Vol. 34 No. 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE! July Aug Sept Meet the new OBA President, Fiddler Sawyer Olsen, 2014 Pickers’ Fest, and More.... Oregon Bluegrass Association www.oregonbluegrass.org Bluegrass Express Madame President Meet Chris Palmer by Claire Levine What’s the role of an organization’s In Chris Palmer, the Oregon Bluegrass In the mid-60s, Chris and her president? Association has found a terrific leader neighborhood pals caught the music to follow Colby Buswell and Patty bug. They loved the Beatles (who at It’s often to set direction and Spencer. that age didn’t?), but they also loved priorities. But in Ian & Sylvia; The a small volunteer Brothers Four and organization, it’s Peter, Paul & Mary. also doing a lot of the hands-on work, Immediately after as well as providing leaving Grant High leadership. every day, Chris and her friends Chris Palmer’s ready would pull out to do all the above. their guitars and meet at someone’s As a successful house -- until business owner for someone’s parents many years, she made them come knows how to get home. They sang things done, both and accompanied directing others and themselves, and they working long hours even competed in on the tasks that some contests run by she does best. As a local radio stations professional event (“There’s a trophy manager, she knows around somewhere,” how to coordinate and promote. As a NE Portland’s Folk Revival Chris said). board member on several nonprofits, she understands about setting policy Chris grew up in Northeast Portland, But life interferes and goals. in “a neighborhood with lots of kids.” It was just after the Beatles set the But it’s been since the late 60s that And as someone who plunged in world on fire, and when, at the same Chris performed with her guitar headfirst to organize a big bluegrass time, folk music had moved out of -- until 2013 (you’ll hear about that festival, she gave herself an immersion New York onto FM radio stations later). course in the business of bluegrass. across the country. Continued on Page 6 columbia gorge Bluegrass 2014Festival stevenson, washington

July 24—27 at the Skamania County Fairgrounds a full weekend experience — Evening dances and more to come. 45 minutes from portland. LoCATED IN THE Scenic Columbia Gorge. Food Vendors. camping with Hot Showers. The James King Band John Reischman & the Jaybirds Bryan Bowers * Dan Crary&Thunderation the Great Northern Planes Sam Hill*the barn door slammers The Green Mountain BlueGRass Band chick’s Kids*Song Writers Showcase Jammers Jamboree*Multi Instrument contest

Ticket Information: 509.427.3980OBA Bluegrass Express * - Summer columbiagorgeBluegrass.net 2014 2 Table of Contents July / Aug / Sept 2014 Volume 34 / Number 3 Newsletter of the Oregon Bluegrass Association www.oregonbluegrass.org

This Issue Features Cover Story Vol. 34 No. 3 Madame President...... 1 Oregon Bluegrass Association by Claire Levine www.oregonbluegrass.org Features Bluegrass Express Southern Oregon Report ...... 10 Bluegrass Express is a quarterly newsletter by Joe Ross dedicated to informing members of the Oregon Sawyer Olsen...... 12 Bluegrass Association about local, regional by Claire Levine and national bluegrass issues, events and Chris Palmer: The New Oregon opportunities. Pickers’ Fest Finds New Home...... 15 Bluegrass Association President. by Claire Levine Bluegrass Express Staff The OBA Board Takes A Retreat...26 by Patty Spencer EDITORS Christine Weinmeister Review [email protected] Laurie and Kathy Sing the Songs of John Prunty Vern and Ray ...... 16 [email protected] by Claire Levine

Columns & Commentary COPY EDITOR Nancy Christie President’s Message...... 5 Catching up with Fiddler Sawyer Olsen [email protected] The Theory of Bluegrass...... 22 by Matt Snook GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT Sound Advice ...... 25 John Prunty by Mark Gensman Christine Weinmeister [email protected] Calendars, Lists & Info OBA Membership and Ad ADVERTISING Information ...... 4 Pat Connell What’s Playing on the Radio...... 5 [email protected] (971) 207-5933 Scheduled Jams...... 31 OBA Supporting Performer WEBMASTER & WEB CONTENT Join us at the 7th Annual Oregon Directory...... 33 Bluegrass Association Pickers’ Fest Tony McCormick September 12-14 at ZigZag Mountain John Hart Farm on Mt Hood! [email protected] JAMS & ONLINE CALENDAR Jim Miernyk Clayton Knight [email protected]

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 3 OBA Membership & Ad Information The OBA Board Membership Information Website The OBA Board of Directors invites you Features include an interactive calendar that www.oregonbluegrass.org to join the OBA and to participate in its allows you to post your own events, excerpts many activities. Our membership benefits from past issues of the Bluegrass Express, and Officers of the Board include a subscription to the quarterly links for local bands. Come visit us online! Bluegrass Express, frequent mailings Visit the OBA web page today! about events, and ticket discounts to www.oregonbluegrass.org Chris Palmer - President

Northwest bluegrass events. Annual [email protected] Article and Editorial Submissions membership dues are $25 for a General The OBA Board invites you to submit letters, Member, $50 for Supporting Performers, stories, photos and articles to The Bluegrass Tony McCormick- Vice President and $125 for Contributing Business Express. Published files remain in our archives [email protected] Sponsors, as well as other options. To and art is returned upon request. join, complete the application on the back Ron Preston - Secretary cover and mail with your check to: Please send submissions to: John Prunty [email protected] Oregon Bluegrass Association [email protected] P.O. Box 1115 Christine Weinmeister Portland, OR 97207 [email protected] John McCoy - Treasurer [email protected]

Advertise in the Express! Liz Crain - Your Express advertising will reach over 500 households of bluegrass enthusiasts, while OBA Roseburg Chapter President helping the OBA to continue publishing this valuable resource. We appreciate your [email protected] support of the Oregon Bluegrass Association. For information about placing an ad for your music-related business please contact Pat Connell via email at: [email protected] or (971) 207-5933. John Hart - Webmaster [email protected] AD RATES AND DIMENSIONS

Published quarterly: Chuck Palmer - Membership Winter (January, February, March) [email protected] Mailed on January 2 Reserve by Dec. 1, Copy deadline Dec. 15 Michelle Traver - Development Spring (April, May, June) [email protected] Mailed on April 1 Reserve by March1, Copy deadline March 15 Linda Leavitt Summer (July, August, September) Mailed on July 1 Volunteer Coordinator Reserve by June 1, Copy deadline June 15 [email protected]

Fall (October, November, December) Mailed October 1 Christine Weinmeister Reserve by September 1, Copy deadline September 15 John Prunty - OBA Express [email protected] SIZE DIMENSION COST TWO OR MORE ISSUES Full Page 7.5 x 9.5” $150.00 $130.00 Half page horizontal 7.5 X 4.75” $90.00 $80.00 Pat Connell - Ad Sales Half Page vertical 3.75 x 9.5” $90.00 $80.00 [email protected] Quarter page 3.75 x 4.50” $60.00 $50.00 Eighth page 3.75 x 2.25 (2 1/4)” $40.00 $30.00

The OBA prefers to receive advertising payment in advance. For one year contracts, we The OBA holds board elections each April request payment six months in advance and we will bill for the next six months. Payment as individual terms expire. The Board of may be made online via PayPal at www.oregonbluegrass.org/bgexpress.php or you may Directors invites you to join our monthly send a check payable to The Oregon Bluegrass Association and mail to PO Box 1115, meetings. We welcome your visit and ideas, opinions and proposals. Or, just come to Portland, OR 97207. see what we’re doing! We generally meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. When submitting an advertisement to the OBA, please be sure the file is black and white, The location is subject to change. Call us or 300 dpi and in either PDF, TIFF, or JPEG. If you have questions about your file please email any board member for time, location email Christine Weinmeister at [email protected]. and directions. President’s Message What’s Playing on the Radio? Local Radio Bluegrass and Country Listings Following in Colby’s and Patty’s footsteps is going to be a tall order and--I’ll freely admit--a little intimidating. Their achievements include the launch of the Pickers’ Albany/Corvallis - KBOO Fest, which will celebrate its 7th year in September in a new location; a great new Broadcast from Portland, can be heard at website; a positive bank balance; and a real surge in membership. My hope for the 100.7 FM. See under Portland, below future of the OBA is to continue what has begun, and add more OBA-sponsored events. A concert series and an even better gospel show are both on the table. Astoria - KMUZ 91.9 FM Some syndicated programming The current board is 503-325-0010 up for the challenges. “Cafe Vaquera” You may have met Tuesdays 9-11pm, Bluegrass/Old Timey some of them at the Western/Folk with Calamity Jane annual meeting in [email protected] April. The able and unforgettable Tony “Shady Grove” Saturdays 7-9pm McCormick is our Regular folk program new Vice President; Monday thru Friday 10am - noon Secretary Ron with bluegrass included Preston; John McCoy, our ace Treasurer; Columbia Gorge - KBOO Development Director broadcast from Portland. Can be heard at Michelle Traver; 92.7 FM. See under Portland below Linda Leavitt, our Volunteer Director; and Chuck Palmer, Corvallis - KOAC 550 AM our Membership Director. Plus key volunteers Cleve Friedman, Marlene Smith and Syndicated public radio with some Ian Joel. Probably our most valuable asset is The Bluegrass Express, which, thanks bluegrass included in regular to Editors Christine Weinmeister and John Prunty, who spend countless hours programming designing and putting it together, keeps the bar high and the reading interesting. 541-737-4311 In addition to columnists Matt Snook and Mark Gensman, there is seldom an issue without a lead article by writer Claire Levine. The Bluegrass Express is supported by Eugene - KLCC 89.7 FM advertisers which make it an economically viable publication. That would be due to Local broadcast 541-726-2224 Pat Connell, an energetic volunteer in several areas who is also out there selling ads Mixed format “Saturday Cafe” and tracking materials. Saturdays 11am - noon “The Backporch” You all know that an organization like this depends on volunteers. That’s the other 9 - 10pm Saturdays part of my plan for the future. We have formed committees for merchandise and to assist those involved in event production, lining up volunteers for the events Eugene - KRVM 91.9 FM where the OBA has a presence. None of these jobs take over your life; they just “Routes & Branches” 3 - 5pm Saturdays add to it. One of the reasons that I wanted to get more involved was because of “Acoustic Junction” 5 - 7pm Saturdays the community of bluegrass. Volunteering not only helps the OBA, it creates “Miles of Bluegrass” 7 - 9pm Mondays lifelong friendships. So don’t be shy. Step up and contact Linda at volunteers@ www.krvm.org 541-687-3370 oregonbluegrass.org.

