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.