Bluegrassin’
Volume 18, Issue 3
May—June 2016
The Montana Rockies
Bluegrass Associa on is a
non‐profit associa on
dedicated to promo ng,
preserving and sharing our
love of bluegrass music in
a spirit of family and
friendship.
Upcoming Bluegrass Events
May 13— Acousticals, Top Hat, Missoula, 6:00 pm
May 13—Lil Smokies, The Wilma, Missoula
May 14 –Acousticals, Kalispell Brewery, 5:00 pm
May 19—New South Fork Trio, Bitterroot Brewery, Hamilton, 6:00 pm
May 20—New South Fork Trio, Eagles, Columbia Falls, 7:00 pm
May 21—New South Fork Trio, Bitterroot Brewery, Hamilton, MT 5:00 pm
Inside this issue:
May 21—Beargrass Bluegrass,Top Hat, Missoula
May 28—30 Conroy’s Memorial Day Campout (see pg. 4)
Page
President Message
2
Spring Festival Photos
4
Spring Festival Report
5
Conroy Campout
5
MRBA Campout
8
On the Road with MRBA
8
Banjo Camp
9
May 29—Pasture Pickin, Libby, MT (Starts last Sunday in May and goes for one week
after.) This is the last year for Pasture Pickin. Be sure not to miss it!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pasture-Pickin/136638576370075?
sk=info&tab=page_info
May 29—Beargrass Bluegrass, Philipsburg Brewing Co., Philipsburg
June 10, 11, 12 — Broken Arrow Bluegrass Campout, Gibbonsville, ID (Call Dell
Scott for details, 406-381-0822)
June 24—27, MRBA Annual Campout, Clinton, MT (See pg. 4)
Note: Dates and times are subject to change. If you know of any upcoming events,
please e-mail them to the newsletter editor.
Recurring Shows and Jams
 Missoula—Open Jam. Top Hat. Tuesdays. 6:00 pm
 Missoula—Tangled Tones Pickin class. Wednesdays 6:30 pm.
Laurie Criger, tangledroot13@yahoo.com or call 406-552-9208
 Helena—Staggering Ox, Open Jam, Tuesdays, 6:00 pm
 Livingston - Open Jam. Pine Creek Café. Thursday—8:30—10:30 pm.
www.pinecreeklodgemontana.com (406)222-3628
Volume 18 Issue 3
Bluegrassin’
May—June, 2016
President’s Message
Well, the 17th Lone Rock fes val was a big success. Thanks to all the folks who stepped in to help make it all work.
We grossed approximately $3400 and there was lots of fun and lots of music. If your band from Lone Rock is dona ng a song selec on to the upcoming MRBA compila on cd, please give me your song selec on and its number on
your band cd by May 9th (hey that's my birthday)...
This year will be our 20th year for the Conroy's Memorial Weekend Campout. As usual, we will have several wall
tents for late night jamming, 6pm potlucks, great scenery, campfires, free camping, and lots of good folks. We
thought about having a picture board at the campout featuring pics from past years. If you have some cool old pictures from years past, bring them or email them to me at mikevconroy@gmail.com and we'll put them on the board.
Mike (head mop squeezer)
WANTED
MRBA WEB POSTS
We need members to help keep the web site up-to-date!
Post pictures from MRBA Events
If you play in a band post the dates & where you will be playing.
Share any bluegrass news or links to other bluegrass web sites.
http://www.mtbluegrass.com/
Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association
PO Box 1306, Missoula, MT 59806
Website: www.mtbluegrass.com
email: mrba@mtbluegrass.com
President - Mike Conroy, mikevconroy@gmail.com or phone 406-821-3777
Vice President - Dallas Olson
Secretary/Treasurer - Anne Merrifield, happypasture9@gmail.com, 406-360-1877
Board Members - Tari Conroy, Kate McMahon, Ben Essary, Verna Molenda
Merchandise Manager - Dallas Olson
Newsletter Editor - Kate McMahon, kate@appcom.net, 406-863-9255
MRBA Webmaster - Phyllis Er ck mr ba@mtbluegr ass.com
Bluegrassin’ is a bi-monthly publication of the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association
Information printed in Bluegrassin’ is at the discretion of the editor.
