Continuing with the theme of my last post, I’d like to point out that the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA) is aware that all Grass Seeds eventually grow up and that the grass doesn’t always stay purely blue. In fact, Minnesota is starting to gain a national reputation for being a hotbed of hybrid and progressive forms of stringband music with bands like Trampled by Turtles and Pert Near Sandstone touring the country, building a name for our local acoustic scene and introducing banjos, mandolins and fiddles to a new generation of fans. As these new fans become interested in the roots of the music (and perhaps even want to pick up an instrument or start a band themselves) it is important that there are resources available to help them learn and grow and that there is a community willing to embrace them. This often means meeting these budding ‘grassers in their natural habitat – college campuses, bars, night clubs etc. That is where the MBOTMA Underground comes in.
According the Facebook event page for their upcoming kick-off/fundraiser at the 331 Club in NE Minneapolis:
“MBOTMA Underground is a subset of MBOTMA designed to filter new members into the organization through events around the metro area, the festivals, and beyond! We would eventually love to have monthly or bimonthly concerts (where we can actually pay our artsits!), jam sessions on college campuses, a presence at MBOTMA festivals (think: “Brought to You By…MBOTMA Underground!”), and much more.”
If you’d like to be a part of this exciting new movement or just show your support, you can do so this Saturday, April 28th 2012 from 5pm-9pm at the 331 Club in Minneapolis, where they will be holding their kick-off event and a fund raiser. Here are more details from their press release:
Saturday, April 28, 2012, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Minneapolis MN: MBOTMA Underground Kickoff Concert, 331 Club (331 13th Ave NE). Roe Family Singers, Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, and Ruby Magpie. Help welcome MBOTMA Underground to the music community. There will be a raffle for those that do donate for tickets to the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Association’s Kickoff Music festival June 1-3 at El Rancho Maana, as well as some other prizes. The proceeds will go to the start up of MBOTMA Underground, which is dedicated to promoting the next generation of bluegrass and old-time music. $10 suggested donation. For more information call 800-635-3037 or visit www.MinnesotaBluegrass.org. Produced by the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA).
I should mention that I will be there performing with a new progressive acoustic band that I have joined called Ruby Magpie, which features some of my favorite local pickers: Catie Jo Pidel (fiddle, guitar, ukulele, vocals), Pete Mathison (bass, vocals) and Ryan Kimm (guitar, dobro, vocals).
I look forward to seeing who shows up… …and who sticks around.
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