December 2009
Sloughgrass Band
Sloughgrass, a local family band, known for entertaining with a mixture of song and Minnesota humor named themselves from playing bluegrass tunes painfully slow - much like walking through the sloughgrass swamps surrounding their hometown of Birchdale. Not only has the group played with the acclaimed Minnesota band, Monroe Crossing, they model their performances in the same fashion as well. Art Blackburn of Monroe Crossing credits Sloughgrass for their variety, musicianship and infectious enthusiasm that always leaves the audiences smiling and wanting more. In traditional bluegrass the band gathers around a single microphone to play and sing, bringing together harmonies for a feel like one voice.
Sloughgrass is truly a family affair with Grandma Audrey Nelson setting the rhythm on the upright bass. Her two daughters, two sons-in-law and three of her grandchildren join her in playing on a variety of instruments, including banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin and resonator guitars. Sloughgrass has a wide array of tunes in their repertoire including bluegrass, old-time, Scandinavian, Gospel, country and folk music. They also include some Scandinavian tunes in the mix as band member Søren Olesen emigrated from Roskilde, Denmark to the United State in 1989. Søren and his wife Judith (also a band member) met in Ely, Minnesota and moved to Birchdale where they reside today.
The group has enjoyed playing in various family settings and locations throughout Minnesota and a few other states, since the band's inception in 2003. More recently they played a six-show line-up at the opening weekend of the 2009 Minnesota State Fair. Preceding the fair, they were invited to play for the popular radio show "Garage Logic" with Joe Soucheray. Sloughgrass has been featured on various radio shows, including radio programs in Denmark and Sweden, as well as cable Television. The group has also had the pleasure of returning to Søren's homeland of Roskilde, Denmark to perform. They have released two CD's, the first in 2005 "Down the Road" and the second in 2007 "Are we there Yet?".
In spring/summer of 2009 Sloughgrass embraced yet a new adventure, when they bought a raggedy 1987 minibus from the Salvation Army. They set out on the road in search of "real" bluegrass and country music. They drove 3500 miles through 11 states in 12 days. In their travels they were able to tour Bill Monroe's (the father of Bluegrass music) childhood home in Kentucky, encounter music stars Toby Keith and Ricky Skaggs in Nashville, and perform and "jam" in various locations and settings.
Sloughgrass has been amazed in the six years since they began playing of the opportunities that have arisen and the support they have received from the local communities of International Falls and Baudette. Many locals feel that they are a part of the band too from attending many events and celebrations together. It is obvious that when Sloughgrass performs they truly enjoy themselves!
Visit
www.sloughgrass.com for more information, look at pictures or merchandise.