Montana Rockies Bluegrass
Association
2
Volume 18 Issue 3
Bluegrassin’
May—June, 2016
Got Something to sell?
Advertise in Blugrassin!
Full Page – $25.00,
1/2 Page – $15.00,
1/4 Page – $10.00
Classified – $5.00
Contact:
Anne Merrifield
happypasture9@gmail.com
406-360-1877
Get MRBA Newsletter by E-Mail
If you would like to get your newsletter delivered
electronically via e-mail send a message to:
happypasture9@gmail.com
Electronic version has color photos &
hyperlinks to websites.
(P.S.—It will help keep down printing
& mailing cost for the association)
MONTANA ROCKIES BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION
Membership Application
Date_____________Last Name __________________First Name_______________________
Mailing Address_________________________________________City___________________
State__________Zip Code_______________Phone #_________________________________
E-mail___________________________________Individual ($10.00) ___ Family ($15.00) ___
Do you want the newsletter delivered electronically?
______YES
_____NO
Please mail your application to: MRBA, PO Box 1306, Missoula, MT 59806
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Volume 18 Issue 3
May—June, 2016
Bluegrassin’
Spring Festival Pictures
Thanks to Susan for taking over
kitchen duties!
Let’s have a mopping contest!
The Prez gets all of the fun jobs.
Barefoot bands. It’s a bluegrass thing.
Everyone on stage for
the grand finale!
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Volume 18 Issue 3
Bluegrassin’
May—June, 2016
Spring Festival Report
The totals are in--- we grossed approximately $3400 at the festival. Thanks to all the folks who donated their
musical talent and all the folks who stepped in to help in the kitchen, admission table, cd and merchandise
table, speaker setup and school cleanup. It takes a village to get it all done.
PS: All band cd's were handed to whichever member I could find at the festival. Please let me know your
band song selection and its number on your cd by May 9
Thanks to all- Mike and Tari
Editor’s Note—Once again, it was another day of great bands and great music. One of the highlights was
the grand finale when everyone got on stage to play “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and “I’ll Fly Away”.
Thanks again to Mike and Tari and all of the volunteers! Kate McMahon
Conroy's Memorial Weekend
Bluegrass Campout
Conroy's Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Campout will be May 27th-30th, and will be held at the Little West
Fork Campground south of Darby MT. It'll be just like past years, three or four heated wall tents for jammin,
pot luck suppers at 6 pm in the evenings, and a biscuits and gravy breakfast Monday morning at 10 am, before
everyone has to leave.
The campground is approximately 23 miles south of Darby MT. Heading south from Darby, turn right on the
West Fork Highway about 4 miles from town, continue on the West Fork to just past the 14 mile marker and
turn right on the Nez Perce Road. Stay on the road for 4 miles. The pavement will end and the campground
will be on the right. Watch for signs.
Beautiful scenery and the camping is free. This is a old style campout with campfires, recreational activities,
and a heck of a lot of jammin.
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Volume 18 Issue 3
May—June, 2016
Bluegrassin’
MRBA ANNUAL CAMPOUT
June 24-25-26
The annual MRBA camp out will be held at Forrest Flats Highway 10 East between Turah and Clinton, about three miles East of Turah and three miles west of Clinton. There will be signs. There will be dry
camping Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (June 24—26). Come a day earlier - there will probably be some pickers already there, and you can pick out a good spot. Breakfast pot luck on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday
night the Association will provide the steak and dessert. We ask members to bring pot luck dishes to finish
the meal.
There will be a $10.00 charge for non-members or unpaid members for Saturday night, This should
be a no-brainer when dues are $10.00 for Single memberships or $15.00 for Family. Family = two adults and
minor children. You need to sign up in advance for Saturday meal.
On the Road With MRBA
Instructors and banjo players extraordinaire
Janet Beazely and Alan Munde with the
MRBA newsletter at the Suwanee River Banjo Camp.
Tony Trischka and Ned Luberecki at the
Suwanee River Banjo Camp.
