* Friends of the Auditorium, Inc. are proud to sponsor the 2010 Unvarnished Music Festival Artists. This activity is made possible in part by the a grand provided by the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC) and is funded, in part, by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Boiled in Lead *
Rock'n'reel, Punk-folk! “Nobody roars, does a jig or a Balkan boogie quite like Boiled in Lead.”
For 25 years, BiL have been innovators in bringing "folk music" kicking and screaming to rock audiences (and rock music to screaming folk audiences!) BiL's many instrumental dance tunes incorporate global influences, rhythms, and melodies that are guaranteed to keep the feet moving. Original songs stick in the mind long after the music is over.
Chuck Suchy
Chuck Suchy (pronounced soo-key) is the real thing - one of the foremost musical voices of the American Great Plains. A working farmer, born and raised and at home in the blue hills along the Missouri River south of Mandan, North Dakota, Chuck Suchy has a love for making music that goes back to his childhood. Throughout his youth and young adult life, he found time to perform in the area's halls, clubs and lounges, singing and playing guitar and accordian. In 1982 a major event occurred when an acquaintance gave him a tape of Canadian troubadour Stan Rogers singing his classic Field Behind The Plow. “It was at that moment” Suchy says “that I realized that the life I was immersed in was worthy of song.” He began writing his own ballads and songs, slipping them into his performances and it was soon obvious that he was on to something quite unique - sensitive and honest portrayals of contemporary American farm life, but from an insider's point of view.
In the decade since, Chuck Suchy has continued to write, sing and record songs evoking and extolling the Great Plains region and lifestyle. His themes have expanded to include songs about human relationships, spirituality, motorcycles, and even sailing. The Plains have seen a lot of change over this time, including farm crises, loss of population, and a major restructuring of the agricultural economy. Chuck remains an astute observer of it all and his songs chronicle not only the events, but the emotions and feelings that accompany such upheaval and change.
Ditch Lilies *
Stringed multi-instrumentalists/vocalists with a soft spot and keen enthusiasm for early swing, old-time mountain music and juke joint songs of the Golden Era.
Kari Larson and Lisa Schultz have loved and performed what has now come to be named "Americana" for many years and in several different incarnations.
Patchouli *
Patchouli’s sound is described as “Joni Mitchell meets the acoustic Santana”. Patchouli’s hopeful, vibrant songwriting uses elements of folk, flamenco, jazz and world beat rhythms. Bruce and Julie recorded their first jam session together on January 6th, 1993 in a church in Chicago. With Bruce playing an acoustic guitar and Julie on a 5 gallon pail they discovered their desire to create music together out of anything and everything around them.
The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra *
Progressive Bluegrass fused with Jazz and World Elements. “Mayberry Meets Mahavishnu.” It’s country. It’s rock. It’s jazz. It’s bug-eyed bluegrass from Zeta Reticuli. It’s swing. It’s interstellar folk music... Whatever it sounds like to earthlings, there is no mistaking the virtuoso strains and the star trekking fun of The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra!
GCO is a unique and powerful musical ensemble that fuses original and traditional bluegrass-edged tunes with jazz and world elements. Their music is Chick Corea meets The Dixie Dregs meets A Prairie Home Companion. The mix ranges from highly accessible bluegrass tunes to extreme arrangements of East Indian ragas. GCO's instrumentation includes guitar, fiddle, bass and drums. The widely versatile instrumentals are accessible to music-lovers of all ages! High-Energy Family Fun!
The New Primitives *
Rhythm & Blues, Ska, Reggae, Calypso, and World Dance Music. With music as their vehicle, New Primitives awakens the commonality of all people and creates and environment in which everyone is welcome and anything is possible.
The Strollers *
The “Strollers” have developed an engaging musical style that blends blues, country and folk music into a rich, fertile ground were stories grow. Their voice is true to the region and their easy, listen-able style has the sincerity and passion that comes with knowing a place so well.
Rock'n'reel, Punk-folk! “Nobody roars, does a jig or a Balkan boogie quite like Boiled in Lead.”
Chuck Suchy (pronounced soo-key) is the real thing - one of the foremost musical voices of the American Great Plains. A working farmer, born and raised and at home in the blue hills along the Missouri River south of Mandan, North Dakota, Chuck Suchy has a love for making music that goes back to his childhood. Throughout his youth and young adult life, he found time to perform in the area's halls, clubs and lounges, singing and playing guitar and accordian. In 1982 a major event occurred when an acquaintance gave him a tape of Canadian troubadour Stan Rogers singing his classic Field Behind The Plow. “It was at that moment” Suchy says “that I realized that the life I was immersed in was worthy of song.” He began writing his own ballads and songs, slipping them into his performances and it was soon obvious that he was on to something quite unique - sensitive and honest portrayals of contemporary American farm life, but from an insider's point of view.
Stringed multi-instrumentalists/vocalists with a soft spot and keen enthusiasm for early swing, old-time mountain music and juke joint songs of the Golden Era.
Patchouli’s sound is described as “Joni Mitchell meets the acoustic Santana”. Patchouli’s hopeful, vibrant songwriting uses elements of folk, flamenco, jazz and world beat rhythms. Bruce and Julie recorded their first jam session together on January 6th, 1993 in a church in Chicago. With Bruce playing an acoustic guitar and Julie on a 5 gallon pail they discovered their desire to create music together out of anything and everything around them.
Progressive Bluegrass fused with Jazz and World Elements. “Mayberry Meets Mahavishnu.” It’s country. It’s rock. It’s jazz. It’s bug-eyed bluegrass from Zeta Reticuli. It’s swing. It’s interstellar folk music... Whatever it sounds like to earthlings, there is no mistaking the virtuoso strains and the star trekking fun of The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra!
Rhythm & Blues, Ska, Reggae, Calypso, and World Dance Music. With music as their vehicle, New Primitives awakens the commonality of all people and creates and environment in which everyone is welcome and anything is possible.
The “Strollers” have developed an engaging musical style that blends blues, country and folk music into a rich, fertile ground were stories grow. Their voice is true to the region and their easy, listen-able style has the sincerity and passion that comes with knowing a place so well.
