2008 Workshops, Jams & Kids Stuff
True to its mission, Sugar Maple Music Festival is as much about education as it is about great performances. In the intimate setting of shelter #3, the Roots & Reason Stage, offers a variety of hands-on instruction as well as in-depth discussion led by a variety of this year's Mainstage musicians. In addition, interactive music sing-alongs and story telling especially for kids is added to the Roots & Reason schedule. And what's that yonder sound? The freestyle frenzy of the new Jam Tent. The following is a tentative schedule of educational offerings at the 2008 festival, with more information coming soon.
FRIDAY AUG 1, 20086:00pm - Dave Landau (KIDS' SHOW! In his fifth annual appearance at Sugar Maple, Dave plays his first of three shows this weekend.)
6:45pm - Banjo Styles (Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Mike Seeger discusses and demonstrates clawhammer, two finger uppicking, index lead, and three finger styles. Jim Robarts, Moderator.)
7:45pm - Square & Contra Dance Class (Get your legs ready for this evening's Mainstage Sugar Maple Square Dance w/ caller Dot Kent and friends.)
8:00pm - Open Jam* (host TBA)
11:00pm - Late Night Campfire Jam (For registered campers only at the group camp area. Hosts and special guests TBD.)
Schedule subject to change. *Indicates Jam Tent Location.
SATURDAY AUG 2, 2008
1:00pm - Old-Time Jam* (hosted by Chirps Smith, one of the foremost and formidable master fiddlers on the old time scene today.)
1:30pm - The Chickadees (KIDS' SHOW! Female music trio from Milwaukee performing fun and educational children’s songs.)
2:45pm - When tracks were wax (Moderated by Tom Martin Erickson, host of Wisconsin Public Radio's "Simply Folk" program, The Goose Island Ramblers discuss the history of their first label Cucca Records.)
3:00pm - Bluegrass Jam* (Hosted by Bob & Lisa Steeno, who return to Sugar Maple or their second straight year direct from Florida.)
3:30pm - Dave Landau (KIDS SHOW! In his fifth annual appearance at Sugar Maple, Dave brings back all the favorites of his participatory kids show.
4:15pm - Mandolin Styles (Grammy Award winner Mike Compton discusses and demonstrates the styles fathered by the late Bill Monroe. Jim Robarts, Moderator)
5:00pm - Life as a Bluegrass Boy (Songs and stories from the understudies and stage-mates Bill Monroe. Jim Robarts, Moderator.)
5:00pm - Stringband Blues Styles* (Discussion and demonstration with Sugar Maple alum Charlie Parr, and Adam Tanner. Karen Sonnenblick, Moderator.)
6:00pm - Dave Landau (ENCORE KIDS SHOW! Parents Choice award-winning music and sing-alongs.)
6:45pm - Appalachian Conversation (Songs and stories from a true living legend, Ms. Hazel Dickens. Bill Malone, Moderator.)
7:00pm - Open Jam* (host TBD.)
11:00pm - Closing Night Campfire Jam (For registered campers only at the group camp area. Hosts and special guests TBD.)
Schedule subject to change. *Indicates Jam Tent Location.
2007 Workshops, Jams & Kids Stuff
The following educational opportunities were featured in 2007:
Gypsy/Bluegrass Guitar (Sam Miltich of Clearwater Hot Club and Clay Hess from Mark Newton's Band Will compare and contrast Gypsy jazz and bluegrass guitars styles methods and play a song or 2 together to illustrate.)Tag-along sing-along (Madison singer/songwriter Dave Landau takes his music for munchkins out and about the festival grounds.)
Ask Beth session (Beth Lawrence is the bass player for Mark Newton's Band and is originally from Racine, Wisc. Many locals remember Beth with her family in the Lawrence Family band. Beth will field questions from the audience and those submitted from the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association website.)
Cajun Jam with The Magnolia Sisters.
Jug Band Demonstration (Woody Pines will explain and display the unique arsenal of jug band instruments.)
Traditional Irish open session (hosted by members of West Wind.)
Rebuilding the Bayou (Jeff & Vida and The Magnolia Sisters, with moderator Bill Malone, discuss and deomstrate how roots music is inspired by--and aids in recovery from--natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.)
Cajun 2-step Dance Class (The Magnolia Sisters help find your legs in preparation for thier evening Cajun set on the Mainstage.)
Bluegrass Jam (hosted by the Steeno's, who return Up Nort from Florida's pan handle.)
Momma I Got No Frets-Music of the Dobro and Fiddle (Dobro extraordinaire Randy Kohrs and Fiddle virtuoso Randy Sabien get together to discuss and perform music without the limits of frets.)
Campfire Old-time Jam (hosted by the New Bad Habits.)
Dave Landau (Parents Choice award-winning music and sing-alongs.)
Skip Jones (Diversity songs and stories for the whole family.)
Rock-A-Bye Child Care Learning Center from Sun Prairie, presents a fun and interactive day for Sugar Maple’s musical munchkins, who get in FREE with paid adult! 12:00 - Face Painting and Temporary Tattoos; 1:00 - Summer Musical Shakers; 2:00 - Musical Necklaces; 3:00 - Musical Chairs; 4:00 - Rhythm Painting.
...and all day be sure to add your patch to the giant instrument dream catcher, a beloved tradition courtesy of Lindy and Al Wilson.
2006 Workshops
The following educational opportunities were featured in 2006:
Kay Weeden - Bi-lingual music and stories for kids!
Art of the Slide - A rare, if not once-in-a-lifetime, chance to learn slide steel and acoustic blues guitar from Madison Native Joel Paterson together with Red House recording artist Guy Davis.
Cajun 2-steppin' - Join the members of Lost Bayou Ramblers, our 2006 resident artist, in a rousing hour of dance and music instruction a-la Bayou.
Dave Landau - For a third consectutive year at Sugar Maple, Dave flat-picks his entertaining and award-winning style of music and sing-alongs kids of all ages just cannot resist!
Bluegrass Flatpicking- GRAMMY nominated with multiple nods from the International Bluegrass Music Association, Audie Blaylock shares his own styles, and stories from his solo career and 8-year run with Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys.
Vocal Harmonies- Kip Beacco and Teddy Tetlow Weber of Hunger Mountain Boys, join the everybodyfields (winners of the 2005 Merlefest Chris Austin Songwriting Contest) for singing that's bound to resonate the waters of Waubesa for years to come.
Campfire Jam - Time to put all the days' lessons to good use. Gather 'round the fire ring to sing and pick some strings.
2005 Workshops
The following educational opportunities were featured in 2005:
Ken Lonnquist - Ken performs original songs that kids and adults love!
Fiddle Styles - Come to learn about Celtic, Cajun and Oldtime fiddling from local artists and festival performers.
Dave Landau - Dave brings his entertaining style of music and learning. Kids won't want to miss it!
Art of Squeeze - members of the Happy Notes and Cris Plata will demonstrate their mastery of the accordion and concertina.
Old-time Guitar - Debra Clifford will teach the art of rhythm guitar, accompanied by fiddler Brian O'Donnell.
Bluegrass Banjo - Dale Reichert, banjo player with Art Stevenson and High Water, will showcase his skill on the five-string.
Vocal Harmonies - Art and Stephanie Stevenson will perform and discuss their wonderful vocal harmonies.