GOOD YBA SHOWCASE

Local area fans enjoyed another showcase performed by eight area bands on Friday evening, October 16. 2015, at the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch chapel.  The Miles City group "Milestown" filled in at the last minute to replace a band which had cancelled and performed very well. Photos from the evening are shown with more to come in another post.

                                                  Old timers with fiddler Gladys Burns

                                                            The Unexpected Band

Spur of the Moment

                                        

MC Terry Jessee the old folkie with 12 string

 

 

             

 

 

                 

             

YBA SHOWCASE BAND LINEUP

FROM YBA PRESIDENT SHARON KARLSON:

Here is the order in which the bands will be playing Friday:

1.  Plots and Rocks

2.  Memory Lane

3.  Ed Pierson

4.  Spur of the Moment

5.  The Hillbillings

6.  Song Dog Serenade

7.  Highway 302

     Bluegrass County Line had to cancel.  See you all tomorrow night!

YBA SHOWCASE POSTER

From:  Paddy Moore

Paddy Moore is a very fine graphic artist as well as bass player and vocalist for the bluegrass band "Songdog Serenade."  This poster is her creation. The YBA is fortunate to have she and her hubby Scott Moore as talented and very active members.

YELLOWSTONE BLUEGRASS ASS'N STRENGTHENS

In the opinion of this blogger, a founder of the bluegrass club in Billings, MT, the Yellowstone Bluegrass Association has been struggling for a number of years.  The constant diminishing of facility use by the Billings Public Schools and the closing of the Prairie Winds Cafe in Molt and it's Saturday morning bluegrass with breakfast have been major factors. Some readers may have wondered why several recent posts have been dedicated to the new jams at the Elks Lodge. They are continuing to pick up steam and become more popular with both pickers and fans. The Friday October 9th session had some 20 musicians participating and an increasing number of fans.  Some are out for dinner and/or drinks at the Elks and come downstairs to enjoy the bluegrass music. Some bring their drinks along. Ohers respond to announcements in local media. A portion  of last Friday's  picking circle are shown above.

The Elks jams are proving to be very good for regaining the earlier strength of the YBA.  In addition the recent months of Saturday bluegrass music at the Owl Cafe in Laurel, MT, are drawing even larger crowds than the Molt sessions had.  This is not surprising as Laurel has a population of more than 7,000 and has several more  nearby towns.  Of course it is barely 15 miles from the Billings city limits with it's 100,000 to draw from.  Some retirement facilities have even sent buses from Billings for the Owl activities While established bands have normally provided the bluegrass entertainment, a unique group performed last Saturday, October 10, 2015. "Spur of the Moment" was originally scheduled, but had to drop out with just a day or two's notice.  As a result several pickers decided to simply put a six person jam band together and they actually wowed the crowd with their musical compilations.  They included Paddy Moore on bass and Scott Moore on lead guitar from "Songdog Serenade" plus Larry Larson on rhythm guitar and Jim McGowan banjo of "Hiway 302."  Lee Jackson of "Milestown" played mandolin and Arlen Ellis contributed dobro licks. This impromptu group actually outperformed some of the other groups who have played the Owl.  Thanks to those six pickers for doing a great job and making sure that "the show goes on."

There will be no bluegrass jam at the Elks this Friday October 16 as the Fall YBA Showcase will take place in the Chapel of the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.  See other posts for more information.

WEEK THREE YBA ELKS JAM

The third YBA jam at the Elks Club on Lewis Avenue was the best one yet as more experienced musicians and vocalists attended.  That is valuable for novice pickers in attendance.  Photos are from that event:

2015 IBMA AWARDS

2015 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Winners

Entertainer of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Female Vocalist of the Year: Rhonda Vincent
Male Vocalist of the Year: Shawn Camp
Vocal Group of the Year: Balsam Range
Instrumental Group of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Song of the Year: “Moon Over Memphis,” Balsam Range
Album of the Year: The Earls of Leicester, The Earls of Leicester (produced by Jerry Douglas)
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: “Who Will Sing for Me,” the Earls of Leicester
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year: “The Three Bells,” Jerry Douglas, Mike Auldridge, Rob Ickes
Emerging Artist of the Year: Becky Buller
Recorded Event of the Year: “Southern Flavor,” Becky Buller with Peter Rowan, Michael Feagan, Buddy Spicher, Ernie Sykes, Roland White and Blake Williams
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year: Becky Buller
Banjo Player of the Year: Rob McCoury
Bass Player of the Year: Tim Surrett
Dobro Player of the Year: Jerry Douglas
Fiddle Player of the Year: Michael Cleveland
Guitar Player of the Year: Bryan Sutton
Mandolin Player of the Year: Jesse Brock
Inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame: Bill Keith and Larry Sparks
Distinguished Achievement Awards: Alison Brown, Murphy Henry, the International Bluegrass Music Museum, “Bashful Brother” Oswald Kirby and Steve Martin

OCTOBER BANDS AT THE OWL CAFE

Music continues at the Owl Café in Laurel, MT, on Saturday AMs.  Enjoy an old fashioned country café breakfast served up by Kathy and her staff and listen to some old time music as well. Here is the latest band schedule:

Oct,. 3                   Highway 302
Oct. 10                  Spur of the Moment
Oct. 17                  Old Time Fiddlers
Oct. 24                  Yesterdays Wine

This is all that is available at this time.


edit:
We have since learned that Spur of the Moment will not be performing on Oct. 10. A band will be there, but no announcement as to which is yet available..