On Sunday, January 31, at 7:00 p.m. Bozeman music lovers may be once again entertained by musicians who can break up the monotony, as they also break down sound barriers, blending multiple genres on their acoustic instruments.
Energy and fun will be in good supply, as two very fine young talented groups, Sassafras Stomp and The Quarks appear at The Ellen Theatre, 17 West Main St, in another Bozeman Folklore Society and The Ellen co-sponsored live music event. All reserve seating tickets are $15.00, now available for purchase at The Ellen box office at 585-5885, or online at www.theellentheatre.com. Current BFS members may purchase for a member discount only at The Ellen box office.
Both groups will most assuredly be warmed up for the show, as they will have just played for hundreds of contra & old-time dancers at the Bozeman Folklore Society’s annual Wintergreen Dance Weekend. And so, before leaving town, Sassafras Stomp and The Quarks will charm us with a concert in the historic Ellen Theatre.
The Quarks are Betsy Branch on fiddle & guitar, Bill Tomczak alternating between clarinet, saxophone & percussion, and Terry Wergeland whose piano & accordion completes the trio’s makeup. With their mix of instruments and improvising nature, no one quite knows what to expect. They are best known for their ability to interweave music genres to create stimulating and inventive dance music. Audiences are bound to hear laughter from the stage, stemming from the group’s sheer delight in playing together. When not performing, the three musicians love to contemplate the mysteries of The Universe– this hobby being evident in their chosen band name.
Splitting their time between Maine and Montana, Sassafras Stomp is a high-energy folk duo that plays a wide variety of events, from dances to weddings, from workshops to concerts. Johanna Davis leads the charge, her skills on fiddle, and sometimes banjo, help to create the band’s unique, lively sound. Stamping his feet in syncopated patterns is Adam Nordell, the voice of Sassafras stomp. His talents extend to the strings as well, playing guitar and banjo. When they aren’t encouraging group dances via music, Adam and Johanna run a small, certified organic vegetable farm on the Sandy River in Western Maine.
Johanna Davis and Adam Nordell’s collaboration as Sassafras Stomp began during a month-long musical residency in Basin, Montana, a tiny silver mining town a stone’s throw away from the continental divide. After a debut performance at Seattle’s Northwest Folklife Festival, the duo established themselves as a regular contradance band at dances across Montana. In 2010, they relocated to Davis’ home-state of Maine to start an organic farm and participate in the New England contradance community.
For more information about these artists, visit http://sassafrasstomp.com and http://quarksband.com/. And for more concert information, please visit the BFS website: www.bozemenfolklore.org, or phone Rik James at (406) 586-4123.
The BFS concert series is unique in our area, The Bozeman Folklore Society (BFS) is an all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, enjoying and sharing the music, dance, arts, crafts, and skills of traditional cultures. The BFS is an associate group of the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). And we invite you to join and become involved with our effort to continue to present live music and promote dancing in our community. Volunteers are needed, as well as your support to continue to share our love for all the richness in the folk traditions. Visit the BFS website at WWW.BOZEMANFOLKLORE.ORG.