We’ll see you most of you this summer at one festival or another. It’s the best part Pendleton - KWHT 104.5 FM of the year: camping, listening, talking, playing. We’re lucky people here in the “Bushels of Bluegrass” 9 - 11pm Sundays Northwest. Be sure to swing by the OBA booth and say hi. contact Phil Hodgen 541-276-2476

Portland - KBOO 90.7 FM Chris Palmer “Music from the True Vine” 9am - noon Saturdays [email protected] Salem - KMUZ 88.5 FM “Ken ‘til 10” 7-10am Wed/Thur OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 503-990-6101 & on Facebook 5 Meet Chris Palmer: Our New OBA President by Claire Levine Continued from page 1 Eventually, these shows grew to be came to work for the company doing well-recognized across the West. event management. For 18 years, he The business that later became could step in for Chris in handling the Palmer/Wirfs & Associates added crises that seem to always occur during holiday bazaars that were the a large event. biggest of their kind west of the Mississippi. At one time Palmer/ He now works part-time, helping Wirfs & Associates was organizing manage the vendors at the antique 12 antique shows and two holiday and holiday shows and preparing the shows a year. printed programs for all their events.

After 12 years, Chris started buying Then there was bluegrass out her partner, and in 2013 the business became Christine Palmer In Chris’s day-to-day business, her & Associates. customers are really the vendors – dealers of antiques and collectibles; #1 Associate artists; and craftspeople. Chris’s job is to please the vendors – but that’s not Chris and childhood pal Stan Sessions on stage at the The one associate who counts most always possible. 1965 Teem Fair at the Memorial Coliseum in Chris’s life is Chuck Palmer. Sometimes the weather’s bad and the Chris got married shortly out of high Chris and Chuck met when they were shows have a poor turnout. Sometimes school, and her friends went off to both selling antiques. Later, Chuck people just don’t feel like buying. And college. With the exception of jams worked for the vendor that provided every year, the consumers change – with her sister and then brother-in- the tables, pipe & drape and set up all and vendors might not have what the law, a blues musician, her singing and the shows for Chris’s business. After public is looking for. And if the public playing was limited. Life on a farm and 10 years of working closely together, isn’t happy, the vendors aren’t happy. the birth of a son cut into her time and “friendship turned to love.” her socializing. For years, Chris had a fantasy – About the same time, Chris started of producing an event in which Enter antiques, her enduring passion buying into the business, and Chuck everybody had a good time. That’s

Chris has always been interested in antiques. When her son was 10 months old, she asked the owner of a local antique store for a job and started in the business.

Around the same time, she collected some old items from her family’s basement, went to an antique show, and earned a whopping $70. With that inspirational kickoff, she continued to deal antiques on her own while working in the shop.

Enter Don Wirfs, a visionary who recognized that Chris had the down- to-earth organizational skills to make his antique show business a success. This was in 1981, and Don was planning his first antique show. Marty Stuart, Chris Palmer and Dan Tyminski

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 6 Meet Chris Palmer: Our New OBA President by Claire Levine how she stumbled onto the idea of a bluegrass festival.

In 2004, the Oregon Convention Center in Portland owed Palmer/ Wirfs a sizeable credit. So the center suggested they partner with the company on an event. Chris thought, “Bluegrass: friendly people, upbeat music, the opportunity to give people a great time.”

So she made arrangements for the debut of the River City Bluegrass Festival in January of 2005.

Only one problem, really: She didn’t know all that much about bluegrass, or bluegrass festivals, for that matter. In fact, neither she nor Chuck had ever been to a bluegrass festival nor seen a Chris Palmer with the 2006 River City Dream band: Dan Tyminski, JD Crowe, Sam Bush, Chris and live bluegrass band. Chuck Palmer, Jerry Douglas, Barry Bales and Stuart Duncan. By late fall of 2004, she had only one band booked: The Del McCoury Band. And while it appeared highly The Palmers held the festival at the organized and seamless to those in Convention Center for five years, then attendance, Chris remembers it as took a one-year break. The new River “I remember throwing being barely disguised chaos. City Music Festival re-emerged at the my personal checkbook Red Lion on the River – Jantzen Beach “I remember throwing my personal – a much more friendly and engaging from one side of a checkbook from one side of a meeting venue. “It became one big slumber room to the other so somebody could p ar t y.” meeting room to the pay one of the bands.” other so somebody The move also helped the festival cut could pay one of the Remember that Chris and Chuck were back on expenses. And during the two learning a whole new business and years the festival was at Jantzen Beach, bands.” organizing an event on top of their it had some of the most exciting line- full-time jobs. Fortunately, she had hired Stew Dodge ups of any festival in the Northwest. to do the sound, who introduced “I’d never worked with volunteers In addition to classic favorites like her to John Malloy, a musician and before. I had to learn how to book Rhonda Vincent, Peter Rowan and experienced talent buyer. From that travel, develop floor plans, so much the Travelin’ McCourys, River City time on, John booked terrific lineups new to learn.” Chris said she often widened its range -- and its popularity. for all the River City shows. would stay up until 3 a.m. trying to get The Time Jumpers, a project band on top of the work. In addition to Del, the first show which included Vince Gill -- an all-star featured the Nashville Bluegrass Band, band from Nashville – plus notables (The author remembers seeing Chris like Tommy Emmanuel, Rodney Riders in the Sky, and many other in her bathrobe and slippers in the great national and regional acts. Crowell and Guy Clark brought in new lobby of the Lloyd Center Red Lion, fans. personally greeting one of the bands Musically and in terms of big fun, that arrived late on the Friday night of At which point, the festival ran out of the festival was a hit. In terms of the festival.) attendance, not so much. capacity. There was no more room to

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 7 Meet Chris Palmer: Our New OBA President by Claire Levine grow. And Chuck worried about the Black Prairie) and started jamming with them at the Thursday evening intense stress that Chris experienced with new acquaintances who soon open mic at the Columbia Gorge for months before every festival. became close friends. Bluegrass Festival. (Although she won’t admit to being anything but She also served as co-editor and sold In 2012, they retired the River City nervous, she nailed her guitar leads, ads for the OBA Bluegrass Express. Music Festival at the peak of its and her harmonies were perfect.) popularity. When the River City Chris and Chuck also held down the For the Palmers, the music endures merchandise table at many bluegrass Music Festival re- festivals over the last two years. Then Organizing the festival was alternately emerged at the Red Colby invited Chris to get more exhausting and exhilarating. Chris involved in the OBA as its publicist. and Chuck were plunged into a whole Lion at the River ... “It new world of music, personalities and It was inevitable expectations. They became immersed became one big slumber in bluegrass and the community. party.” Chris is a leader and a manager.

And today, two and a half years after She thought about becoming OBA When Chris’s son moved his family to the last festival, they are more of a part president for five months before she Arizona, the Palmers suddenly were of the bluegrass community than ever. actually accepted the position, but it freed from grandparent duties on was inevitable. During the festival years, Chris weekends. That allowed them both to focused once again on the guitar, spend more time enjoying the music Chris is optimistic about the which she had largely ignored for that they’d worked so hard to promote. organization and believes she’s nearly 40 years. She took flat-picking In 2013, friends Jeff and Lauri Gordon stepping into the presidency at a great lessons with Jon Neufeld (Jackstraw, talked Chris into singing and playing time. “I don’t think the OBA’s ever

Get Well, Greg! If you’ve been to a festival in Washington or Oregon, likely you’ve picked a few tunes with Greg Linder. We call him the bluegrass butterfly, because he makes it a point to get around to every jam and play with folks. He’s a terrific flatpicker and a darn good harmony vocalist. Greg helps put on the Bluegrass from the Forest festival too. He is a tireless volunteer who researches and books bands, organizes events and even helps with the website. In short, bluegrass in the Pacific Northwest would not be the same without him.

Greg was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and many friends in the bluegrass community have come together to help out. A benefit concert took place on June 8th, but fundraising efforts continue. Because Greg works as a contractor, he will be out of commission for six months following surgery and recovery. If you would like to help out, you can make a donation of any amount by visiting www. bluegrassfromtheforest.com and clicking on the donation links available there. -- Della Perry Photo Credit Eric Frommer

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 8 Meet Chris Palmer: Our New OBA President by Claire Levine

Thanks to Michelle Traver, who secured a grant, and the hard-working Tony McCormick, who has maintained the website for years, the OBA has a new interactive web presence.

Now, Chris is looking at how this strong board and the new tools can continue to bring bluegrass to more audiences.

“There’s a resurgence of interest in old-time and bluegrass music among younger Oregonians. Let’s build on that. Let’s bring them in.”

She wants to use her event management skills to reach out, and Chris Plamer and Glen Farley pick a few at the Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival she’s dedicated to continuing the Pickers’ Festival and looking for other been in better shape since I’ve been can track every penny of expenditures opportunities for gatherings and associated with it.” and revenue. performances.

Under Colby’s leadership, the Chris raves about the Express editors, At the recent board retreat, the word OBA expanded its visibility in the Christine Weinmeister and John “happy” kept emerging as one of the community. With the Pickers’ Festival, Prunty. “They taught themselves the board’s goals. Chris said that summed the highly visible hospitality suites graphics program, jumped right in it up for her. “I want to make the OBA at Wintergrass, OBA Secretary Ron and do a terrific job of coordinating a happy place for everybody involved.” Preston’s continued staffing of the and designing the Express four times a OBA table at the Eastside Bluegrass year. It’s never looked better.” Series, and having the merchandise table at numerous festivals in Oregon and Washington, the OBA’s out there, spreading the word and recruiting new members.

In the last two years, co-presidents Colby and Patty, supported by a highly competent board, focused on making sure the board’s foundations were set up to accommodate growth.

For the first time, thanks in large part to Treasurer John McCoy, the board is equipped to keep track of merchandise sales, down to the individual T-shirt size, and perform other accounting functions. Now, not only is the bank account in good shape, but the board Chris Palmer with John Prunty and Christine Weinmeister at the Stevenson Barnstorming event.

