For thirteen years now, the North Madison Congregational Church's Fire In The Kitchen concert series has been bringing world-class, Grammy-winning artists to the shoreline, and at the same time, having those artists give free workshops to the public when their schedules allowed. Two years ago, we started up our own fiddle club, called the Skunk Misery Ramblers, after the old-time string band tradition of naming a group after a local place, and then adding the name "ramblers." We've been proud to be not only one of the original concert series along the shoreline with the quality of musicians that have been on display, but also still the only educationally-oriented series, and the blueprint for many programs across the country.
This year, we're upping the ante by letting the Ramblers program really step out. We've convinced Corinna Smith, formerly of the world-trotting Fiddlers ReStrung high school fiddle program from Saline, Michigan, to be our musical leader, and come up with lots of great arrangements for fiddles, guitars, violas, cellos, mandolins. As long as it has strings and is acoustic, it'll fit. It's an all-ages, all-abilities (save for true beginners) program. We'll also continue to have workshops when the touring artist's schedules permit. Hopefully, we'll even get a few performances in before concerts, around town, and hold a few contra dances where we are of course the starring musicians.
In the past, musicians teaching the workshops have been such notables as Brittany Haas of Crooked Still, Claire Lynch, Vishten (great Quebequois music!), Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, Grada, John Jorgenson, Bearfoot, and the like. Don't miss out!
We'll meet every other Sunday starting September 23, at 4:00 PM, up at the North Madison Congregational Church, and go through the first week of June. Cost for the entire season is $100 for individuals, and a $200 rate for a family.
It's all about having serious fun with scary good music.
