5th annual Great Midwestern Bluegrass Bash March 8, 2013

For Immediate Release:

Hundredth Monkey Productions presents

The 5th Annual Great Midwestern Bluegrass Bash

Madison, Wisconsin – February 24, 2013

Friday and Saturday, March 8th and 9th, 2013, 8:00 pm

The Great Midwestern Bluegrass Bash returns to the Majestic for its 5th installment on March 8th and 9th, 2013. The two nights of boot-stomping bluegrass features co-headliners (boasting unique setlists each night with no repeated songs) Whiskey Rodgers' Galactic String Band and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, with special guests Evergreen Grass Band, The Tillers, Insomniac Gypsy, and The Material Boys!

Just off the capital square in Madison, at 115 King Street, the popular Majestic Theatre with its new state-of-the-art sound system has proven to be the perfect venue for cutting edge bluegrass pickin’ and stompin’ entertainment. Previous Bluegrass Bash shows have packed the house with warm and energetic down-home music and dancing, and this one promises to surpass that lofty bar, especially with two whole nights (only one the previous four years) of boot-stomping music.

Kick starting the first night off are the talents of Insomniac Gypsy, who embody an original, bluegrass-infused, high-energy string band, combining bluegrass with jazz, funk, and rock to emerge with a completely different sound all of their own. Denny Vanesky has a playing-with-fire, hot-picking guitar style that's as flavorful as a Kentucky barbeque. Denny's playing is always a blend of technical basting and improvised seasoning that creates good tasting, dance-around-the-fire nourishment! Even so, it is Denny's songwriting skills and energetic vocals that take center stage in Insomniac Gypsy music, as his raspy and intense sound is that of a backwoods storyteller and he conjures up songs about life in the rural Midwest. Denny has shared the stage with many great artists, including John Hartford. Jeff Sachs' bass and fiddle playing shines as the bluegrass beacon of Insomniac Gypsy. His high and lonesome playing is the warmth of the slow songs, while his winding, out-of-this-world passages during fast songs takes the music to that higher ground, somewhere between the Groove Galaxy and Constellation Exaltation. His fiddle playing is pure tie-dye in the sky colorful. He also sings lead and harmony and writes and co-writes many of the songs in Insomniac Gypsy's seemingly endless repertoire of original songs, and he has even played bass live for Vassar Clements! Theodore Vanesky plays three-finger style banjo. His self-taught playing encompasses outsider scales and passages while he effortlessly glides over the bluegrass rhythms. These melodic and harmonic surges bring jazz overtones to the music, a kind of reweaving of the traditional bluegrass fabric in a way that masterly reinvents it. Nate Sitzman is a stellar mandolin player that achieves seemingly impossible tones and sounds from his lightning fast fingers - he is sure to perk up your ears and your feet. Nate also is an amazing lead and harmony vocalist.

Deep in the Northwoods of Wisconsin a group of pissed off bluegrass pickers decided they wanted to change bluegrass for all mankind. They failed to do so. Now, they just continue their barnstorm of the Midwest in hopes of one day to play a song so fast that it actually disrupts the space-time continuum.
The Evergreen Grass Band was formed in 2008 over the course of many beer & whiskey fueled nights hosting the open mic at the Mousetrap Tavern in Eau Claire, WI. The 5-piece, including guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin & harmonica have been playing their distinctive and aggressive blend of bluegrass, punk, rock n’ roll, jam & country with various members consistently around the Midwest for 3 years.
The band recently finished their first tour to Colorado and have their eyes set on expanding to the west coast and as well as further into the east. Their first album “For Sheriff” was released in June of 2010 to rave reviews. The band is currently putting finishing touches on their second full-length, original album. Bringing an energetic and original act to any place they play, the Evergreen Grass Band has been winning ears and hearts alike with their straight-forward, face-melting ungrass songs, toe-tapping country tunes and original grass arrangements of covers in any genre. Always creating a good-time, drink 'em down atmosphere, the Evergreen Grass Band brings with them a genre-defying sound, a dedication to their live shows and an earnest understanding of what entertainment really is.

Hailing from Stevens Point, WI, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades plays progressive high-energy old-time music. Being mostly inspired by rivers, valleys, good friends, and good drink; this five piece is as sturdy as any midwest riverbed and will make your toes tape from sundown to sunrise.
With strong roots in old-time and bluegrass music, the band has formed it's own unique style born from the diverse musical backgrounds and interests of the five friends who make up the band. All born and raised in the great state of Wisconsin, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades began playing shows together in the spring of 2009. Since then, the band has shared the stage with Pert Near Sandstone, Art Stevenson and Highwater, .357 String Band, and many more. Their debut album, Pigtails and Coffin Nails, was released in the fall of 2011 and their most recent CD, Another Round, was recorded in northern WI last winter and is now available to buy online. The two albums feature both original songwriting of the band and traditional music rejuvenated with the band's own spin. The band brings their high-energy love for music and good times around Wisconsin and the Midwest.

Cut off from the Mothership, 5,000 Light Years from home, Whiskey Rodgers' Galactic String Band (WRGSB) had no choice but to groove across the galaxy and lay down their version of Interspecies Bluegrass-infused Rock and Roll! WRGSB, seeded in the heart of the Illinois, first took the stage in August 2012, and will be closing out both nights of the Bluegrass Bash this year. While new to the scene, these boys are no stranger to the stage. With an already impressive line-up and individual bios, the band has carved its own niche in only a short time, already playing some great events and venues, such as Putnam County Music Festival, Kelleher's on Water, Street Fest and The Castle Theatre. In line to play some high profile shows in 2013, WRGSB is due to become a must-see as musicians, talent buyers, and fans alike are breaking out of the woodwork to see and hear what the buzz is all about. Blending bluegrass, honky tonk, blues, folk, funk and a down-right good time, Whiskey Rodgers' Galactic String Band prides themselves on the ability to bridge the gap of genres. Twisting jams from reggae to bluegrass, transforming an oldie into a slamgrass carnival. Leaving every venue begging for more, WRGSB has committed to the motto of "all in good fun," and you should plan on the same!

With this premier lineup, the 5th installment of the Great Midwestern Bluegrass Bash is sure to be two nights of musical bliss that you don't want to miss!

5th Annual Great Midwestern Bluegrass Bash – Majestic Theatre
All Ages. Tickets for the event are $12 in advance for single day tickets, $15 day of show single day tickets, $20 two day advance passes, available online at http://www.majesticmadison.com/
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