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 9 Southern Oregon Report By Joe Ross

Mountain Heart, adds warmth to Sequoia’s folkgrass Union Station, and vintage sound with his fiddle and Seldom Scene, guitar. When Al and Deb’s son Luke is Chesapeake, in town, he joins in as a walking bass Daryl Scott, Tim player and harmony vocalist. & Mollie O’Brien, Doyle Lawson The Antonucci Collective’s new CD, and Quicksilver, “Acoustic Vortex,” released in Sept and Country 2013 is now available for purchase on Current. Band CDBaby. members are Al & Deborah Eight Dollar Mountain took to the Brinkerhoff Britt Festival main stage in Jacksonville and Warren on Friday, June 27 in support of Whistler. In Leftover Salmon. They’ve been in the 1996, Al became studio recording their third album, the Oregon “Tied to the Tracks,” produced by State Dobro Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon, SEQUOIA, from Galice, offers Champion, followed by winning the and they are thrilled to share the Britt acoustic Americana, interesting edgy 1999 Rockygrass Dobro Championship stage with them. You can also catch newgrass and roots tunes. You can in Colorado. Al also kicks it up a them on July 17 (Caldera Tap House in count on them to deliver hot Dobro notch when he brings out his banjo. Ashland), and August 16 (West Coast and banjo instrumentals, as well as Deborah has sung for years with local Country Festival in Ashland). Info: strong vocals with dynamic harmony. southern Oregon music groups at open eightdollarmountain.net Their influences are quite diverse mics, fundraisers, art nights, eateries, and include The Steeldrivers, John parties, weddings, and jam sessions. Umpqua Valley Bluegrass Band has Cowan, Rhonda Vincent, Kenny and Longtime southern Oregon multi- traditional bluegrass shows planned Amanda Smith, The Stringdusters, talented musician Warren Whistler on July 25 (Sutherlin Concerts in the Park), August 10 (Gospel Show in Sutherlin’s Central Park), September 5 (My Coffee & Wine Experience in Roseburg), September 6 (Umpqua Valley Farmers Market in Roseburg), and September 13 (Apple Day at the Historic Applegate House in Yoncalla). Info: [email protected]

Classes and Workshops

Duane Whitcomb hosts three Creekside Music Camps for kids from July 14-18 (Scottish), July 21-25 (Blues) and Aug 11-15 (Galician). The fun for kids, age 6-17, runs from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Since 2007, young musicians have gathered in Ashland’s Lithia Park to play music, run around, make friends and enjoy the outdoors. The camps prepare kids for a lifetime of music, and all styles are welcome.

Corral Creek OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 10 Southern Oregon Report By Joe Ross

jamming, potluck and workshops, the gathering of pickers & friends will also include concerts by Umpqua Valley Bluegrass Band (host band), Long Mountain Revival, Red Diesel, Brian Oberlin, Corral Creek Bluegrass, Back Porch Soiree, Old-Time Fiddlers, and more! Early arrivals can camp at the Tyee public campground a mile away until we open the gates at Eagleview at 2 p.m. on Friday. Donations cover camping and festival expenses. Info: [email protected] 541-673-9759 The first ever Siskiyou Strings and Threads Bluegrass Festival in Yreka, California will be August 25-31. There will be free mid-week workshops, three days of stage shows, a Thursday evening downtown jam, and more. The Siskiyou Golden Fairground in Yreka is located right off the freeway and features over 100 RV hook-up Steep Ravine Festivals sites with 30 amp power and water, shaded seating for the audience and Kids play in large groups with all Siskiyou Folk and Bluegrass Festival at easy access. There is plenty of shopping levels, and small groups of matching Lake Selmac on July 26 will announce nearby. Advance festival tickets are abilities. Instruments include violin, its lineup soon. The event (starting at $45, with camping for $20-25/night. ukulele, guitar, bass, cello and viola. 10 a.m.) features a guitar raffle, 50/50 Info: siskiyoustringsandthreads.com Other instruments are welcome, but drawing, late-night jamming, food and Music in the Mountains on Sept 27-28 check with Duane. Tuition is $200. beverages by Wild River Brewing. Info: at Prospect’s Historic Hotel has music Duane also hosts Friday jams for kids siskiyoubluegrassfestival.com or 541- starting Saturday morning. They also around Ashland. Info: creeksidestrings. 592-3326. have food, wines, beers, crafts, quilts, org; [email protected] 541- jammin’ on the veranda. 324-6851. The West Coast Country Music Festival is at the Greensprings Inn Info: 541-560-3664 The 26th Booher Music Camp is in Ashland on August 16. It features www.prospecthotel.com planned for June 30 through July 5 in Scott Law Bluegrass Dimension, Paige Other Events Sisters, OR. It is attended by adults Anderson & the Fearless Kin, Steep and children of all ages. The camp is Ravine, Creekside String All-Stars, As part of the “Back to the Fifties inspirational, the jamming is a blast, Rainy & the Rattlesnakes, Eight Dollar Celebration,” a Pie and Ice Cream the professional instruction is superb, Mountain and more! $20 advance Social is planned from 4-7 p.m. on and you will want to come back for ticket price at brownpapertickets.com. July 25 at the Schmidt House Barn more! Instruments taught include Info: westcoastcountrymusicfestival. & Bandstand, 508 SW 5th, Grants violin/fiddle, guitar, piano, bass, and com Pass. Most of their music will be cello. You will not only broaden your brass band and Doo-Wop, with some musical horizons, but you’ll meet new Eagleview Bluegrass Family Reunion folk/bluegrass added in for flavor. friends and make great memories that is on for Friday - Sunday August 29- Sponsored by the Josephine County will last a lifetime. Student tuition is 31 at Eagleview group campground Historical Society. Enter the pie $545. Info: boohercamp.com right along the main Umpqua River contest! Info: 541-479-7827 or 541- (11 miles west of Sutherlin). Besides 507-7618.

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 11 Sawyer Olsen: New Kid On the Block By Claire Levine

Sawyer Olsen’s just your average kid … Larry started learning violin about the Through the band leader on Kodiak, who’s performed on stage with Rhonda same time. “My dad would make me Sawyer got to know Frank Solivan -- Vincent and who’s a competitive athlete play with him for an hour a day. And whose band Dirty Kitchen has become in five sports. since it took him a little bit longer to learn the songs, I had to play them He sets a high bar for 15-year-olds. Or twice as much,” Sawyer said. for the rest of us, in fact. But, Sawyer admits, “I actually didn’t Sawyer, whose family moved from Ko- like playing violin that much until I diak, Alaska, to Corvallis last year, was started playing bluegrass.” known to many Northwest bluegrass fans before the move. As a full-time Beyond Beethoven resident of Oregon, he’s making an impression on anyone who hears him What got him going was attendance at play the fiddle. an old-time music workshop, which led to his acquaintance with musicians who play bluegrass and other acoustic music styles. He learned bluegrass playing from a Brian Wicklund book, and eventually he started performing with a bunch of 50-something people whose repertoire ranged from traditional a major force in today’s bluegrass. fiddle tunes to the Grateful Dead. Frank lived in Alaska for several years and, Sawyer said, “He took me under The musicians were not only the best his wing.” So you can expect to see on Kodiak Island -- they were the only Sawyer playing with the amazing Dirty bluegrass musicians on Kodiak Island. Kitchen musicians whenever they’re in The band’s leader became Sawyer’s sec- the Northwest. ond dad, teaching him not only about bluegrass, but also about the joys of the Today and tomorrow festival world. After Larry retired from teaching, he The family owned a home in Carson, moved the family back to Oregon, Washington, where they would spend where he had gone to college. The the summers. From there, it was easy fourth member of the family is Annie, to go to the Father’s Day Festival in age nine, who’s also a fiddler. Grass Valley, California -- which they Once in Corvallis, Sawyer started visited five times -- and the Columbia taking singing lessons with Yvonne Mc- Gorge Bluegrass Festival in nearby Millan. Yvonne teaches music in public Stevenson, Washington. schools and also teaches voice from her “ When I started coming to Stevenson, Philomath home. Photo by Corky Miller I would end up jamming with the head- She invited Sawyer to play with her liners -- and they thought I was pretty Start with the classics band, SugarPine, which was getting good for how old I was, so they invited back together after a year off. Sawyer’s Elizabeth and Larry Olsen thought it me to play with them on stage.” now playing fiddle with SugarPine -- was important for their son to start “I thought they were like gods.” and taking the occasional vocal lead on learning music from an early age. So bluegrass standards. when Sawyer was four, they picked In addition to Rhonda Vincent and out a cardboard violin at Elizabeth’s Ricky Skaggs, he has performed with Like many of his age, one genre isn’t dad’s musical instrument store. Sawyer Sierra Hull’s band, Josh Williams, and enough. But instead of going the Chris learned basic technique on the card- Mark Phillips and IIIrd Generation Thile route, his musical tastes were board model before he got his first real Bluegrass. shaped by his Kodiak years. “I re- violin at age five. ally like old rock and some blues: the

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 12 Sawyer Olsen: New Kid On the Block By Claire Levine

Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, lis home. “You can actually drive places surprised to see him on stage with the the Grateful Dead.” instead of having to fly or take a ferry.” big names -- or read about him in the For example, he said it’s great to be able sports pages in coming years. Sawyer plays the mandolin and some just to drive up to the Saturday Market guitar. “And I’m starting the banjo. I got in Portland on a one for Christmas. I’m teaching myself, weekend, and he going off YouTube.” enjoys the easy access to blue- Sawyer’s drawn to sports, as well as grass festivals. music. He was on the wrestling team at his previous school. Now he’s compet- Sawyer will be ing in basketball, swimming, track and playing with cross-country. He’s also finished “13 SugarPine at the or 14 triathlons,” which he thinks is his Winlock Pickers’ best sport. Festival July 11 - 13 -- and watch “I’d like to be a part-time musician and for him in the a part-time triathlete.” campgrounds at An Oregonian other Northwest festivals this sum- After growing up on an island, Sawyer mer. appreciates the relative freedom of But don’t be movement that he has from his Corval- Photo by Corky Miller

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 13 OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 14 Pickers’ (And Friends) Fest Finds a New Home By Claire Levine For bluegrass musicians, there’s never • set up for camping; modern bathroom available to campers. enough opportunity to pick with others. • with plenty of space for different So seven years ago, the Oregon Blue- A federal program that provides part- jams; grass Association decided to give its time employment to college students members one more chance to stay up all • with enough kitchen facilities to (the farm calls them WWOOFFRES) night and play music. support communal meals; and helps the owners maintain the working farm and its organic garden. WWOOF- They also wanted a place that OBA • that would be affordable for mem- FRES will be on hand to help campers members and friends could visit, eat, bers and friends. get situated and provide optional meals rest and enjoy a lovely outdoor setting. They found what they were looking for throughout the weekend. So began the OBA’s Bluegrass and Old in Zigzag Mountain Farm. One hour Time Pickers’ Festival. east of Portland, the farm is a mile from The OBA board feels like the festival has the town of Welches and found a permanent home. Join them about 16 miles from Timber- September 12 - 14 for a terrific weekend line Lodge. at a beautiful location.

