Arts Live returns to roots with first concert
Published 1:15 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
The huge wave of excitement and interest in bluegrass and American roots music that swept the country this past year has also hit the Northwest with sold-out concerts such as the “Down From the Mountain” tour and record sales of the soundtrack “O Brother Where Art Thou?” Riding the crest of this wave is an exciting new band called Mark Schatz and Friends.
Comprised of veteran musicians who have won numerous awards and recognition from their peers, this band has been getting rave reviews wherever they have performed, including well-known American roots/bluegrass venues such as RockyGrass in Colorado; the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan.; and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) annual FanFest in Louisville, Ky.
Mark Schatz and Friends will be bringing their brand of world-class musicianship, entertainment and humor to the Northwest for the first time at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at Mount Si High School. The band does a highly entertaining and colorful show using a well-balanced mixture of reels, waltzes, bluegrass, jazz, old and new songs, the humor of Schatz’s “hamboning” (body percussion) and the free-spirited joy of Southern Appalachian clogging.
Schatz is one of the best clawhammer banjo players around and uses this to add a wonderful old-time feel and energy to the music.
The concert is the first of this season’s annual concert series put on by Snoqualmie Valley Arts Live (SVAL), Snoqualmie’s nonprofit performing arts organization.
“We’re really excited to be the first in the Northwest to feature this world-class band!” exclaimed SVAL’s co-chair, Gloria McNeely. “This is an excellent family event that will appeal to people of all ages.”
“Musicians of all genres will be blown away with the band’s musical virtuosity and energy,” said Trisha Tubbs, former IBMA regional representative and columnist for the Washington Bluegrass Association’s newsletter.
Schatz has long been recognized as one of the top acoustic bass players in bluegrass. He is also a multi-instrument virtuoso, a great composer and an exciting all-around entertainer. A Frets magazine and IBMA award-winning bass player, he has toured and recorded with the best of bluegrass and new acoustic music including Tony Rice, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien and John Hartford.
He has served as musical director for the internationally acclaimed percussive dance ensemble, Footworks, since 1993, and has produced a number of projects that range from bluegrass to jazz to Celtic fusion.
The performing-arts auditorium at Mount Si High School has excellent acoustics that will do the band justice. Besides having the ability to buy the performer’s products, the audience has the opportunity to meet and mingle with the performers during the intermission and after the concert, while also enjoying complimentary beverages and snacks. Admission is $15 general, $10 for seniors and $5 for youth.
* For more information, contact Gloria McNeely at (425) 888-1514. Tickets may be ordered online at www.ticketwindow.com.
