New "Perk" for Members: BRAS Goes Downtown

Tomorrow, February 3 at 8 p.m. The Colorado College Bluegrass Bands (yes, all three of them) will be performing. There are three, way cool, stylistically different bluegrass bands at CC, and they're a whole lot of fun. They'll all be playing for us on February 3rd. The show takes place in the upper level of Pikes Perk Coffee and Tea house at 14 S. Tejon St. downtown. At the corner of Tejon and Pikes Peak Ave.

Doors: 7:00 p.m.

Showtime: 8:00 p.m.

Tickets at the door: 

$7.00 for non members

$4.00 for members of Black Rose

$5.00 for students with ID

Get a taste of what you will see and hear February 3rd 

YouTube Video performances of the Bluegrass Ensembles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usb5x6w-CIc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadRmMgOorU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

More information about Black  Rose: www.blackroseacoustic.org

More information about the CC Bluegrass Ensembles:

http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/dept/MU/BluegrassEnsemble.asp

Keep in mind, Black Rose will still be holding our twice a month regular open stage  at the Black Forest Community Center on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month just as we've always done. Our next event in Black Forest will be February 10th at 7 p.m. with headliners: Mountain Holler Bluegrass Band.

Black Rose Acoustic Society Board Elections

The Black Rose Acoustic Society, a 501 (c) 3 Non-profit, will be holding board elections in February, 2012. If you are interested in running for the board, please contact the current Black Rose Acoustic Society board at: board@blackroseacoustic.org or email the board President, Joanna Springer at: feedback@blackroseacoustic.org.

Black Rose Acoustic Society Presents: Upstairs at the "Perk"

Black Rose Acoustic Society Presents:

Upstairs at the "Perk"

With the Colorado College Bluegrass Ensembles

 

Come feel the beat with three high energy bands

Pikes Peark, 14 S. Tejon St. Downtown Colorado Springs

Friday February 3, 8:00-10:00 p.m.

$4.00 Black Rose Members

$7.00 Non-members 

$5.00 Students with ID

Get a taste of what you will see and hear February 3rd 

YouTube Video performances of the Bluegrass Ensembles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usb5x6w-CIc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadRmMgOorU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

More information about Black  Rose: www.blackroseacoustic.org

More information about the CC Bluegrass Ensembles:

http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/dept/MU/BluegrassEnsemble.asp

The Bee Eaters are Coming!

"It is a joy to hear both the exploration of this music and the grounding of it simultaneously. Also, I love the emphasis on the simple beauty of the acoustic instruments." Edgar Meyer (3 time Grammy Award Winner/Bassist/Composer)

There are a lot of extremely good musicians alive today and Edgar Meyer is in that elite group of the very best. He is also one of my favorite musicians and someone who I respect highly. So when Edgar speaks, I pay attention. Upon learning that their debut, self-titled CD was produced by Darol Anger, that sealed the deal. I had to find out what this band, named after a species of colorful birds that, yes, eat bees, is all about.

The core of the group is comprised on brother-sister duo Tristan and Tashina Clarridge. For those of you who have seen Crooked Still, you will recognize Tristan as their cellist. He now splits his time between both bands. He is also a 5-time Grand National Fiddle Champion. His talents have been sought by Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, Bruce Molsky and Cape Breton fiddle phenomenon Natalie MacMaster.

Tashina is also a Grand National Fiddle Champion (2005) and has toured with Mark O'Connor, Tony Trischka and Laurie Lewis and has performed at Carnegie Hall as a part of Edgar Meyer's Young Artists program.
The Bee Eaters also feature an instrument not usually heard outside of Celtic groups, the hammered dulcimer, played by Simon Chrisman. The Bee Eaters press release describes Simon's "inventive virtuosic touch and sophisticated rhythmic sensibilities" as redefining the instrument and earning the attention of musicians the world over.

Rounding out the quartet is guitarist Courtney Hartman. Fluent on multiple instruments, she is currently attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. The Bee Eaters Colorado tour is a homecoming of sorts for Courtney who hails from Loveland.