The farm’s owners bought the property about five years ago as a second home. They immediately saw the poten- tial for sharing it with others -- and now they host song- writing workshops and other music events throughout the year.

The first two weekend-long events were The farm is 50 acres of forest and open held at a private camping area west meadows surrounding the original of Portland. The OBA hosted four at house built in 1909. Small bridges cross Pendarvis Farm, the home of the Pick- a creek that flows through the property, athon and a quirky and lovely place to and the Lookout Mountain Trail offers Mark your calendars for gather. But conflicting events made it terrific views of the Cascades. The farm September 12-14 harder to schedule. And the OBA went house has decks, porches, grassy areas at ZigZag Mountain Farm ! in search of a new home. under trees and places to get away. This year’s festival will have more Board members launched a massive The farm has plenty of room for tent space than ever before for jamming. search that included city and state parks and RV parking. In addition to a wood- But there’s also plenty of room to hike, as well as private lands. They were heated hot tub, pickers can rent a yurt sit and enjoy the view, visit, gather for looking for a place: furnished with beds. There’s also a meals -- and enjoy. The farm is set up for picking and community.

New this year will be workshops on every bluegrass instrument. We are also planning an open-mic stage, band scramble, and the popular OBA beer tent.

Visit the new OBA website at oregonbluegrass.org and sign up for the OBA’s Facebook page (facebook. com/oregonbluegrass) to receive updates about this festival and other OBA activities.

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 15 Together Again: Laurie and Kathy Sing the Songs of Vern and Ray By Claire Levine

And for the last the clean intensity of the genre the 20 years, they’ve way they learned it from their early been remark- mentors. able on their own and with Of course, their back-up musicians are others. They’ve impeccable and, well, exciting. It’s a written tearjerk- CD full of joy. ers and hilarious songs and kids’ But maybe what I love the best is the music and bird cover photo. tributes. Laurie They are more than 25 years older than has entertained when I first heard them. And they are in an amazingly more beautiful than ever. And they diverse collec- clearly love each other. tion of ensembles, including her OK, so for me it’s obviously not all band the Right about the music. It’s so much about Hands; as a duo enduring friendships and about be- with Tom Rozum; ing able to go off in all directions and with the next and know you really can go home Kathy Kallick and Laurie Lewis are generation of super-talented acoustic again. It’s about creating new models remarkable people, remarkable women. musicians. The CDs from Kathy’s of beauty and creativity and how to band consistently stay in the top of be graceful and gracious under all They have inspired me – and so many the bluegrass charts for months and circumstances. of my friends – to pursue bluegrass in months. a way we never considered before first Their liner notes are full of gratitude. hearing them in the late 1980s and So, OK, back to the CD, right? To start They point me to my own gratitude early 1990s. with, there was Vern Williams and toward the music, and how it has led Ray Park. They introduced countless me to long-lasting friendships and a Back when I got serious about learning Californians to bluegrass – hard core greater sense of community than I ever more about bluegrass, there was Kathy traditional bluegrass – and inspired thought I could experience. and there was Laurie. And that was so many young musicians who later about it. (We on the West Coast didn’t went on to become professionals and And I’m particularly grateful to Laurie learn about Lynn Morris and Claire innovators. and Kathy, for so much. Lynch until years later.) This CD is a tribute to Vern and Ray But really, go buy the CD, even if it’s They sang. They wrote. They were – and it’s as traditional as you can get: just for the music. Because that’s cer- excellent on their instruments. They blasting Kathy and Laurie back to their tainly enough. fronted bands. They were personable earliest days on the bluegrass scene. and funny and gutsy and honest and Laurie and Kathy Sing the Songs of lovely. And, in a way, they belonged And it’s just stunning. From the first Vern and Ray will be released August to us – women in our 30s and 40s who notes of Oh! Susanna you know it’s go- 5th. It will be available through spruce- loved bluegrass but who didn’t see how ing to be a doozy. andmaplemusic.com, laurielewis.com, we could possibly fit in. and kathykallick.com, as well as CD Their voices are as powerful and Baby and Amazon. When they recorded their “Together” precise as when I first heard them: CD, every woman bluegrasser I knew perhaps even more so. They are such You can also purchase a copy by mail learned to sing Little Annie, and we masters of their voices. We know they by sending $15 + $3 S&H to: all wished for a singing partner who are as versatile in their voicing as they made harmonies sound as easy as are in their songwriting. But it’s still Spruce and Maple Music breathing. surprising how well they have nailed PO Box 9417 Berkeley, CA 94709

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 16

7th Annual ‘

BRG YR RUS F A WKD  CAMPG   buful ZIGZAG MA FM PICKG WH OLD & NEW FRIDS A RU WKSHOPS (POT LUCK ALS, N PICKS RY WELCO) ZIG ZAG MA FM Wcs, Og Septemb 12-14 2014 w.egblgrs.g  ctact psi@egblgrs.g

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 17 2014 FESTIVAL CALENDAR

Contact Mac Wilcox via the website: clatskaniebluegrassfestival.wordpress.com

August 1-3 Pickathon Happy Valley, Oregon lineup and ticket info at: www.pickathon.com

August 8-10 Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival Medical Lake, WA www.bluewatersbluegrass.org

August 8-10 Mt. St Helens Bluegrass Festival Toledo, WA Mark Phillips & IIIrd Generation, and July 4-6 for more information please visit: some of your favorite PNW bands! Wheeler County Bluegrass Festival www.columbiagorgebluegrass.net Wheeler County Courthouse Workshops, band scramble, free Sunday bluegrass gospel concert. Fossil, OR July 31 - August 2 General (360) 785-3478 (541) 763-2400 Five Suns Bluegrass Festival [email protected] email [email protected] McCosh Park washingtonbluegrassassociation.org www.wheelercountybluegrass.org Moses Lake, WA Free admission, free dry camping and August 10-17 July 11-13 workshops! th The Centralia Campout 14 Annual Winlock Picker’s Fest www.fivesunsbluegrass.com Winolequa Park Centralia, WA An Old Time Campout with square Winlock, WA July 26 dances in the evening, meteor showers Marv Sobolesky Bainbridge Bluegrass Festival and lots of Jamming. No stage shows, [email protected] Battlepoint Park performers, or scrambles. Lots of www.winlockpickersfest.com Bainbridge Island, WA friends, stories, tunes and songs. Pot- http://BainbridgeBluegrass.com July 17-20 lucks and river picking. Directions and more info at www.centraliacampout.com Northwest String Summit. July 26 Join us at gorgeous Horning’s Hideout, Siskiyou Folk and Bluegrass Festival August 15 - 17 North Plains, OR for our 13th year! Lake Selmac, OR High and Dry Bluegrass Festival More detail at: www.stringsummit.com. All day festival starts at 10a.m. Guitar Bend, OR raffle, 50/50 drawing, late-night July 18-20 jamming, food and beverages by Wild highanddrybluegrassfestival.com Darrington Bluegrass Festival River Brewing. Darrington, WA Info: siskiyoubluegrassfestival.com August 16 Diana Morgan (360) 436-1179 541-592-3326. West Coast Country Music Festival www.darringtonbluegrass.com Ashland, OR August 1-3 Featuring Scott Law Bluegrass July 24-27 Clatskanie Bluegrass Festival Dimension, Paige Anderson & the Fearless Kin, Steep Ravine, Columbia River Gorge Bluegrass Clatskanie, OR Creekside String All-Stars, Rainy Festival Three days of great bluegrass music & the Rattlesnakes, Eight Dollar Skamania County Fairgrounds in Oregon’s Coastal Range, near the Mountain and more! $20 advance Stevenson, WA Columbia River.

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 18 2014 FESTIVAL CALENDAR ticket price at brownpapertickets.com 17th annual festival Workshops, open-mic, band westcoastcountrymusicfestival.com Three Rivers Folklife Society scramble, potlucks and non-stop Music, dance, workshops, open mic, jamming with your OBA friends August 22-24 storytelling. in the beautiful setting of Zig-Zag Bannock County Bluegrass Festival (509) 528-2215 Mountain Farm. Pocatello, ID [email protected] Plenty of dry camping (tents, for more information visit: www.3rfs.org/tmf small campers.) Limited number bannockcountybluegrassfestival.com of yurts available. President@ September 5-7 oregonbluegrass.org August 24-31 Sisters Folk Festival www.oregonbluegrass.org Strings and Threads Sisters, OR Yreka, California. Three day celebration of American Roots facebook.com/oregonbluegrass Featuring; Larry Gillis music – from blues to Bluegrass. Band, North Country, Green Mountain, www.sistersfolkfestival.com September 26-28 and Siskiyou Summit. Siskiyou Golden Tygh Valley Bluegrass Jamboree Fairgrounds, contact: September 5-7 Tygh Valley, OR www.siskiyoustringsandthreads.com Annual American Banjo Camp Held annually on the grounds of the Fort Flagler State Park Wasco County Fairgrounds August 29-30 Nordland, WA Information: Contact Debra Holbrook Idaho Sawtooth Bluegrass Association A Weekend of intense instruction with 541-489-3434 Fall Festival some of the best old-time and bluegrass Tons of camping...Only need a reserva- Cascade, ID banjo players around (not to mention tion for hook-ups. www.idahosawtoothbluegrass.org some great fiddle and guitar players.) Contact Sid Moss about camping at 541- Bill Estes (208) 615-1074 Plus demonstrations, concerts and 483-3388 plenty of jamming. August 29-31 www.americanbanjocamp.com September 27-28 Eagleview Bluegrass and Folk Festival Music in the Mountains at the Prospect Eagleview Campground (on the Main September 5-7 Hotel Umpqua River) Newport Music Festival Two days of Bluegrass, Country, Folk Sutherlin, OR Newport City Park and Americana Music in Prospect Gate opens 2pm Friday Newport, WA Oregon. Prospect Hotel 541-560-3664 Evening shows, potluck, campfire jam. Open mic stage, youth band competi- www.prospecthotel.com/bluegrass.html On the beautiful Umpqua River. Fishing tion, band scramble and hiking, plenty of camping. Onsite camping included with weekend Joe Ross (541) 673-9759 pass! [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] August 29 - September 1 www.pvbluegrass.com ZigZag Old Time Music Campout ZigZag Mountain Farm, September 12 - 14 ZigZag OR Oregon Bluegrass Associations 7h Fiddles! Banjos! Guitars! Mandolins! Annual Bluegrass and Old Time Basses! Voices! Fun! Food! Campfires! Picker’s Festival Mountains! Community! ZigZag Mountain Farm www.zigzagoldtime.com One hour east of Portland August 29-31 off Hwy 26. Tumbleweed Music Festival One Mile east of Welches, Turn Howard Amon Park North onto East Lolo Pass Road. Richland, WA

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 19 OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 20 The water is blue. The grass is too.

