Three of the most influential and dynamic acoustic musicians in modern American music join forces as the Barnes, Gordy, Walsh Trio.  Banjo legend Danny Barnes, winner of the 2015 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo, has been a creative force in modern bluegrass and related genres since his days as a founding member and frontman of the Bad Livers in the 1990s. Through his innovative collaborations with Bill Frisell, Dave Matthews and many others, his infectiously good-humored songwriting, and his distinctive solo work, he has cemented his place as one of the groundbreaking artists of his generation.

Here he teams up with guitarist Grant Gordy and mandolinist Joe K. Walsh, acclaimed masters emerging out of the newer blossoming of American roots music.  Gordy has performed worldwide as a member of the David Grisman Quintet, and has appeared in settings as diverse as Carnegie Hall, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, and Bonnaroo. Walsh, a founder of progressive string band Joy Kills Sorrow and a member of the Gibson Brothers and (with Gordy) Mr. Sun, draws on deep rural roots in his singing, playing and songwriting. 

Together, the Barnes, Gordy, Walsh Trio creates the kind of energy and inspiration that can only come from the happy confluence of three groundbreaking artists exploring musical possibilities and pushing each other to new heights. Catch the trio at the Sugar Maple Music Festival on Saturday, August 3, 2019.

–written by Brad Wolbert

Larry Sparks is as close to Bluegrass royalty as it’s possible to get. With a pedigree that includes a stint as the guitarist for the Stanley Brothers and the lead vocalist for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, many appearances at the Grand Ole Opry, a place in the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and a even a line of guitar strings that bear his name, Larry, along with his band, the Lonesome Ramblers, is one of the leading exemplars of the true bluegrass sound and tradition. It doesn’t get any more authentic than Larry Sparks. His straight-ahead, soulful vocal style, inspired songwriting and impeccable musicianship has won him a bumper crop of awards and secured his place as a living musical legend.

—written by Brad Wolbert

If you enjoyed the jam tents at the Sugar Maple Music Festival, then you don’t want to miss the Fall String Gathering!

A weekend of traditional, old-time, bluegrass, Irish, and Cajun music-sharing; organized by musicians, for musicians. Open to all skill levels and acoustic instruments.

Hosted at the Clarion Convention Center in Baraboo, WI, the gathering will feature impromptu jamming as well as several scheduled jams and a washtub bass workshop.

November 16-18, 2018

Friday 6 pm – Sunday 11 am

Friday 7:30 – 9:00 pm  Gypsy Jazz Jam – 4th floor

?Sat 10:00 – 11:30 am  – Slow/Half Speed Jam – 5th floor

Sat 1:00 – 2:30 pm   Irish Session – 4th floor?

Sat 2:00 – 3:00 pm Washtub Bass Workshop – 5th floor?

Sat 3:00 – 4:30 pm   Cajun Circle – 5th floor

The String Gathering provides an opportunity for bluegrass and old-time musicians across Wisconsin, its bordering states and beyond, to come together and celebrate their common love of music.

More information at String Gathering

We’re thrilled to welcome Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore to the North Street Cabaret on Thursday, November 8 at 8 pm as part of the on-going Sugar Maple Concert Series.

Grammy Award winner Mollie O’Brien became known to the rest of the world as a singer’s singer when, in 1988, she and her brother Tim released the first of three critically acclaimed albums for Sugar Hill Records (Take Me Back, Remember Me and Away Out on the Mountain). Eventually, Mollie recorded five equally well-received solo albums (Tell It True, Big Red Sun and Things I Gave Away for Sugar Hill Records, and I Never Move Too Soon and Everynight in the Week for Resounding Records). Additionally, she was a regular on the nationally syndicated radio show A Prairie Home Companion from 2001 through 2005. She’s long been known as a singer who doesn’t recognize musical boundaries, and audiences love her fluid ability to make herself at home in any genre while never sacrificing the essence of the song she tackles. O’Brien has primarily focused her efforts on the fading art of interpretation and the end result is a singer at the very top of her game who is not afraid to take risks both vocally and in the material she chooses.

Husband Rich Moore has busied himself in the Colorado music scene for many years. While staying home with the kids when Mollie and Tim toured, he held a day job and continued to perform locally with a variety of Colorado favorites, including Pete Wernick and Celeste Krenz. Not only is Moore known to produce some of the funniest onstage running commentary, he’s also a powerhouse guitar player who can keep up with O’Brien’s twists and turns from blues to traditional folk to jazz to rock and roll. He creates a band with just his guitar and, as a result, theirs is an equal partnership.

Tickets on sale here

Just a few more hours to get your early-bird two day passes to the 15th Annual Sugar Maple Music Festival!  On sale here through May 31.

Mid-2017, The Tillers holed up at Candyland Recording Studio in Dayton, KY with producer Mike Montgomery (Jeremy Pinnell, The Breeders) and tracked ten new songs, live to 2” tape. The recordings showcase the diversity of their writing and musicianship, from hard-tackle thump to tender graceful melody – lightening-fast banjo to intricate guitar flat picking, plaintive fiddle, deep anchoring bass and clear tenor harmonies. Fueled by life, family, history, travel and politics, the new self-titled LP is the band’s most engaging record to date. Singer-songwriter-guitarist Sean Geil says of the new record, “This album is definitely more aggressive than past efforts. At our core we are still a traditionally rooted string band, but I’d say our punk rock roots are more visible on this album. And the addition of Joe Macheret on fiddle has added a new dynamic and allowed us to explore new territories as well as fill out the overall sound.”

Catch the Tillers at the Sugar Maple Fest Friday, August 3.