The Sacramento News called her “as fine a singer as anyone on the acoustic music circuit, anywhere in the world.” Billboard praised her ability to “successfully walk the high wire above esoteric country, combining elements of bluegrass and pure country to form her own seamless mix.” Sing Out! magazine recently stated, “It’s not too much of a stretch to suggest that if the ‘Americana’ format wasn’t invented for her, it should have been.” And once, the late great American folk music icon, Utah Phillips, boiled it down even further, asserting, “Whatever country music is supposed to be, she’s at the center of it.” Excitement builds in the Bozeman music community as the word spreads that the next Bozeman Folklore Society concert, in coordination with the Pickin’ in the Park Series at the Story Mansion, is indeed an appearance on Sunday, October 16th of singer, songwriter, fiddler, teacher, and producer Laurie Lewis, and her long time musical partner, Tom Rozum. The doors will open at 7pm, with the music set to commence at 7:30pm.
The Story Mansion is located at 811 South Willson Avenue in Bozeman. Admission to the Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum concert will sell at the door for $25. Advance ticket purchases are available for $20, at Cactus Records, 29 West Main Street or online at www.cactusrecords.net/. For more information, call Bob Wall at (406) 587-7846 or Rik James at (406) 586-4123. Please visit www.bozemanfolklore.org/ for all BFS concert and dance information. Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum are widely regarded as being among the preeminent bluegrass and Americana artists of our time. They formed a musical partnership in 1986, when Tom joined Laurie’s acclaimed band, Grant Street. Between them, they have recorded over twenty albums—as a duo and with their many talented musical friends, including their 1995 Grammy-nominated album The Oak and the Laurel. Their latest release, The Hazel and Alice Sessions, delves into the repertoire of Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerard, two trailblazing women of bluegrass music. Their version of the Dickens penned “Won’t You Come and Sing for Me?” earned a nomination for the Gospel Recorded Performance category in the 2016 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards competition. When touring without the entire Right Hands, Lewis & Rozum do a number of shows as a duo, perfectly balancing each other’s voices. Tom’s sometimes-quirky and always deeply musical mandolin playing provides the ideal counterpoint to Laurie’s original compositions and her fiddle and guitar mastery. The renowned violinist, Darol Anger, had a few things to say about his contemporary, Laurie Lewis. “It’s possible to be a strong female presence in the Bluegrass music world, but you have to be really strong,” he said. “Laurie is one of the greatest Bluegrass artists—woman or man—because of her consistency over decades, the depth and width of her subject matter, her commitment to the Bluegrass form, and her technical command. Oh yes, and her strength. Laurie’s strength manifests in many ways. [Among them], her commanding presence on stage combined with an emotional vulnerability, the truths in her lyrics, her physical voice which transcends gender, [and] her strong commitment to causes and issues in which she deeply believes—which all resonate with a respect for the land, the natural world, and human mercy and justice.” In one of the many reviews in praise of Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands’ latest IBMA nominated album, The Hazel & Alice Sessions, a reviewer stated, “Laurie Lewis is both a master and preserver of the bluegrass form, and her latest project, The Hazel & Alice Sessions, pays loving tribute to the songs of her musical forbears and fellow trailblazers, Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard. Lewis shared stages with both women during their careers (and produced Gerrard’s 2013 effort, Bittersweet).
This album demonstrates once again Lewis’ reverence and commitment to the bluegrass tradition in which she’s a large part.” The Bozeman Folklore Society (BFS) concert series is unique in our area, presenting entertainment and dance options since 1991. 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). You are invited to join and become involved with the 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 the love for all the richness in the folk traditions. Visit www.bozemanfolklore.org/ for more. As an underwriting supporter of radio KGLT-FM, BFS invites community members to listen to KGLT and other listener-supported radio for more news about BFS sponsored events. •