August 8 – 10, 2014 Waterfront Park, Medical Lake, WA

The Rambling Rooks Kenny Smith, Don Rigsby and Ronnie Bowman reunited Town Mountain John Reischman & Kenny Smith Milk Drive Bill Monroe Tribute featuring John Reischman, Greg Spatz, Jim Faddis, Dale Adkins, Kelly Bogan, Dave Hackwith True North North Country Bluegrass The Blackberry Bushes Browns Mountain Boys The Brad Keeler Trio Kevin Brown & The Beloved Country

And introducing our first annual BlueWaters Kids Camp!

Sponsored by Tickets and camping passes available online now! www.bluewatersbluegrass.org www.facebook.com/bluewatersbluegrass

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 21 The Theory of Bluegrass: Periwinkle by Matt Snook

My Favorite Color Monochrome mandolinist play only down strokes for an entire tune? That would go over like There was a time when crayons How odd, then, to encounter a peculiar an electric bass… were one of my favorite toys. After perception in the world of banjo music a seemingly endless summer, the – that we must use only one color on So, why not play the banjo like folks inevitable bell would toll (ask not for our picker’s palette for any particular play these other instruments? A little whom!) and we would be marched into tune. For some unknown reason, of this, a little of that…whatever class to watch the clock as penance for banjo players often choose between the seems musical at the time. I think months of fun. The sting was assuaged different styles of picking, and give an that this approach will both soften the by a small box of school paraphernalia: entire tune the same treatment. I often hardliner’s aversion to alternatives, along with a colorful ruler and a pencil hear that some tune is “melodic banjo,” and make it easier for the beginner to the size of a baseball bat, one of the or folks will even call something master some more intricate phrases. treasures was a fresh box of Crayola® a “clawhammer tune.” Books are Crayons. I remember the smell and the categorized by style – you can render Mix and Match feel of the paper, and the look of the every song in just the one style. Of perfectly conical tips before they were course the antipathy of some Scruggs- For instance, here are a couple of short rounded by hours of serious artistic type players for anything melodic is a melodic phrases that can help a banjo expression. well-known bias, but I wonder if some player with the fiddle tune ‘Billy In of that isn’t because we tend to overdo The Lowground.’ Rather than scripting In Crayons 101 there were only eight the style in the first place. Even most an entire tune in the melodic style, colors, but it didn’t seem to limit what banjo players get tired of the style start adding these melodic licks – and we could draw. After some years, some when it is applied to an entire tune. as many more as you can create – to of us graduated to the box of 16, and your performance of this tune. Scruggs it seemed wonderful to have more Beginning players are intimidated by players can spice up their rolls, come than one green to choose from. We melodic tabs that they think must be closer to the melody of the fiddle tune, never knew what we were missing. played note-for-note-just-that-way and emphasize that driving sound When I finally achieved the status of every time, and can rarely make it all when they come back. Beginners will a 64 Box, I was spellbound! On first the way through some of their favorite find that fiddle tunes don’t have to be a encounter, the dazzling variety of hues tunes for just that reason! source of anxiety and disappointment was amazing, making it hard to know that dampen enthusiasm for a favorite I invite banjo players to listen to which color to choose first. But then, I tune. Banjo picking should be fun other instruments with this in mind. saw it – Periwinkle. I was mesmerized from top to bottom! by Periwinkle. My new favorite, it Pull out your favorite recording of a tickled my eyes just to look at it. It guitar break or fiddle solo, or compare In Figure 1 you’ll find a tab to the A looked good on paper, but just the different mandolin treatments of part of ‘Billy In The Lowground’ in the crayon alone was better than the rest of ‘Jerusalem Ridge’ or some other classic. melodic style, like you might find in a the pack. Even the paper covering was What you won’t hear is the musician plethora of banjo books. Don’t look for attractive. using only one treatment throughout part B: that is part of your homework! an entire tune. Fiddlers may do some I don’t even remember just what longbow or double-stop shuffles Figure 2, Periwinkle Polka, presents a subjects were given the Periwinkle before erupting in a flurry of eighth few ways that you can begin to make treatment in my drawings; I think I notes. Flatpickers jump back and some of the melodic moves work for even avoided using it so that it would forth between what might be called you as you use them to enhance the last longer. But it certainly never a single-note style, to cross-picking, musicality of your playing instead occurred to me to render an entire throw in some chord vamps – the of defining it. The first line uses the drawing in just that one color. No, better ones even use tremolo and melodic style for the first two measures drawing was about using every last bit bends to add musicality. Mandolinists in low C, then switches to the Scruggs of variety in my possession. Periwinkle do all of the above and may, when the style reverse roll during the Am was just the spice that would make the fit takes them, go into a frenzy of all portion. But you can make melodic effort worthwhile. down-stroke blues notes, usually to go runs as short as you want! Line two out with a bang. But would the same shows how to just introduce the song

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 22 The Theory of Bluegrass: Periwinkle by Matt Snook with one measure of melodic banjo, then play the rest of the phrase in the Scruggs style.

Let’s do it again. In line three there are just a few notes of melodic style, then a slide takes us right into some more typical banjo rolls. Then in measure three it’s right back into a melodic run, and right back out again in the last measure. If you practice this way, and consciously alternate between different styles, it will start to appear in your improvisation as well. For one more example, see line four of the same Figure 2. We begin the mid-range solo with the melodic version, use a sort of delayed reverse roll in the middle, then take it out with some final melodic runs.

Your homework is to pull out the other melodic phrases, and make up some of your own (or steal some from your favorite pickers), then break them down into bite-sized pieces that you can handle and practice them just like you do standard licks. No more memorization of an entire melodic tune from end to end!

For the advanced player, this adds a whole new level of musicality to the banjo, as you stop thinking of particular tunes as being tied to a certain style. For the beginner this will help make melodic style more approachable, learning small pieces of melodic style to be inserted into songs as they come to mind. Eventually, you will be able to pull off longer and longer phrases of melodics, keeping in mind that you’re trying to make it as musical as possible.

PS: All “Theory of Bluegrass” articles will be available on the OBA website. Your mileage may vary, and the author is not responsible for injury or damages incurred during a segue from melodic to Scruggs style. No banjos were harmed in the making of this article. Matt teaches banjo & dobro in Coos Bay, Corvallis and Portland, Oregon. Send messages to [email protected]. OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 23 New Music Store in Gresham! Bringing back the “old-style” music store. Fretted instrument sales, repair, lessons consignment and friendly service

Acoustic & Electric Guitars and Bass Classical - Full & Fractional Sizes Banjos & Banjo Ukulele Resonator Guitar Mandolins Ukuleles & Amps Gresham Guitar

Historic Downtown Gresham 343 N Main Ave, 97030 503-907-1111 www.GreshamGuitar.com

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 24 Sound advice: Hints and tips on sounding your best with Mark Gensman, Ground Zero Sound I cannot believe how fast another summer festival live sound is really obvious--a definite echo caused by season pops up. It seems just a short time ago I was the delay between the stage sound and the sound from putting away the gear after my last summer festival and the speakers that reaches me later. now here I am getting everything out, testing, cleaning, and double checking all my equipment. . To avoid having to blast the front row so people a hun- dred or more feet away can hear requires a remote set Being prepared is a good idea for any musician. Check of speakers set away from the stage. Having the main strings, tuning heads, pickups, etc. to make sure they PA speakers and the remote speakers playing at the won’t fail in the middle of a performance. Put fresh same time causes lots of problems with the sound. The batteries in your tuner and your DI if you use an active two systems clash and cancel each other and the sound one. Check all cords, speakers, PA amps, etc. before is terrible. So you must delay the remote speakers. It your next gig. Believe me when I say nothing will ever can get very expensive to simply delay a set of speakers fail in practice or the comfort of your own home. It enough to make the sound smooth over distance. will always fail in the middle of a gig. Again, at a hundred feet, the sound is eighty millisec- This season I have a different setup requirement at a onds behind the main stage PA speakers. So, if you festival. It requires a second set of speakers on a delay delay the remote speakers by eighty milliseconds, all set a hundred feet from the stage for folks who want to the sound from both systems reaches all the listeners at sit a long way from the stage and still hear the music the exact same time with no phase cancellation or mud clearly. In theory, it is a simple task to set up speakers being created. on stands, hook them up to an amp and call it a day. In practice, it can be complicated. There may be a time when you need to fill a large space with sound and you don’t want to blast the front row Sound travels at 1116 feet per second. That sounds just so folks a hundred feet away can hear. A set of really fast to those of us who drive the freeway speed small delay speakers will do the trick. Many times it is limit at around 103 feet per second. However, we are better to avoid extreme volume from the main PA and blessed with a couple of devices that can actually hear let the smaller delay speakers keep it reasonable. Have milliseconds of difference between two sounds. I like a great summer! to call them ears. Pretty clever invention those ears are. They use sound delay to tell us the distance from the If you have any questions about anything involving recording, threat. mastering, audio software, duplicating, mics, speakers or sound reinforcement, please feel free to contact me at: I have had musicians in my studio who could tell when the lead they were overdubbing was as little as [email protected]. five milliseconds ahead of or behind the pre recorded tracks. They know that if the tim- ing is off, the lead drags or pushes the song and that can be frustrating. It’s my job to set the “latency” so recording over pre-recorded tracks has no timing discrepancy between the two. Latency is just what it sounds like, “late.” Two similar sounds arrive at differ- ent times. Cool if you want a nice slap delay on your voice, not so cool if you are trying to listen to music that’s simultaneously real time and delayed. So those folks sitting a hundred feet from the stage, like the typical sound technician, hear the sound from the main PA speak- ers around eighty milliseconds later than those sitting in the front row. When I put on headphones to check a specific channel, the difference between the stage sound and the

OBA Bluegrass Express -Summer 2014 25 The OBA Board Takes A Retreat By Patty Spencer

The fire burned warm and the fridge keeper of the Bylaws, updated the OBA’s was stocked with provisions. On a rainy Corporate Book. We were lucky to weekend in March, the OBA Board land two new Board members - Linda gathered for its first guided planning Leavitt as Co-Volunteer Coordinator to retreat in over a decade. With Lupine assist Marlene Smith, and John McCoy, DeSnyder at the helm, your Board a professional accountant whose eye met for 2½ days, mapping out OBA’s for detail has helped bring better order direction for next year and beyond. to our growing fiscal house. We are fortunate to have him as our current We met at The Latourette House, Pat and Treasurer. Carole Connell’s ancestral home. The late 1800’s beauty was one of Gearhart, The Board was as enthusiastic as Oregon’s first homes. Special thanks to ever. Cleve Friedman and Michelle the Connell family for sharing it with us. bolstered our merchandise selection, adding koozies, women’s t-shirts and The idea for a board retreat started hats. Nancy Christie, John Prunty and almost two years ago when Michelle Christine Weinmeister proof, edit and Traver approached the Board about produce this quarterly newsletter while writing a grant to help pay for a much- Pat Connell tackles advertising. Matt needed website redesign. A year later, Snook maintained our membership The Latourette House in Gearhart was the perfect Michelle’s efforts paid off when the database and ensured the newsletters setting for the weekend. OBA was awarded an Oregon Arts were mailed. Michelle retrieved and Commission grant. Working closely distributed OBA mail. Ian Joel offered Patty Spencer met Lupine at a with the OBA’s long-time webmaster, perspective from his many decades graduation party. A strategic planner Tony McCormick, Michelle procured the in the Oregon bluegrass scene. Stacey who works with non-profit groups, professional services of a web designer. Harnew continues to lead the popular Lupine was a perfect fit. My“ favorite The new site launched earlier this year. Chick’s Kids program. With several part of this work is finding out what Check it out: www.oregonbluegrass.org successful Pickers’ Fests, annual people and organizations want - what meetings, festivals and gospel shows truly drives them - and supporting them The grant writing process required under our belts, the OBA was beginning to reflect that good work and energy into the Board to take a hard look at the to feel like a well-oiled machine. The their organization’s mission work and OBA’s operations, goals and values. Board’s enthusiasm ran high and a vision,” said Lupine in her introductory Ron Preston, the Board Secretary and planning retreat was inevitable. email to the Board. She requested preliminary information from each of us, from “Why are you on the Board?” to “What is the biggest obstacle facing the OBA right now?”

The group trickled in on Friday afternoon. We were current, retiring, and soon-to-be elected Board members. We are friends who share a love of bluegrass music and possess an inherent desire to maintain and strengthen the Oregon Bluegrass Association.

Colby Buswell, our long-time and retiring President, flew in from Michigan. Pat, Tony, John M., Christine, John P., Linda, Michelle, Patty and Chris and Chuck Palmer came in from Portland and environs. Chris and Chuck The OBA Board of Directors met for a planning retreat in March, just before the annual meeting. are now the President and Membership

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 26 The OBA Board Takes A Retreat By Patty Spencer

We discussed the The OBA Wants You! OBA’s mission by first examining our Volunteering doesn’t mean chaining current mission yourself down to a heavy task. statement: “The Oregon Bluegrass Association It can mean: is a volunteer-run organization dedicated • Writing the occasional story for to the participation, the Bluegrass Express or for a blog promotion, on the website preservation and enjoyment of bluegrass • Helping plan an event and related music.” Much discussion • Helping coordinate volunteers ensued before the at an event or reach out to recruit group agreed to revisit others the mission statement. • Staffing a table at a concert or The afternoon wore festival for several hours on and rain showers passed through. We • Filling orders for merchandise covered topics such as placed on line. the OBA’s developing volunteer program, One of the board’s major goals for Many thanks to Lupine DeSnyder, who facilitated our lively discussion Pickers’ Fest, and the the next year is to form and organize and kept us on task. annual meeting. We committees to help streamline ac- talked about a new complishing our mission of being a Directors, respectively. We missed Ron Board structure and of developing volunteer-run organization dedicated who was ill. committees. to the promotion, preservation, and performance of bluegrass and related After enjoying breakfast and several Colby said, “This is something we music. strong cups of coffee, the Board got to should do yearly. Being able to home work. Lupine distributed worksheets in on core topics that take longer than Committees include: Merchandise, and asked us to define our core values. typical monthly meetings and to find a Express, Events Planning and a Web From there, we further brainstormed solution with all Board opinions heard Committee to help keep our new and wrote value statements. Here’s what is a wonderful feeling. Having guidance website up to date and to optimize we came up with: and perspective from a consultant is functionality and content for OBA huge. We owe it to Claire and Pat for the members. If you have special talents, • “Create and maintain a welcoming suggestion and making it happen. The community of musicians and fans.” expertise, or interest in one of these takeaway from this meeting, combined areas, please let us know! with future, focused retreats will help the • “Board members and volunteers OBA stay on track for our members and All these activities help you get to serve the community with attention to assist in channeling our growth. The integrity, credibility and quality.” know other OBA members better – or retreat highlighted how very proud I am meet new folks, learn about the OBA, to have been a part of this organization.” • “Cultivate the appreciation, preserve and expand the reach of this 30-plus- the heritage and promote the current So when you see us at a festival this year-old organization. community around bluegrass and summer, come say hello. Ask how you related music.” can be involved. We would be glad to What to learn more? Contact Linda have you. Leavitt at: • “Promote an appreciation and [email protected] passion for bluegrass music through creativity, openness and FUN!”

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 27 OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 28 George Shuffler (1925-2014): Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? By John Prunty

Wendell Bowman I was greatly saddened when my friend Ken Cartwright told me that Wendell Bowman died May 20th. In addition to serving as “Wagonmaster” for the Music on the Mountains Festival for several years, Wendell was a regular at all the Salem area jam sessions and had a life-long love of bluegrass and traditional country music. He was supportive and encouraging, and there was always an excitement in his eyes when he would recognize a friend walking into the jam. Wendell was credited with writing three songs that his cousin Ronnie Bowman recorded with the Lone- some River Band; Old Country Town, Long Gone, and Listen to the th lead playing has developed into flashy April 7 marked the passing of a Old man. bluegrass legend who inspired many breaks and other techniques. bluegrass guitar players to learn the Born and raised in Northwestern “If it don’t have any melody in it then I Shuffler down-down-up cross-picking don’t want no part of it!” Shuffler was Tennessee and steeped in tradi- roll. George Saunders Shuffler was fond of saying. tional music as a listener, he never born in Valdese, North Carolina, on learned to play an instrument until April 11, 1925. In 1950, after playing There were only two other lead guitar 9 years ago when he got his first on the Grand Ole Opry, George was styles to influence George Shuffler resonator guitar. His favorite piece contacted by Carter Stanley to play in in the early days: Maybelle Carter’s to play was “Fireball Mail.” a group with his brother Ralph. He melodic style, and Merle Travis’ rhyth- spent the next 18 years with the Stanley mic style. Playing the equivalent of a His memorial was Sunday June Brothers and then later with the Clinch banjo roll on the guitar with a flatpick 22 in Salem and was attended by Mountain Boys. allowed George Shuffler to incorporate friends from all over the state of both melody and rhythm into his play- Oregon. He leaves behind a wife, During the lean years of bluegrass the ing. This resulted in a powerful new Darlene, and three children. band consisted of just Ralph and Carter approach that not only filled out the Stanley, and George Shuffler. When spaces between the vocal lines of Carter asked in an interview by James Allen and Ralph, but made the lead guitar a Shelton about how he came up with significant part of bluegrass music. cross-picking roll, George answered “Out of necessity, there weren’t nobody George Shuffler was inducted into the else, no mandolin or fiddle, we had to IBMA Hall of Fame on September 29, come up with something to make it 2011. more full, and it seems like it worked.” To learn more about the guitar style of It was George Shuffler’s strong com- George Shuffler I would encourage the mitment to melody that makes the purchase of “Clinch Mountain Guitar,” cross-picking roll work so beautifully in A DVD produced by Flatpicking Guitar bluegrass. It is striking. Maybe more Magazine. so now, since much of bluegrass guitar

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 29

Catch Fire With Us!!

August 16 ~ High & Dry Bluegrass Festival (Bend, OR) http://www.highanddrybluegrassfestival.com/ August 29—31 ~ Strings & Threads Bluegrass Festival (Yreka, CA) http://siskiyoustringsandthreads.com/ Sept 13 ~ Project Wild Thing w/ the PDX Parks (Portland, OR) http://www.pnwtax.com/About-Project-Wild-Thing-Portland-Screening Sept 26—28 ~ Tygh Valley Bluegrass Jamboree (Tygh Valley, OR) http://www.shanikooregon.com/events/tygh-valley October 13—16 ~ NW Arts Conference (Eugene, OR) https://www.artsnw.org/ December 12 ~ Westside Concert Series (Beaverton, OR) 503.985.7869 December 13 ~ Canyon Arts Center (Mill City, OR) http://heartstoarts.org/html/canyonarts_center.html

And those are just the current events!

Please check our website frequently for additional appearances!

Now Booking for 2014 & Beyond! www.phoenixrisingband.org 503-691-1177

ClaTskanie Bluegrass Festival August 1-2-3 2014 Great Northern Planes Thursday Misty Mamas Corn Bread and Chili The Loafers Corn on the Cob Hardshell Harmony Slipshod Fri, Sat, and Sun 3rd Street Bluegrass Band Pancake Breakfast Friday shows at 5,6,7,8 Saturday shows at 12,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Lots of Open Mic $50 Camping, Plus Electric ($20)

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 30 Scheduled Jams: Though we try to stay up to date, times and locations change - always call first!

