, yum!  And all beer $1 off during the Malt House Happy Hour Set at the festival with Mal-O-Dua!  Friday from 5-6:15 pm.
• Carry-ins allowed but please support our wonderful food and drink vendors!
• Bring your instruments for jamming!  This is an interactive festival and your participation is what sets the Sugar Maple fest apart from other music fests!
• We are a rain or shine event; all of our artists perform under tents or shelters.
• Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on.  We have a limited number of chairs, and yours are more comfortable anyway.
• Leave all pets at home.  Park rule.
• Bring Cash.  We will have an ATM but if you have some $ in your pocket when you come, you will be all set.
• We know you’re social (we’ve seen you on the dance floor!) so get on those internets and spread the word…
  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • And hashtag like crazy! #sugarmaplefest

See you at the big tent!
Your Sugar Maple Planning Crew

written by Jennifer Phistry

Take a minute or two to preview the brews you might be sipping at Sugar Maple Fest—read about some of the interesting ales of Tyranena Brewing Company (see the list below). We can hardly wait to raise our cups in appreciation of this great Wisconsin brewery and their longtime support of Sugar Maple Fest. Thank you, Tyranena.

Look for Tyranena beers at Sugar Maple Fest, in stores, and at Tyranena Brewing Company in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.

Three Beaches Honey Blonde – Tyranena’s version of the American Blonde Ale is like a day at the beach—light, with a sweet touch of honey and a mild citrus accent.

Bitter Woman IPA – Tyranena’s take on India Pale Ale is intensely bitter (hence the name) with mighty hop flavor and aroma.

Rocky’s Revenge – An American brown ale with a portion of each batch aged in bourbon barrels. Each oak barrel will contribute its own unique character to this rich, satisfying ale.

Chief BlackHawk Porter – This robust, black, and sharply bittersweet ale celebrates Chief Black Hawk, a courageous Sauk leader.

Wisconsin Drinking Fountain Wit – Light and lemony with a hint of spice, this Belgian-style witbier (white beer) is perfect for a summer afternoon. Get it while you can! You’ll only find it on tap at the Tyranena Brewery and at Sugar Maple Fest this weekend.

And enjoy $1 off all beer during the Malt House Happy Hour set at the festival with Mal-O-Dua, Friday August 5 from 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm!