Wildfruit Folkmusic: Links

Wisconsin Polka Music: "From the historic taverns on Milwaukee's South Side to the quaint dance halls dotting its northern forests, Wisconsin is home to one of the largest and most diverse assortment of polka bands and establishments in the world.

Founded in 2005, Wisconsin Polka Music is your premier, online source of information covering the polka scene across the entire state."
ubercybercats.com: How to explain my brother's website? Well, he is an enormously quick-witted writer who posts his Japanese-style cartoons at this site, along with the wit of the day.

If you're a modern cartoon type of person, this place is for you. Can be slightly naughty at times...
Wilder Trail Books Online: The online presence of Pepin booksellers, Ned and Dianne Wood
Will Steger: Global warming through the eyes of Minnesota's eminent arctic explorer.

To Purchase Sue West's Music Online:

Wild Fruit CD Baby Webpage: I enjoy writing and recording songs about life here in rural Wisconsin. You may know me as the "Egg Lady." Life on the Rush River with my hens and my dawgs if full of poetic moments. I have captured many of them in the songs that I share through my performing and my cds. If you have any curiousity at all about what fills the thoughts of your local organic egg producer, look no further. Learn more, listen to my music, or purchase cds. This is my first CD.
Field and Wood Webpage on CD Baby: This the CD Baby webpage for my second cd.
Wash Me Up On the Shore on CD baby: Original old time and folk gospel music. Spiritual songs meant to teach tolerance, compassion, peace.
ITunes link to Sue West's music

Bluff Country Gathering 2008

Mac and Jenny Traynham: "Mac and Jenny Traynham are a husband and wife duo who specialize in the early country duet style of singing and playing old-time country and mountain music. They draw their repetoire from a wide variety of sources from the Appalachian mountains of Virginia and beyond."
Tom, Brad and Alice: "Three musicians renowned for their contributions to traditional American music combine their talents in this performing ensemble. Tom Sauber, Brad Leftwich, and Alice Gerrard are “musicians’ musicians.” Their stunning vocal harmonies over the bedrock of their instrumental work cover a range of emotion that can move you by turns to smiles, to dance, or to tears."
Stephanie Coleman: "Stephanie Coleman A senior at Duke University, Stephanie grew up around Chicago learning from the great musicians there. Her fiddling has consistently placed her in the finals at the prestigious Appalachian Stringband Festival fiddle contest at Clifftop, WV. She currently plays dances and performs with the Stephanie Coleman Band."
Steve Rosen: "Steve Rosen is known for his creative and driving guitar rhythm and stellar melodic and highly rhythmic banjo playing and is a favorite dance musician at the
dances in Chicago and around the Midwest. He is a founding and longtime member of the Volo Bogtrotters, a legendary Midwestern string band. Did we mention what a great singer he is?"
Lynn "Chirps" Smith: "Chirps Smith has played fiddle for more than thirty years, specializing in Midwestern dance tunes. Over the years he has played with the Indian Creek Delta Boys, The Polecats, The Volo Bogtrotters and the New Bad Habits. In 1997 he was recognized by the state of Illinois as a Master Fiddler for their Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program."
Dave Rice, harmonica: "Dave was born and raised in Oklahoma, but it was after moving to Ohio in 1981 that he first became inspired to play harmonica in the old-time style through the discovery of the old 78 rpm recordings of DeFord Bailey and Dr. Humphrey Bate. With these and others as models, Dave has helped revive the lost art of old-time harmonica, once an integral part of the string band sound.

He has performed with several old-time bands including the Hoover Uprights, the Fullertones, Strings and Things, and The Band Behind the Curtain, and he has also recorded with the Cuyahogians.