Sunday Held upstairs at La Sierra Mexican Grill, 1111 N Hwy GRANTS PASS: bluegrass-folkgrass-gospelgrass- 99W, Dundee, OR, 97115 mountain-musicgrass - 3rd Thursday 6pm-9pm KLAMATH FALLS: Bluegrass Jam Features bluegrass/old country music. Beginner to Wild River Pub meeting room Sunday after the first Friday of the month intermediate jam, all levels welcome. Acoustic-bluegrass, folk, western, Americana roots & from 1 - 5 pm Information: Jon Cooper (503) 702-8978 cooper- more! Mia’s and Pia’s Pizzeria and Brewhouse, 3545 Sum- [email protected] For Information: (541) 471-2206 - Brinkerhoff and mers Lane, Klamath Falls, OR 97603 Antonucci For Information: Ben Coker (541) 783-3478 EUGENE: Bluegrass Jam [email protected] Every Tuesday 9:00 pm - 1:00 am. VANCOUVER: Bluegrass Slow Jam Sam Bond’s Garage, 407 Blair Blvd, Eugene Every Thursday from 6:30-9:30 PORTLAND: OBA Jam Established in 1995, the venue of this year ‘round jam Barberton Grange, 9400 NE 72nd Ave, Vancouver First Sunday of every month offers good food and micro brews. WA 98665 October- April: 12:30-4:30PM For Information: Chuck Holloway & Sean Shanahan. Please note this is a slow jam, with the belief that Portland Audubon Center, 5151 NW Cornell Road Call (541) 431-6603. bluegrass is a non-competitive participation sport. All All levels of bluegrass players are welcome and we talent levels are invited to participate. No amplified frequently break a small group off for faster picking. HILLSBORO: Rock Creek Bluegrass Jam instruments. Listeners welcome. No charge, but there I hope to see you there! Small donation of $6.00 Every Tuesday 7-9pm is a donation jar for those who would like to support requested to help cover room rental. McMenamin’s Rock Creek Tavern the Grange for allowing use of their facility. For Information: Rich [email protected] 10000 N.W. Old Cornelius Pass Rd. Hillsboro, OR For information: Chuck Rudkin [email protected] 97124. PORTLAND: Off Key Easy Bluegrass Established, open intermediate and advanced Blue- Friday Every Sunday 2pm to 5pm grass only jam. Biddy McGraw’s Irish Pub, 6000 N.E. Glisan St. Information: [email protected] DALLAS: All Gospel, All Acoustic Jam Beginner and intermediate jam. “Nobody’s too Every third Saturday of the month 7-10 pm crummy too play with us!” PORTLAND: Intermediate-Advanced Bluegrass Guthrie Park in Dallas. For Information: Randy Black or Tony McCormick Jam (Starting in September 2014!) For Information: Sally Clark (503) 623-0874 [email protected] This is a new jam! Every Tuesday 7-10pm Fenders Moto-Cafe, 4336 SE Woodstock, CLACKAMAS: String Along Music Jam Portland 97206 Saturday 2nd and 4th Sundays Information: [email protected] Sunnyside Library Community Room, 13793 SE PORTLAND: Taborgrass Bluegrass Class & Jam Sieben Park Way, Clackamas, OR 97015. Located on Wednesday circle behind Albertsons at 148th. Starts up again September 6, 10-1 for the beginning class and jam; 1-4 for the intermediate For information: Sharon - [email protected] BEAVERTON: Bluegrass Jam nd St. David of Wales Episcopal Church 2800 SE Harrison Every Wednesday except the 2 one, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Street Portland, OR 97214 ROSEBURG: OBA Roseburg Jam Round Table Pizza, 10150 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale 3rd Sunday 1-5 pm year round For all instruments. No registration required. Drop-ins Hwy Beaverton, OR (just east of 217) welcome. Evergreen Grange, 5361 Grange, Rd. Take Exit 119 off For Information: janeromfo5@gmail I-5. Just past the 2nd stop light, turn left on Grange Cost is $10 per session. Knowledge of basic chords and Rd. The Grange is down 1/2 mile on the left. the ability to execute the chord changes is required. SILVERTON: Bluegrass Jam For Information: www.taborgrass.com Bluegrass Jam - all levels encouraged. Every Wednesday 7 – 9 pm For Information: (541) 679-0553 Seven Brides Brewing Co. 900 N. 1st St., [email protected] DALLAS: All gospel, all acoustic jam Silverton, OR Every third Saturday of the month 7-10 pm For Information: Mark Rauch [email protected] Guthrie Park in Dallas WILLIAMS: Pancakes & Jam Dewayne Powell [email protected] 2nd Sunday of every month except July and August. For Information: Call (503) 623-0874 [email protected] Pancake Breakfast: 8:30-11am, EUGENE: Jam Bluegrass Jam: 11 am- 1 pm. Every Wednesday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Williams Grange, 20100 Williams Hwy. WINLOCK, WA: Slow Jam Music Masters Studios in South Eugene located at the Second Saturday of the month beginning at 1 pm, For Information: Steve Radcliffe (541) 479-3487 shopping center at 40th & Donald [email protected] October through May. All skill levels are encouraged. Good players stop in Held at the Hope Grange in Winlock, Washington. frequently and sit right in with newbies. No charge. Great for all levels and especially good for total begin- Monday Some old time and old country tunes filter in with the ners. bluegrass. For Information: see website - winlockpickers.com or PORTLAND: Rambling Bluegrass Jam For Information: Sean McGowan (541) 510-1241 email [email protected] Every Monday night all year. Friendly! http://www.musicmastersstudio.com/ See Our Website for information on location, time, VANCOUVER, WA - Old Time Country Jam - Every contact, etc. www.ramblingbluegrass.org Thursday 2nd and 4th Saturday 6:30-10:00 pm 2500 N.E. 78th Ave., Vancouver, WA. 98665 at the Tuesday BEND: Bluegrass Jam Vancouver Masonic Center 2nd and 4th Thursdays year round from 7 to 9p.m. All are welcome to join the fun as a musician, singer, or ASHLAND: Bluegrass Jam Held in the board room of the Bend - LaPine School to just listen and or dance. 2nd Tuesday - 7-11pm District, downtown Bend, between Wall and Bond Contact info: Dean Roettger (360) 892-0769 or (360) Caldera Taproom, 31 Water Street, Ashland. For Streets, across from the Public Library. 627-1228 email [email protected] Information: Call Glenn Freese (541) 482-8984 For Information: Becky Brown and Verda Hinkle [email protected] (541) 318-7341 If you have updates or additions, you may update [email protected] your jam’s listing via the public calendar at DUNDEE: Bluegrass Jam oregonbluegrass.org 1st and 3rd Tuesday Each Month, 7-9 pm or email [email protected] OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 31

607 Washington St. Oregon City, Or. 97045 (503)656-5323

Store Hours : 9:30 to 5:30pm Mon - Fri except Thursdays, open til 7:00 • Sat 9:30 to 5pm

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 32 OBA Supporting Performer Directory OBA supporting memeberships are $50 per year. This includes a listing and link on the OBA website and a brief (approx 35 word) band listing in the supporting performers directory

A Sudden Tradition His musical style includes bluegrass, cowboy/ this band a truly unique sound. A Sudden Tradition is a five-member western, folk, and Americana. www.hudsonridgeband.com Portland-area Americana band, performing No matter what the style or venue, you’re sure Mary Luther bluegrass, folk, old time, country, standards, to feel Steve’s love and passion for his music. [email protected] contemporary, and original songs. Our mission 541-404-9281 is to bring musical joy to your gathering. www.SteveBlanchardMusic.com Upbeat and family friendly-- light-hearted 503-730-0005 Kathy Boyd & Phoenix Rising and just plain fun-- that’s what you get with A [email protected] Sudden Tradition! Phoenix Rising appears fresh and new as the www.ASuddenTradition.com Eight Dollar Mountain result of its members performing together in various combinations over the past 30 years. Dennis Zelmer 503-893-4569 Darrin Campbell, Stuart Green, Phil Johnson, This particular combination has now gathered Suzanne Chimenti 503-957-6161 Peter Koelsch, Mark Lackey. together in full force, bringing together the best [email protected] Eight Dollar Mountain rises from the Cascade- of bluegrass, cowboy, folk, country, Americana Siskiyou Mountain region of Southern Oregon and some incredibly talented songwriting to Back Porch Revival and brings you fine string music from the long bring you a sound that is clean, hard driving Gene Greer – guitar/harmonica, Tony standing traditions of excellent bluegrass. and uniquely their own. McCormick – banjo, Dan Anolik – mandolin/ www.eightdollarmountain.net harmonica, Aron Racho – guitar and more, www.phoenixrisingband.org/ Mark Lackey Bruce Peterson – bass and guitar. [email protected] 503-691-1177 Blues inspired folk, country, blues, honky-tonk Fadin’ By 9 and original songs. Back porch music that hits What happens when you bring together a The Loafers the ball out of the park! bass-playing attorney, guitar-strumming Mike Stahlman, Dave Elliot, Aaron Stocek, www.backporchrevival.com bilingual reading specialist, fire-on-the-fiddle Holly Johnson Gene Greer volcanologist, and a banjo-picking elementary [email protected] school principal? Correct if you circled “c) The Loafers are an acoustic quartet, based 503-641-4946 Fadin’ by 9” . With hot pickin’, tight harmonies, in the Portland-Metro area, specializing in and a mix of “bluegrassified” rock, folk, and bluegrass, jazz, and old time instrumentals, Back Up and Push bluegrass covers & originals, Fadin’ by 9 creates with a few good classic vocals thrown in for Dan Kopecky --mandolin/vocals, Robert a unique, uplifting, high-energy sound. good measure. We are a new group with some old names, and a couple new faces. Brownscombe –bass, Susie Anderson – fiddle/ www.fadinby9.com vocals, Tom Gall -- guitar/vocals, Patrick Dave Irwin McLaughlin – banjo. Dave Elliot [email protected] 503-663-3548 5 piece bluegrass band from Welches, OR. We 360-903-0131 play a mix of traditional bluegrass, southern Long Mountain Revival blues and a few cowboy tunes. Available for Home Grown Long Mountain Revival’s main emphasis in festivals, shows, parties, dances, barbecues or Steve Smith, guitar; Bill Nix, banjo; and Dave the group is sharing the Gospel through song. whatever! Morris, fiddle. Everyone sings. Long Mountain Revival is available for church backupandpush.tripod.com HomeGrown has presented their music in functions, outreaches, community events, and Patrick McLaughlin a variety of settings ranging from Bluegrass any other venue where Gospel Bluegrass music [email protected] festivals to concert halls. Their music ranges is desired. from intense Jug Band dance tunes to foot www.myspace.com/lmrevival Bethel Mountain Band tapping porch tunes to sweet melodic waltzes. Jon Clement Gene Stutzman, Jerry Stutzman, Larry Knox, www.homegrownoldtime.com/in [email protected] Tyce Pedersen (Front) - Jerry Schrock, Will Bill Nix 541-292-6907 Barnhart, Craig Ulrich [email protected] Hello bluegrass lovers of the Willamette Valley! Lost Creek Please visit our website to learn more about Hudson Ridge From Portland, Oregon, Lost Creek delivers us, our music, our schedule, and the annual Mary Luther- lead vocal and bass, Jerene a driving blend of bluegrass and old time “Bluegrass in the Orchard Grass” event. Shaffar-vocal, mandolin and bass, Shelley standards with terrific vocal harmonies and bethelmountainband.com Freeman- bass and vocal, Kevin Freeman, lead tasteful instrumentation. For years they’ve Jerry Stutzman guitar and vocal, Bob Shaffar-fiddle and dobro, delighted audiences at festivals, pubs, parks, Fred Grove- rhythm guitar. [email protected] dances, markets, and weddings throughout Oregon and Washington. Have a listen and see Hudson Ridge has a sound all its own. Love what’s new ... thanks for stopping by. Steve Blanchard of harmony and the desire and ability to Steve Blanchard is well known as an acoustic “Ridgetize” their own blend of Americana, For Information: flatpicker guitarist, singer and songwriter Bluegrass, and traditional Country music gives www.lostcreekmusic.com with a career spanning over four decades. [email protected]