The Bee Eaters now have two CDs to their credit; their 2009 debut mentioned above and on Sept. 6 they are releasing their newest CD, OddFellows Road.

Banjo great Tony Trischka said it best: "Their impressive ensemble work… leaves me breathless. Their music excites, heals and enriches. Listen often."

Copy by Jeff Smith

Show Details

Showtime is Friday, September 9 at 7:00p.m. Doors open at 5:30. Cost: general public $7.00, Students $5.00, BRAS Members $4.00, Children 12 - under are Free.

At the Black Forest Community Center: See the Black Rose Acoustic Society Website for more details: www.blackroseacoustic.org

Coming up August 12th! -Spring Creek Bluegrass

BRAS Present Spring Creek Bluegrass Band LIVE at Stargazer's Summer Fun Free Friday Concert Series

The Spring Creek Bluegrass Band kicked off our 2008 season with a packed house and a night of great bluegrass. Hailing from the home of Rockygrass in Lyons, CO, the band was coming off a celebrated and successful 2007 in which they won both the Telluride and Rockygrass band contests in the same year; a feat they are the first and only band ever to accomplish. The band has been touring constantly since, performing at venues and festivals all over the country. They recently appeared at this year's MeadowGrass festival in Black Forest.

The core of Spring Creek is Taylor Sims: guitar and vocals, Chris Elliott: banjo and vocals, and Alex Johnstone: mandolin, fiddle and vocals. Rounding out the group is recent addition, Dan Booth on bass and vocals. Taylor has studied under Joe Carr and Alan Munde at South Plains College where he received the Male Bluegrass Vocalist of the Year Award. His sentimental and poetic lyrics mixed with bluegrass instrumentation give Spring Creek their signature sound.

Chris Elliott comes from a long line of rural musicians and is also the grandson of a prominent Kentucky fiddle builder. With a sharp ear for arranging harmonies, his original instrumentals give Spring Creek a dynamic and unique edge. Chris studied banjo with Alan Munde for three years and now passes on the tradition by teaching banjo at the Olde Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada. Chris Elliott is the 2007 RockyGrass Banjo Champion.

Hailing from Illinois where he grew up playing electric guitar, Alex Johnstone unplugged his guitar and found himself drawn to bluegrass mandolin and fiddle. His original songs–favorites among the fans– keep Spring Creek's repertoire fresh and excit- ing. Alex found his way into the Spring Creek family one day when Taylor picked him up hitchhiking near Crested Butte, CO, and he hasn't looked back since.

Spring Creek newcomer Dan Booth has been playing and singing bluegrass for over 16 years now. Born and raised in Alaska, he migrated to California not long ago and hooked up with several bluegrass bands in the San Francisco area that include 49 Special, the Kathy Kallick Band, and Homespun Rowdy. Dan was recently voted 2011 Best Bass Player in the Northern California Bluegrass Awards.

In 2009, Spring Creek joined the ranks of Ralph Stanley, Kenny & Amanda Smith and Steep Canyon Rangers as a Rebel Records recording artist. Their latest album Way Up On A Mountian was released on that label. Prior to that, the band released two other albums on their own; Rural & Cosmic Bluegrass, and the Sally Van Meter produced Lonesome Way To Go.

Please note that the Black Forest Community Center is being used for the annual Black Forest Festival on August 12 so our open stage event featuring Spring Creek will take place at Stargazers Theatre. This is good news for a couple of reasons. The last time we hosted Spring Creek, we had to turn people away but with over double the capacity at Stargazers, that shouldn't be a problem this time. Better yet, this show if FREE! Yes, that's right. We're doing this show in conjunction with Stargazers Summer Fun Free Friday Concert Series.

You won't want to miss this night of free bluegrass with Colorado favorites, Spring Creek.