Also known as a solo player, Dave has over ten years experience teaching harmonica." - worldmusiccentral.org
Bob Bovee and Gail Heil: Bluff Country Gathering
May 15-18, 2008, Lanesboro, MN

MBOTMA Winter Bluegrass Weekend - some of the planned acts

MBOTMA WInter Bluegrass Weekend: "A Festival of Bluegrass & Old-Time Music & Dance
Friday-Sunday, February 29-March 2, 2008
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Plymouth MN"
New Bad Habits
Tickwood Stringband
The Mill City Grinders
Mill City Serenaders: This band and Pam and John's other project, the Barn Cats, will both play at WInter Bluegrass Weekend.
Bill Hinckley
Wild Goose Chase Cloggers
Sloughgrass
Eddies on the River
Poor Benny - stringband
Bob and Lynn Dixon
The Blue Drifters
Alzen Family
The Chris Silver Band
The Ditchlillies
The Whistlepigs

Organic Farming Speakers

Attina Diffley - Broccoli to Kale: Growing Organic Brassica
Martin Diffley - Equipment for the Produce Farmer
Jed Colquhoun - Steel & Strategies: Weed Control in the Organic Vegetable Farm
Cleve Pulley - No-Till Tomatoes & Eggplants
John Hendrickson - Small Scale Equipment for the Organic Market Gardener: Also, here's an article he wrote for the Organic Broadcaster re. local food supply:

http://www.mosesorganic.org/broadcaster/15.4produce.html
Elizabeth Henderson - Community Supported Agriculture 101
Paul Otten - Growing Raspberries From Soil to Market
Judy Hageman & Bill Warner - Year Round Growing in Hoop Houses
Mark Whalon & Jim Koan - Organic Management of Apple Insect Pests: See also:

http://www.sustainusa.org/familyfarmed/profile_almarorchards.html

Some Area Musicians

Monroe Crossing: This bluegrass band is one our favorites. Check out their website and their new cd! This is the band that can sing Etta James and play Norman Blake. Wow!
Gene LaFond: "Twin Cities singer/songwriter GENE LAFOND ... a versatile journeyman... honest, compassionate and appealing songs...refreshingly offbeat or even positively Dylanesque." JON BREAM - Mpls Star Tribune 10/24/02 Warmup for Dylan, produced by Willy Murphy, check out this local folk-rock veteran!
Bob Bovee and Gail Heil: Old time musicians with extensive catalog of excellent recordings, available for performances and square dances around the region, and organizers of the Lanesboro Bluff Country Gathering 2007.
The weekend of May 17-20 brings us the ninth annual Bluff Country Gathering in Lanesboro, MN, set in the beautiful hills of the southeastern corner of the state. Lanesboro becomes a Mecca for old time musicians this spring weekend. Workshops all day on Friday and Saturday for registered students feature the exceptional staff of musicians brought here for the festival/camp. Full registration for
students is $175.00 and includes workshops, the concert and dance, special Thursday evening staff concert and lunches.
Greg Herriges and Friends, world music, music author, editor, teacher: Homegrown boy leads an interesting career hopping borders and pushing envelopes in the world of world music. Check out one of his local gigs.
Duck For the Oyster: Square dances, recordings, and more, from Shell Lake to all points noteworthy!
Tommy Bentz Band: Tom owns Brickhouse Music in River Falls and Eau Claire, and just happens to be an award-winning international singer-songwriter himself! This upbeat and talented group is a must-see!
Alzen Family Oldtime/Bluegrass Gospel Music: "Our family plays gospel bluegrass, old-time and celtic music together. We began playing together as a band in late 2005. We most enjoy gospel bluegrass songs that tell about our faith in the Lord Jesus and the joy we have in knowing Him. We have especially enjoyed learning more complex harmonies in old bluegrass tunes. We have many favorite bands, including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Ricky Skaggs, the Berge Family, the Haining Family, and Monroe Crossing. Both Brad and Denise have folk music heritage. Denise's grandfather played fiddle in Riceville Iowa. Brad's grandpa Kirkemo played the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. He also played fiddle in dance bands in northern Minnesota. Brad's Swedish grandpa Alzen played the musical saw. We hope to learn some traditional Swedish and Norwegian songs to add to our list."
MBOTMA Member Bands from Western Wisconsin: Looking for Western Wisconsin musicians for an event?
Find contact info for MBOTMA Member Bands based in the (715) area code. Includes The Alzen Family, Art Stevenson and High Water, Hand Picked Bluegrass, Duck For the Oyster, Rush River Ramblers, The DitchLilies, and The Chris Silver Band.
Rush River Ramblers: Eric on fiddle, Tom on banjo, and Sue on guitar. We are an old time string trio. We sing together, frequently in three-part harmony, and play a variety of old time music, as well as offer square dances with professional callers.
The Chris Silver Band: Also check out "Fishin' With Joe," a new troutcast of music and writing, on ITunes-podcast with Chris Silver and Joe Potaala. Find podcast info at:
http://www.fishingwithjoe.com
Brad Dunse, songwriter/performer: Click this link to go to Brad's website, also find Brad here:
http://www.myspace.com/braddunse
The Broken V: You may hear these gents at a local community fundraiser or coffee shop, and if you do, be sure to purchase one of their great recordings - one cd you'll be sure to wear out. Capable folk harmonies lock in your attention, while great originals keep things interesting. Those who live in this area will appreciate the subject matter and concerns brought forth in their fresh originals. Those who love the guitar will just want to sit and listen to them play. The Broken V has a way with guitar playing, singing, and song-writing that just sort of melts you, and you remember what it was like to be young, idealistic, and in tune with the greater flow, something you've forgotten while chasing the American Dream instead of just chasing your own dreams...
Lightswitch: Four young brothers from the local region have gone to the studio to put their high-voltage stageshow down on cd. Uplifting originals express concern for the world, and connectedness and gratitude to God. Professional job by a gifted family band of singer-instrumentalists. Soothing, danceable alt-pop-rock sound and clear, strong, memorable vocals that touch upon concerns far beyond Western Wisconsin.
Foghorn String Band: Not local, but really really good: Along with Carolina Chocolate Drops, Orpheus Supertones, and Tommy Jarrell, if you have enjoyed square dance music, check out some of this at home!
"Somewhere down on the vast and smokey Pacific shore, some slick wet varmint is nosing along the water, flipping over stones. Here now, it gives a special snouty sniff to a just-flipped stone, upon the bottom of which is eroded the near-inscrutable legend, "Foghorn Stringband." The varmint can't read, but yet, he switches his tail back and forth in time to the waves and snappily munches snails. Somewhere a band of city-dwellers plays the strings, their music sounding gritty as stone, dense and warm as otter fur, steady as the grinding sea. And the Foghorn sounds...pretty durn good. If the waves and the seas and the city streets are something you call good. If you are a music lover, that is, and not a hapless gastropod being munched by a wet sea otter who is reading stones and listening to the waves."
Thea Ennen: Pierce County's Siren Extraordinaire: "Long a favorite is the club/coffee house circuit of the Midwest, piano-playing/singing/songwriting, Thea Ennen is an artist in every sense of the word (she also writes poetry, draws, sculpts, does arts and crafts and even designs clothing for theatrical productions.) Her self-produced, self-penned "All Aboard" won her the Minnesota Folk Recording of the Year."