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 33 OBA Supporting Performer Directory OBA supporting memeberships are $50 per year. This includes a listing and link on the OBA website and a brief (approx 35 word) band listing in the supporting performers directory Lucky Gap String Band Mud Springs Gospel Band Chas Malarkey, Bob Llewellyn, Jerry Robbins, George Klos experiences are reflected in his song writing. Mike Harrington, Linda Sickler 541-475-6377 About 30% of what the band plays are Shasta Ray originals. The band is referred to as a Good Old-Time Traditional Americana Puddletown Ramblers truly “Community Band”....a “Bring a town and Bluegrass on the Oregon Coast. High together Band.” The music played is a real Puddletown Ramblers is a regional bluegrass Energy, Tight Harmonies, and Fun-Loving slice of Americana including bluegrass, folk, band that performs original songs, good Personalities compliment any Party, Dance, country, sing-a-long gospel, and old time old time traditional bluegrass, acoustic, old Wedding or Special Occasion. favorites. country and Americana music. We are based Chaz Malarkey in Portland, Oregon and perform all over the Liz Crain [email protected] Northwest. Our blend of harmonious voices [email protected] 541-265-2677 will shake that tender chord in your heart and 541-537-1031 leave you wanting to hear more. Mischief Dave Peterson, Tom Martin, Joe Slipshod Martin,Walter Jacobson, Fred Schultz. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Mischief Slipshod formed in 2012. These musicians enjoy entertaining audiences with both their is father/daughter duo Matt and Anna Dave Peterson Snook with Jim Brockill. We’ve 70+ years of humor and musical skills. Matt Snook (dobro puddletownramblers.com experience playing bluegrass and acoustic and banjo) and Steve Blanchard (guitar and [email protected] music. Be amazed: trio harmonies and mandolin) offer listeners a broad and diverse instrumentals with banjo, Dobro, guitar, range of music, including originals, familiar mandolin and octave Mando, and fiddle. Rose City Bluegrass Band melodies and dynamic instrumentals. Their Gretchen Amann, Charlie Williamson, Peter harmonies and unique vocal interpretations [email protected] Schwimmer, Spud Siegel add to their precise instrumental talents. 541.805.5133 The Rose City Bluegrass Band performs an If you’re looking for a fun, energetic band for eclectic blend of Bluegrass and Americana. your next event, party or festival, consider Misty Mamas Who doesn’t love great banjo, fiddle, guitar, Slipshod. Check out this dynamic duo on Carol Harley, April Parker, Katherine Nitsch, mandolin and bass backing up 3 part their web site, Facebook and YouTube. Eileen Rocci harmonies? We excel at playing and delighting folks at corporate and civic events, weddings, Steve Blanchard, 503-730-0005 This band – together since 2005 – has made a family gatherings, private parties, restaurants [email protected] real name for itself in the Vancouver/Portland and taverns. Matt Snook, 541-805-5133 acoustic music scene. Collectively these [email protected] women have decades of experience playing www.rosecitybluegrass.com/ind and singing in harmony. MISTY MAMAS Charlie Williamson Sleepy Eyed Johns serve up Home-Style bluegrass filled with [email protected] powerful harmonies, traditional and original 503-206-4911 Ian Joel - banjo; Mark Klassen- guitar; John songs as well as tasty instrumentals combining Melnichuk - fiddle; Chuck Davidshofer - bass; the American genres of bluegrass, old time, Roundhouse Billy Wyatt - mandolin. gospel, folk and country music. Family Donn Whitten, Kim Jones, Ron Leavitt and Sleepy Eyed Johns – Stump-pulling bluegrass, friendly, the band can include interactive Joe Denhof from the roots. songs that engage the younger set. Roundhouse was formed with the goal of Ian Joel Carol Harley providing a variety of musical genres to [email protected] [email protected] diverse audiences: something for everyone. 503-281-7666 www.mistymamas.com Toward this end Roundhouse performs bluegrass, southern rock, doo-wop, gospel, Steer Crazy Money Creek Mining Co. country, blazing instrumentals and original LuAnn Price, Michael Johnson, Steve Leming, compositions. Roundhouse instrumentation Rick King -- Guitar, Glenn Denison -- Dave Toler and Steve Bickle includes guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass. Mandolin, Tim Dawdy -- Steel-Guitar & Dobro www.roundhouse-band.com Money Creek plays stirring mountain ballads A New Brand of Western & American Music. Kim Jones and burning banjo tunes. Known for their Musical fun and close harmonies that require precise harmonies, rarely do you find a group [email protected] no complicated explanation. Nice guys singing of singers with their unique blend. Join 503-838-2838 and playing great music. Money Creek on a musical American journey of triumph, sorrow and just plain fun. Shasta Ray Band http://www.facebook.com/Steercrazyband Tim Dawdy www.moneycreekbluegrass.com The band’s founder and leader is Shasta Ray, born in New England. His travels and [email protected] LuAnn Price 360-904-0347 [email protected] 425-346-6136

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 34 Go To www.oregonbluegrass.org For more info & links Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in receiving a Supporting Performer Membership form.

Stumbleweed www.waywardvessel.com for several years. Three and four part vocal Stumbleweed is a Portland based bluegrass [email protected] harmonies, exciting instrumentation and band. Playing mostly original material, with contagious fun are part of the Rufusarian a few classics thrown in, we blend traditional Whiskey Puppy bluegrass experience. A Whistlin’ Rufus show bluegrass and honky tonk with a bit of old Rachel Gold (guitar), Justin Auld (banjo and guarantees a varied and wonderful mix of country, and we smile a lot. From weddings fiddle) and Gabe Adoff (Bass) blazing bluegrass, original homemade tunes to company picnics, Stumbleweed plays with and an Irish fiddle tune or two. an infectious energy that brings fun to any Whiskey Puppy plays boot-stomping, mule- www.whistlinrufus.com gathering. slapping traditional bluegrass and old time Pat Connell music. The Portland, OR trio brings energy, Contact [email protected] humor, and skillful musicianship to little- [email protected], 971-207-5933 known songs and tunes searched out from the [email protected] or repertoires of the early Southern string bands. [email protected] Betsy and Theron Yochelson Stand-up bass / mandolin -- Lead / harmony Wayward Vessel http://www.whiskeypuppy.com/ Rachel Gold vocals. We head up two bluegrass / acoustic- Ken Chapple (guitar), Julie Schmidt (fiddle), [email protected] country “all-event” bands in the mid- Josiah Payne (mandolin) and Belinda 503-227-0647 Willamette Valley. Underwood (bass). Whistlin’ Rufus 541-409-8248 Wayward Vessel is an adventurous alternative [email protected] acoustic ensemble exploring the boundaries Pat Connell, Ritchie Wernick, Nat O’Neal, Red Diesel: Patrick Connell, Zach Banks, John Meek. of bluegrass and folk music. With superb www.facebook.com/reddieseloregon musicianship and lush, natural vocal Prairie Dog Backfire: Whistlin’ Rufus has delighted family harmonies, the band creates a unique www.reverbnation.com/prairiedogbackfire palette to portray their rich library of original audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest and traditional music. Oregon Bluegrass Association Contributing Business Sponsors

Fresh Air Sash Cord Repair, Inc. - Old windows that work! Patty Spencer - (503) 284-7693 - www.freshairsash.com Gwen Peterson, GRI, CRB - Prudential Real Estate Professionals (503) 769-3448 - 1151 First St., Stayton, Oregon 97383 Joe Corder Drywall, Inc. (503) 738-8192 P.O. Box 862, Seaside, Oregon 97138 CCB#46802 Charlie Williamson - Attorney at Law (503) 206-4911 - [email protected] Palmer Wirfs & Associates (503) 282-0877 - www.rivercitybluegrass.com Richard Siewert, GRI - Owner/Broker, Northwest Classic Properties 1-800-440-8301 - 2265 Country Club RD., Woodburn, Oregon 97071 Friends of the Ridgefi eld Natioal Wildlife Refuge 360-887-9495P.O. Box 1022, Ridgefi eld, WA 98642

Add your business name to this list: If you are a bluegrass-friendly non-music-related business and would like to actively promote your business by being an OBA supporting partner - now you can, as a Contributing Business Sponsor. A non-music-related business cannot advertise with the OBA, but a Contributing Business Sponsor can get the recognition and promotional benefi ts of underwrite-style sponsorship. For $100 annually, your OBA supporting business gets all the member benefi ts - plus a year of promotional print and announcement recognition at OBA sponsored shows and promotions, as well as a prominent listing in the Bluegrass Express. For more information please contact Chuck Palmer by email at: [email protected].

OBA Bluegrass Express - Summer 2014 35 Oregon Bluegrass Association Non-Profit US Postage P.O. Box 1115, Portland, OR 97207 Paid Address Service Requested Portland OR Permit No. 2956 Oregon Bluegrass Association

A subscribing member of the OBA according to expiration date. Cut along dotted line for a handy OBA Membership ID card.

Oregon Bluegrass Association P.O. Box 1115 Portland, Oregon 97207 www.oregonbluegrass.org

Oregon Bluegrass Association Membership Membership Check all that apply ___ New Member ___ General Member ...... $25 (1yr.)/$65 (3yrs.) Name ___ Supporting Performer .....$50 (1yr.) ___ Angel Sponsor ...... $60 (1yr.) Address ___ Golden Sponsor ...... $100 (yr.) ___ Contributing Business Sponsor....$125 (1 yr.)/$350 City State Zip Code (3 yrs.) Volunteering Home Phone Work Phone ___ Yes! I am interested in helping as a volunteer at E-Mail Address OBA sanctioned events. Please add me to your list of volunteers.