Listen to Ned’s Bluegrass Radio show on Sirius Radio
on Sunday afternoon.
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Volume 18 Issue 3
Bluegrassin’
May—June, 2016
New South Fork
Wild Coyotes
Portneuf Gap
Red Desert Ramblers
Teton Shadow Boys
Lochwood Bluegrass Band
DRYMILL ROAD
TICKETS
Weekend pass before Aug. 1st
Weekend pass after Aug, 1st
Friday Night
Saturday
Sunday
CAMPING
RV with hookups per night
Tents no hookups per night
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
DAILY CONCERTS, MUSIC WORKSHOPS,
$30.00
$35.00
$10.00
$15.00
$10.00
BANDS, BAND SCRAMBLE, FOOD AND
CRAFT VENDORS
No dogs, bike, alcohol, drugs or weapons
$25.00
$15.00
allowed in concert area. Dogs must stay in the
campground and must be on a leash.
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Volume 18 Issue 3
Bluegrassin’
May—June, 2016
What I learned at Banjo Camp
By Kate McMahon In March, I went to the Suwanee River Banjo Camp in Live Oak, FL. It was a great experience. It was the first music
camp I have ever a ended and there were four days of banjo workshops, jams, concerts and making new friends. The
instructors were incredible musicians and incredible teachers. One of my favorite events was the band scramble on the
first night of camp. One band in the scrambled played “Rolling in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” with a verse in German from
a camper who traveled all the way from Germany to a end the camp.
The bluegrass banjo instructors were all renowned banjo players including Tony Trishka, Alan Munde, Janet Beazley,
James McKinney, Sco Anderson and Ned Luberecki. Campers got to choose from an array of workshops such as,
“All Earl/All the Time”, “Tips on Cra ing Solos & Breaks”, “Roll Logic – How to Place Melody Notes Within Them”,
“Singing Along with the Banjo” and more. The camp is adver sed as banjo paradise and it lived up to its name. There
was so much to learn, it was hard to remember it all but below are some key ps that are good advice for any picker.
1. Know the lyrics of the song. Even if you don’t sing at jams, sing along when you are prac cing. It will help with
finding the melody notes and help with the phrasing of the song.
1. Emphasize the melody notes. It is not just about the notes you play, but the notes you don’t play.
2. Tony Trishka general prac ce guidelines for a one-hour prac ce session
15 minutes – Prac ce fundamentals. Rolls, scales, hammer-ons, pull-offs….
15 minutes – Work on the new song you are learning
15 minutes - Play the old songs you already know to keep them fresh
15 minutes – Noodle. Play around incorpora ng new licks in your songs. Find out what works and what
doesn’t.
3. Alan Munde – Rule of Thumb. When you can pick a melody note with your thumb, do it.
4. Alan Munde - Roll Logic – Know the fretboard so you move up and down the neck to find melody notes and add
variety to your songs.
5. Janet Beazley. Prac ce rolls going up and down the neck to build the muscle memory and learn what works.
Prac ce rolls every prac ce session.
6. James McKinney – Know your scales. These will
help you find the “righteous” notes that sound
good.
The banjo camp is an annual event. The organizers of
this camp also organize a camp near Sea le, Washington in the fall. More informa on on the camps can be
found at the web sites:
h p://www.suwanneebanjocamp.com/
h p://www.americanbanjocamp.com/
10
4825 N. Reserve Street
Missoula, MT 59808
406-721-0990
800-221-2057
During your next stay in Missoula
or
When planning your next event
THE MOST BLUEGRASS FRIENDLY
HOTEL IN MONTANA
Free hot breakfast buffet daily 6 – 10am
Free soup/dessert 5:30 – 8:30pm
Free airport shuttle
Close to major shopping district
Quiet picnic area on Grant Creek
Outdoor pool/hot tub
Guest laundry
Full-service catering
6 meeting rooms
Free local calls
Located off I-90 exit 96, 1/4 mile on right
ATTENTION:
We have set up the address label on your newsletter
to be your membership card, please clip it out and
use if for proof of your membership to the MRBA.
MRBA membership good through:
PO Box 1306
Missoula, MT 59806