Plain Grass Folk play at 2025’s Big Thaw concert.
Mark the date: March 21 for our annual Big Thaw concert
Although we’re all no doubt immersed in the holidays, now is also the time to start looking forward to the Badgerland Bluegrass Music Association’s annual Big Thaw concert.
Always held in the spring, the event this year has been moved up a few weeks, to March 21, to decrease the chances that it will be competing with sort of good weather that makes even the most ardent bluegrass fan disinclined to spend time indoors — no matter how good the lineup.
And we certainly have some quality bands booked this year. Sawdust Symphony, The Heartland Howlers, Sugar Bush and Flat Creek Highway will give ears starved for live bluegrass music just what they need to sustain them through the last few cold weeks of the season.
Also, this year we’ll have a new feature: a band scramble.
A fixture at many bluegrass festivals, a scramble is essentially a game that lets any musicians in attendance toss their names into a hat to be pulled for random assignment to one out of a handful of impromptu “bands.” Each of these groups will be given a little time to convene and choose a tune or two that they all feel comfortable playing. Next thing they know, they’ll be on stage playing.
It’s a wonderful way to give parking-lot pickers who’ve shown up with their instruments a chance to display their musical prowess, while also exposing the audience to talents they perhaps didn’t know their friends and neighbors. Add to that the usual food, drink, raffle and general cheer, and we’re predicting another successful Big Thaw.
We’re looking forward to seeing you there on March 21.
– Dan Shaw, BBMA vice president
Jam tunes for you and everyone
When you go to a Bluegrass jam it is important to have your instrument tuned before you arrive.
It may need a little tweaking when you take it out of the case in winter weather, as it’s really cold outside and is much warmer indoors. It’s a major shock to the strings!
If you can’t keep up with the strumming tempo, you should sit on the sidelines until you
are up to speed. A jam is a great place to learn by watching and listening. Be sure to bring along a capo for your guitar or banjo, as keys that are often used need a capo. I don’t play in B or Bb without a capo as those chords are difficult to play on their own and don’t sound very good in the Bluegrass genre. They may work well in folk music, but that’s not what we’re doing here.
By playing out of a G or C chord pattern you can get a lot of good bass runs that are fun to play. Those keep the music moving and are fun on their own. The majority of songs that you’ll hear at a jam only use thre chords — I, IV, V, always annotated in Roman numerals. Some minor chords are added from time to time, depending on the song. Put a song in your own best singing key.
Here is a good one to learn:
Keep on the Sunny Side (in the key D or A)
By A.P Carter
I IV I
- There’s a dark and a troubled side of life.
I V
There’s a bright and a sunny side, too.
V7 I
Tho’ we meet with the darkness and strife,
V I
The sunny side we also may view.
CHORUS:
I IV I
Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
I V
Keep on the sunny side of life.
I IV
It will help us every day; it will brighten all the
I
way,
I V I
If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life.
- The storm and its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear;
Clouds and storms will in time pass away,
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
CHORUS
- Let us greet with a song of hope each day,
Tho’ the moment be cloudy or fair,
Let us trust in our Savior away,
To keep us, every one, in His care.
CHORUS
— Linda Sandersen is member emeritus of the BBMA.
The story of the Bluegrass Chicken Man, Jon Kehoe
Jon Kehoe in the Chicken Man suit, with the bluegrass legend Del McCoury.
While many Bluegrass fans may recognize him by the brightly yellow-colored chicken costume he frequently wears to music fests, folks may be surprised to know the back-story behind this cheerful, avid bluegrass supporter — fondly referred to as Jon “Chicken Man” Kehoe.
As a polished mandolin player, Jon enjoyed a decade of performing with the local bluegrass band, “Brewtown Brewgrass.” This talented, upbeat group has made appearances at a variety of popular venues throughout the Milwaukee and larger Wisconsin area including the Historic Pabst Brewery, Kochanski’s Concertina Beer Hall and Linneman’s. Although Jon says he is currently “on a hiatus” from performing Bluegrass music, his connections to the larger Bluegrass community has continued to grow over the years.
From his years of involvement in the local bluegrass community, Jon began hearing of additional bluegrass events and opportunities that stretched beyond his local, Wisconsin roots. One in particular became of great significance to him: DelFest in Cumberland, Maryland. Held at the Allegany Fair Grounds, this annual Memorial Day Weekend music festival quickly became one of Jon’s favorites. As stated on the DelFest website, “The festival originated from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury Music while creating a forum for world-class musical collaborations and to showcase fresh new talent with a down-home feeling.” And world-class it is with the lineup of performers over the years that includes a broad range of some of the finest musicians and bands within the bluegrass music genre!
Jon began attending DelFest in 2012 and was hooked! He knew he wanted more. By 2013, he had attended the “DelFest Academy,” which features three days of vibrant, intensive workshops leading up to the festival weekend. Jon said that he and his dear friend, Justin Busche, soon became known as “Del Nerds,” as they came to regularly attend this fest.
After a few years of going to DelFest, Jon became involved in a different way. He began showing up in his famous “Chicken Man” costume. He became a huge hit! With his genuine, kind demeanor, and incredible positive energy, he quickly became a favorite part of DelFest. Eventually, Jon found creative ways to turn his role as “Chicken Man” into an opportunity to help raise money for local charities. In connection with DelFest, he became part of “Del’s Army,” a charity network that is associated with the fest. Jon even went so far as to establish “Air Corp,” his own branch of this charity. Selling photos with “Chicken Man” and various memorabilia and art work, Jon has generously given a large part of his profits to this charity over the years.
Looking to the future, Jon says he hopes to eventually bring “Chicken Man” and his fund-raising efforts to even more bluegrass events. One Wisconsin event in particular that he would like to get involved with is the Blue Ox Fest, which is held in Eau Claire, WI each summer. He feels that his fund-raising work could be helpful in contributing to the “Feed My People Food Bank” in Eau Claire. Jon feels grateful to have the chance to help people in this manner — to “Spread the happiness.”
And that he does! Jon says he gets great satisfaction from seeing people’s faces light up when they see him dressed in his role as Chicken Man, knowing that “people can still smile at strangers.” His message: Keep on Smiling! The magic of smiles and kindness works!
— Jean Groshek is secretary of the BBMA.
Down the road in Madison, our friends at SWBMAI held their Fall Jamboree
Soggie Prairie plays at the Fall SWBMAI Jamboree in Madison.
Did you make it to the Fall SWBMAI Jamboree with the Single Mic Extravaganza? If so, we hope you enjoyed yourself and if not, we missed you!
We’re happy to share that there will be more opportunities to attend future events like this. Watch for announcements in the SWBMAI newsletter, Facebook and event calendars.
The Atwood Music Hall was the perfect venue for this event. It’s a beautiful space and the sound was amazing! Our thanks go out to The Atwood Music Hall and their crew for allowing us to host a jam and performances by seven SWBMAI member bands, each with only 20 minutes and a single mic! We also extend our gratitude to the sound team and the bands who performed. They did a stellar job!!
Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who made a donation to our organization. Individual thanks go out to Gary Lugauer, Dan Patterson and Jeff Burkhart. Additionally, a special thank you goes to SWBMAI “founding father” Bruce Nichols, who donated many albums available for sale at the jamboree. We appreciate your generosity!
We couldn’t have done this without the support of the Atwood music hall. Their commitment to supporting the community is one of their founding beliefs. Please support them by attending events at the Atwood Music Hall, and if you are part of a community group looking for space, check out their Community Events page.
nowing that “people can still smile at strangers.” His message: Keep on Smiling! The magic of smiles and kindness works!