Copy by Jeff Smith 

Show Details
Showtime is Friday, August 12 at 8:00p.m. Doors open at 7:00p.m. Cost: FREE!

Stargazer's Theatre
10 S. Parkside Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80910

Friday July 22 Open Stage with Headliner The Honeydewdrops

July 22 Open Stage with The HoneyDewdrops

On Friday we had an enjoyable night of good music at Black Rose:

For our first act we had the Sagebrush Wranglers a local bluegrass band featuring Joel Theriault.

We were happy to have longtime Black Rose member and volunteer, Joel up on the Black Rose stage with his band. They performed a nice round of traditional music even backed up by Joel’s sister on electric bass (she doesn’t own a string bass).

The second act was Branden Sipes.  A good singer-songwriter with a very smooth voice and nice guitar playing. He was a nice opener to the headlining act and I hope that he will come back to Black Rose again sometime.  

Of course everyone was anticipating the night’s headlining act, The Honeydewdrops:

The Honeydewdrops are an entertaining roots music duo. On the night of our Open Stage they garnered favorable comparisons to Anne and Pete Sibley. This incredibly talented duo features lovely harmonies with obvious traditional influences.  They performed a little bit of everything including one of the better covers of The Beatle’s “Across the Universe” that I’ve ever heard. We hope to have them back to the Rose again soon. I expect that The Honeydewdrops have a big future ahead of them.

 

If you want more information about The Honeydewdrops tour through the Rockies take a look at their blog with wonderful photos of their trip.

Also, as always we’re in need of volunteers. Would you like to help keep Black Rose running? Contact Joanna Springer at volunteer@blackroseacoustic.org.

Remember our next event will take place at StargazersTheater as part of Stargazers' Summer Fun Free Concert Series.  We will be hosting Spring Creek Bluegrass Band so come out and join us for great night of bluegrass!

Photos in this blog taken by Reggie Barrett.
Follow us on Twitter: @blackroseas

See you next time at the Rose!

Joanna Springer
President, Black Rose Acoustic Society

July August Letter from the President

Like last year, Black Rose was invited to be a part of the first night of the Meadowgrass Festival. Meadowgrass is picking up a good following and if it continues to grow the way that it has for the past couple of years it should have a nice long future. We wish the festival well and are always glad to participate on the Friday night - first day of the event. Black Rose members received a special advance discount, just $10 for a ticket to Meadowgrass on Friday night or $10 off on a weekend pass, either way, an excellent deal to see high energy, quality music.
We got to see old friends, Boulder Acoustic Society in their latest configuration. Naturally being acoustic minded we loved them best when they got down off the stage and played several acoustic songs from smack in the middle of the audience. A first for Meadowgrass and it seemed like the audience enjoyed it as much as we did. Black Rose also brought Sandra Wong and her band to the Meadowgrass stage. Excellent musician- ship with unique instrumentation, Sandra alternated between violin and nickelharpa (first seen at the March concert with Mike Marshall, Darol Anger and Väsen). This was the first time Sandra performed at Meadowgrass, and also the first time she's performed for the Black Rose audience. I'm sure it will be the first of many.
One of the great things about being involved with Meadowgrass is the opportunity it provides for people from outside our region to discover what Black Rose really has to offer. While we all know that Black Rose Acoustic Society is unique among non-profits dedicated to traditional music, very few people realize some of the Rose's unique qualities. One of those is our dedication to developing musical talent. Through the Black Rose Scholarship program, artists of any age and ability can apply for funds to help them develop their talents utilizing Black Rose's excellent roster of local teachers. Then, they can present their abilities in front of a live audience at the Black Rose Open Stage. What some of you may not realize is that many local musicians now play professionally or semi-professionally because they were a scholarship recipient and Black Rose helped them on their way to becoming a better musician. The program is one of our many contributions to the artistic community in the Pike's Peak region and it is something that we want to continue into the future.

If you want to contribute you can let us know. We are accepting donations to help fund the scholarship program. See you at the Rose.

Joanna Springer, President