"These are the translations of a fluent listener. Ennen harvests the common everyday experience, ferments its mystery and wonder, and the music flows like wine. An essential for any Midwest music collector, a delight for any lover of music and poetry. Ennen's voice is a one-of-a-kind regional treasure. If you are going to buy one cd from a Wisconsin songwriter, buy this one. - Sue West CD Baby review on Thea's album "Still Life"
Where is Sam Dodge? Down at Prairie Farm, Dancing With Worms: Now here these lads have done something I truly respect, which is, they have produced an all-original album. In between raising kids, working jobs, walking the dog, and paying the bills, there is ... music! This bunch has jammed together, performed together, grown together for lo, these many years, and this recorded result is a resounding success. Check it out at their website... "We're a bluesy rock combo with hints of jazz and a teeny taste of folky country."
Zillionaires - Northern Wisconsin Band: The Zillionaires play all sorts of dance music including rock and roll, country, blues, r and b, alt, swing,
and other -as yet undefined- styles. It's a variety band!

Join the fun and listen to our mix of covers and originals. A guitar band with accordion too.

Dance!

www.youtube.com/watch v=TvfbxHZ9mGM

Arts

River Falls Community Arts Base: River Falls Community Arts Base (CAB) is a regional nonprofit arts organization that catalyzes and celebrates the arts and unique culture of the area, by providing arts education and arts leadership throughout western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.
ArtReach Alliance
St. Croix Art Barn
The Phipps Center for the Arts: "News of threats to our environment, economy and society tell us our ways of living are being challenged. How can we turn these challenges into an oportunity to create sustainable, vibrant and imaginative communities? What would that look like in the St. Croix Valley? What if, as author and environmentalist Wendell Berry wrote, 'What we need is here?'"

"What We Need is Here" is a four-year initiative to encourage sustainable communities by implementing the communicative and creative possibilities of regional arts programs. Check out some of this year's programs!
Hammond Arts Alliance: Devoted to the arts in Hammond and surrounding communities. The alliance promotes local arts through community action, a website, and an active schedule of gallery shows and workshops. A great group to connect with if you are new to the area and wondering what's going on!
No Point Ink: This stunning website features Mississippi-inspired local art and music, including the amazing tiles of Pierce County's Margy Jean Balwierz.
Wisconsin Arts Board - Wisconsin Folks: "The place to meet Wisconsin artists who highlight their cultures and traditions in their art."
K.A. Photographic Arts: Kinsey Anderson recently did some professional promos of me, and I was very happy with his work, his prices, and his dynamic studio approach. Also good with kids. He works out of the cities and also in Western Wisconsin.

Folk Music Organizations

MBOTMA: "The official web site of the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA). Our activities include four annual festivals plus numerous concerts, dances, jam sessions, workshops, educational programs, a monthly magazine, and other events that keep people who love to play and listen to traditional acoustic music busy throughout the year and throughout the state of Minnesota."
Folk Alliance
Simply Folk: A Folk Music radio program on WPR out of Madison, check here for playlists, schedules in your area, and to make requests for the songs you'd like to hear on "Simply Folk."
Spectrum West - WPR: Kathy Stahl's regional arts program, Thursdays at 5 pm on 88.3 WHWC Eau Claire.
Big Top Chautauqua: "Our mission is to enhance year round cultural opportunities and create a sense of community and connection to the life and history of the Chequamegon Bay area, state of Wisconsin, and the Upper Midwest through the uniquely American tradition of tent shows."
Ballad Tree: "A Guide to Folk Music Online"
Traditional Singers Club: "We support and encourage involvement and excellence in Irish and related singing traditions."
The Cedar Cultural Center: Minneapolis folk Nirvana!
Simply Folk Playlists: Playlist with my Dec. 17, 2006 "Simply Folk" appearance! Yippee!
Fingerstyle Guitar Website
New Folk Collective: New St. Paul-based group that promotes folk music, and hosts classic folk performers for concerts in the cities. Watch for Bill Staines, Tom Paxton, Claudia Schmidt, others.
Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures: "...committed to the languages and cultural traditions of this region's diverse peoples...research and preservation of archival collections, educational and outreach programs ...assist community groups, classrooms, and scholars with projects involving Upper Midwestern Cultures."
Dulcimers in Duluth: "Dulcimer Day in Duluth" is May 5, 2007. Dulcimers in Duluth offers workshops, classes, retreats, and performances all over the region. They also carry a line of dulcimer-related products, educational materials, parts, jewelry, etc. Whether hammered or lap, this here is the place to get you some Dulcimer!
Shape Note Singing - Sacred Harp: Why is Cold Mountain's Nicole Kidman waving her hand up and down? Why is there a group of punks, pram-pushers, and octogenarians standing on the street corner singing about Jesus's blood? Find out here.

History

Laura Ingalls Wilder Days: "The 'Laura Ingalls Wilder Days Festival' includes demonstrations of traditional crafts ... & traditional musical performances...(including the) 6th Annual...Old Tyme Fiddle Contest." This Pepin, WI festival does more every year to celebrate old time music in Western Wisconsin. Check out their 2007 schedule and photos from last year's gathering! And for 2007, be sure to grow whiskers, sew your calicoes, and practice those fiddle tunes!
http://www.hti.umich.edu/m/moagrp/index.html: "Making of America (MoA) is a digital library of primary sources in American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction."
Sons of Norway
American Swedish Institute
The Wisconsin Historical Society
New Richmond Heritage Center: The New Richmond Preservation Society operates the Heritage Center, which is open for tours, programs, and events. The site features a restored farmstead, Camp Nine Schoolhouse, Log Barn, Norwegian Log Cabin, Ubet Store, and the Paperjack Greenway with 11 acres of nature trails.

