Mary McCaslin's Roundup
Sept. 29, 2006
WOLF MOUNTAIN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
It's that beautiful fall time of year once again here on the Central Coast.
As if to celebrate, the 15th annual Wolf Mountain Bluegrass Festival has moved
from its original location in Grass Valley to the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
in Watsonville. Dave Baker started the festival in the early 1990s. Baker
moved to Santa Cruz in 1998 and he decided to bring Wolf Mountain closer to
home. It takes place over the weekend of October 6, 7 & 8.
The stellar lineup of bands showcases Perfect Strangers, Jake Quesenberry
(founder of the California Bluegrass Association) with the McRae Brothers,
Bay Area favorite High Country, the Mighty Crows, performing their tight harmonies
and flawless picking in the old style around one microphone, Cold Creek from
Utah and High Plains Tradition from Colorado. Also included in the lineup
are Jim Lewin and Dave Baker, performing a tribute to the classic Red Allen
and Frank Wakefield duet recording, the Bathroom Tapes, bluegrass legends
Keith Little and Jim Nunally, the Bluegrass Redliners, Page Brownton, doing
old-time music, Lone Prairie, adding a dash of western music to the proceedings
and Dave Baker's band, Heartwood.
The music gets underway at 10 A.M. Friday and ends at 6 P.M. Sunday. Camping
is available before, during and after the festival and is encouraged. Tickets
can be purchased in advance or at the gate for single days or the entire weekend,
and food is also available.
By all reports, Wolf Mountain is renowned as a "jammers'" festival.
Aside from the thrill of seeing and hearing some of the best bluegrass performers
to ever grace the stage, musicians at all levels have the chance to pick and
sing to their hearts' content out at the campground. For information, call
(831) 425-2270 or go to www.wolfmt.com.
DANISH AMERICAN HOUSE CONCERTS
Here in the Santa Cruz / Monterey area we are very lucky to have a number
of places in which to hear touring performers, as well as the many first rate
musicians who call this area home.
Aside from the commercial venues there are also folks who open their private
homes to performers and listeners for concerts. House concerts, as these events
are called, have been a popular alternative for hearing quiet performances
in a casual and intimate setting for decades. In recent years, partly because
of the sheer numbers of acoustic performers on the scene, house concerts have
become a viable source of income for the traveling musician. The overhead
is substantially lower than at a club or rental hall and often the host takes
little or nothing out for expenses. There is a suggested donation at the door.
At this time there are more house concerts in the U. S. than ever before,
and of course there are websites, such as www.houseconcerts.com, to aid the
performer in setting up a tour schedule.
The Danish American House Concert series is hosted by Ron Sandidge and Kirsten
Thomsen. Kirsten is a native of Denmark and is married to Ron. They live in
Aptos with their children and have presented house concerts since April of
2005.
While living in Copenhagen a few years ago they began to miss hearing live
music. The clubs were smoke filled and the music started very late at night,
so in 2002 they decided to present small concerts in their home. They have
continued this tradition in Aptos.
On Saturday Danish American House Concerts hosts the Blind Willies, who will
be performing music from their upcoming CD, The Unkindness of Ravens. The
Blind Willies are Annie Staninec and Alexei Wajchman. Annie is a multi-genre
fiddler, who has toured on the bluegrass circuit and has worked with David
Grisman and the Gypsy Caravan as the featured fiddler. Alexei began writing
songs at age fifteen and his music is a soulful mix of folk, country and blues.
The Blind Willies made their professional debut at San Francisco's Hardly
Strictly Bluegrass Festival in 2004. For reservations, call (831) 684-1134
or go to www.danishamericanhouseconcerts.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Last Saturday the Cayuga Vault celebrated its 6th birthday. Located at 1100
Soquel Ave. on the east side of Santa Cruz, this venue presents an eclectic
selection of music from North America and around the world. Upcoming performances
include Gerry O'Bierne (Celtic) on October 7 and Bruce Molsky (Old Time) on
October 8. For complete information go to www.cayugavault.com, or call (831)
462-6480.
A beloved Santa Cruz institution, the Santa Cruz Guitar Company, will celebrate
its 30th birthday in October. Known the world over for their finely crafted
guitars and the impressive list of musicians who play them, the Santa Cruz
Guitar Company is a local success story.
MASTER GUITARIST
Speaking of guitars, master fingerstyle guitarist and social satirist John
Danley plays Sunday night at 7 P.M. at Don Quixote's in Felton. Danley is
an amazing musician, who shows an unparalleled versatility and absolute command
of his instrument.
Guitarist Gary Hull opens with his incendiary instrumental work. Call (831)
603-2294 or go to www.donquixotesmusic.com.
Happy Trails!
Email Mary at roundup@marymccaslin.com