July 6th – SpareTime Bluegrass . . . energetic, unpredictable
Individual Bios:
Bob Batyko, was born in New Jersey, was raised primarily in Akron, Ohio, and is a graduate of Kent State. He’s also resided in Virginia and downstate Indiana (close to Bean Blossom where he had a chance to jam with Brother Birch Monroe). Early on he played the guitar and began working in church music, playing for some of the first guitar masses. He then “found” bluegrass music and worked at the songs of Doc Watson, Norman Blake and Bill Harrell. He also has an interest in Django Reinhart and gypsy jazz. Bob has a day job — he works in the communications industry.
Jim Robarts was born and raised in Southern California. His early musical influence was Spade Cooley, the “King of Western Swing.” He became interested in bluegrass in high school, but didn’t begin to pursue an instrument until after his return from Vietnam, where he spent two years as a uniformed representative of the United States government. He also worked at the Lava Lamp plant in Chicago, and knows the secret. He moved to Chicago and took up the banjo. He then moved to Madison to gain Masters Degrees at the University of Wisconsin, and began playing in various bluegrass bands. His banjo is a 1999 Gibson Granada. He retired his 1926 Gibson TB-3 conversion.
Dale Ward brings a hard driving mandolin to the band as well as high lonesome vocals. After years of forays into country and rock, he’s embraced bluegrass. Another multi-instrumentalist (he’s been known to pick up a guitar and fiddle), Dale puts his high tenor to good use in harmonies or lead vocal work. A Dale Ward bobble-head is in the future…..
Lorie Docken rounds out the group on bass. She’s been subbing for several years with SpareTime and now steps into the full time slot. The Minnesota native plays an upright Kay bass.
July 13th – Dollar Bill & The Bucks . . . classic country of the 50s & 60s
Since 1997, Dollar Bill & the Bucks have been crafting their vintage honky tonk sound. They have amassed an impressive repertoire of classic George Jones, Ray Price, Web Pierce, Johnny Cash, and Buck Owens, among other great artists, plus newer and original material rooted in the classic Nashville sound. They perform with vintage instruments and amplifiers to capture the heart and sound of a simpler time, and seek out rooms and venues with an intimate feel to create a soulful country music experience. Expect some slow dancing as well as some two-steppin’, and tales of heartbreak, cheating, truck driving, and drinking.
July 20th – The Getaway Drivers . . . original rock americana
The Getaway Drivers radiate edgy, melodious, alt-rock energy from the infamously progressive heartland outpost of Madison, Wisconsin. Gritty western blues, lush pop ballads, driving progressive rock, sweet-tea country nostalgia and even an oddly majestic instrumental somehow find common ground in the silky, dark acoustic guitar framework; the pairing of cracked-leather and mercury smooth vocals; a personalized cello style fusing orchestral grandeur with possessed, beautifully-fractured harmonics; bluesy, growling electric guitar, spooky-sweet touches of mandolin, lap steel, and fiddle, and a relentlessly solid rhythm section. “…well beyond the standard heartland-rock sound…” —Scott Gordon, Madison City Editor, The Onion. “…The Getaway Drivers are clearly onto something…they could find themselves making inroads into a much larger market… —Tom Laskin, Isthmus “…eclectic, beautiful…they rock. Period” —Lee Rayburn, WXXM, Madison, WI.
July 27th – Bodhinay . . . musical cultures of the world
Randal Harrison, violinist, Emmy nominated composer, MAMAs Classical, Jazz and Blues Artist of the Year and Stas Venglevski, a Graduate of the Russian Academy of Music, three time winner of the Bayan Competition of Moldova, first met International bodhranist Evan Leahy while performing together in his WAMI winning Celtic band, Leahy’s Luck. After touring and playing together for years, 2011 marks the inauguration of these three virtuosi as the independent trio, Bodhinay`. Their performances are a musical travelogue, bringing together a far reaching mix of Celtic, Tango, Gypsy, Americana and World Music.
Individual Bios:
Violinist Randal Harrison charms, challenges and inspires listeners of all ages. Critics have simultaneously declared him reminiscent of Nicoli Pagannini, Stephane Grapelli, Al DiMeola and Frank Zappa. His mastery of such diverse styles has garnered him an EMMY nomination for composition and three Madison Area Music Awards for Jazz Artist of the Year, Classical Artist of the Year and Blues Artist of the Year. His diverse performance credits include work with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, jazz Bassist Ben Tucker, and legendary drummer Sam Lay of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Harrison’s performances and compositions appear on over 100 recordings including works for Naxos World, SRM, Boat Records, db Musique, Spiritwood and StringFling Records. In addition to his work as performer, composer and recording artist, Randal Harrison travels as a clinician of jazz improvisation and violin studies.
Stas Venglevski is a bayan accordion virtuoso, performing with symphonies internationally, the Milwaukee Pops Orchestra led by Doc Severinsen, has appeared with Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” and numerous venues far and near. His artistry, dazzling technical command, and sensitivity have brought Stas, a native of the Republic of Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union, world-wide acclaim. With ten recordings to his credit he has served as President of the prestigious International Accordionists and Teachers Guild. A lover of all types of music, Stas is the consummate entertainer.
Evan Leahy is a founding member of Anam Ri, one of the biggest names in Wisconsin traditional Irish music. His musical mentors include Kevin Rice and Albert Alfonso. Leahy has competed in the All-Ireland competition and performed for Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome while on tour in Italy with Drums for Peace. Evan is a mainstay at the world’s largest Irish music festival, Milwaukee’s Irishfest, where he’s performed with the likes of Gaelic Storm, Joanie Madden from Cherish the Ladies, John Doyle and John Williams from Solas, and the Makem Brothers.