Peace and Politics

Alternatives to Violence Project: "Come in and see what AVP is doing to help us make a change....a change in the way we respond to violence, and in the way we initiate violence ourselves."
Sam Dodge Website: "where poetry meets subjectivity" Prairie Farm homesteader/poet/musician/philosopher/organizer/frogarian, goes at it hammer and tongs. Interesting read and great practical web link-ups.
Neil Young "Living WIth War Today": Neil Young's compilation of over 600 war protest songs and videos.
What Is Al Gore Doing to Save the Environment

Personal Wellness and Therapeutic Interventions

Pine Lake Pastures - Personal Ponies: Wonderful local farm does boarding, lessons, animal rescue, therapy riding, and work for Personal Ponies, a global charity that provides UK Shetland Ponies to kids that have disabilities. These folks work tirelessly to make the world a softer place!
Eclectic Energetics, Gail Behr and Paula Lugar: Gail Behr and Paula Lugar are two local women of my acquaintance. They have been helpful in my efforts to start more rural music activities. I appreciate their encouragement a great deal. Gail and Paula are outstanding practitioners in the healing arts, and have a gorgeous new office in River Falls that promises to be a locus for great things happening in the community. Check out their services for alternative health and for child development consulting and therapy. Here's what they say on their website:
"We are committed social entrepreneurs, choosing to be part of the solution to rising health care costs. We provide acupuncture, Chinese medical massage, Chinese herbals, child development consultation/coaching, occupational therapy services and wellness resources in a community room setting."
Karen Kaufman, MS, CPCC, PCC: Certi: Some of you may know Karen better as bodhran player, caller, and dancer with the square dance/ceili band from Shell Lake, Duck For the Oyster. Take a moment and sail over to Karen's website, to find out more about successfully navigating life's waters!
Beyond the Body - Back to Wholeness: Link to article by movement educator Babette Lightner, who is the director of Stones in Water - a Movement Education and LearningMethods Center. Babette is an expert at working with people who are dealing with pain and stress, and with performers who want to get better at what they do. She has worked with professional theater and music groups around the globe, and offers classes around the year right here in Western Wisconsin.

Sustainability

Hay River Pumpkin Seed Oil: A local farm has begun selling sustainably-grown high-omega 3/6 pumpkin seed oil. Let's support their ongoing efforts to employ themselves and others upon the land. Check out their attractive website and their health-giving, tasty product!
Rush River Nursery and Vineyard: "A small local business promoting healthy organic trees, shrubs, and cold-hardy grapes." No website right now, so contact them via
rushrivernurseryandvineyard@hotmail.com
Buy "An Inconvenient Truth" on Amazon.com: One place to purchase Al Gore's movie about our beautiful planet, and the threat of global warming.
Kinnickinnic River Land Trust: "Our challenge is to maintain the quality of the Kinnickinnic as the population of River Falls and the surrounding townships grows. The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust protects land in ways that no other organization can. It works cooperatively with landowners and the community to conserve the resources that we all value: clean water, wildlife, family recreation, natural areas, wild trout, and farms. " Without places like the Kinni and people who will protect them, artistic inspiration would be in short supply around here! Please join, volunteer for, or donate to Kinni Land Trust today!
Mystic Prairie Eco-Farm: A small, scythe-based ecological/permaculture farm.

The scythe has entered a new era.
Light-weight. Ergonomic. Sharp.

Venues

Maiden Rock Apples: All orchards are pretty, but this one redefines the term. Check out their website for their offerings of fresh produce, homegrown value-added items, and old time barn dances. Come to a Maiden Rock Apples barn dance, dine between the trees, and dance down the sun!

Online Calendars

New Richmond News: Find what's going on in New Richmond on this online newspaper. Check "Outdoors," "Entertainment," or "Community" for local happenings!
Polk County Tourism Web Events Calendar

Poetry

Jeffrey Kulow: Contact Jeff to find out about what's going on in the arts around town. Find an open mic, performance, or writer's group. An avid promoter of local activities, Jeffrey is himself a poet, specializing in children's poetry, regional/literary pieces, character studies, and haiku. Drop him a line! email to: Jeffrey J. Kulow

Music Lessons

KLS Studios: Recording engineer Kevin Louden of Menomonie is offering lessons in banjo, pedal steel, dobro, and music theory. Telephone (715) 664-8794.