July 11th, 2008
Steel Groove
Caribbean Music
Steel Groove was formed in 2004 and has become the region’s most sought after steel band. Led by Darin Wadley, Director of Percussion Studies at The University of South Dakota, Steel Groove is comprised of talented past and present USD students. The group performs a wide range of music from all over the world. Being faithful to the steel drum’s origins, Steel Groove’s repertoire is based on calypsos and socas, the two most popular musical styles from Trinidad. The group also includes the sounds of Jamaican reggae, Brazilian sambas and Bossa Novas, mambos and cha-chas from Cuba, plus jazz and popular music from The United States. Steel Groove plays exclusively on steel drums built and tuned by builder-artist Cliff Alexis, a native of Trinidad.
July 18th, 2008
Jim Groth
Soulfout Acoustic Music
A born storyteller, Jim Groth relates life experience in original songs and obscure yet recognizable interpretations. He has been playing guitar since the early ‘60s, starting with surf bands before the British Invasion. As a high schooler he played and sang in a regional rhythm and blues band called The Pilgrims. He also played with The Starfires, DJ and the Runaways, Bobby Vee, and Wonderband. Along with R&B and rock, Jim was playing bluegrass and folk, going on to write gospel and folk music. Through the years Jim has never stopped singing and playing both electric and acoustic guitar- performing in many groups and often working in the studio. He continues in solo performances, blues band The Stallions, and the Celtic band Trefoil. Jim also currently records at his home.
July 25th, 2008
SD Jazz Orchestra
Music from the Masters of Jazz
Featuring many of the Sioux empires finest jazz musicians, the non-profit South Dakota Jazz Orchestra redefines Jazz in South Dakota and throughout the midwest -- bringing to Jazz what the philharmonic gave to classical music: a modern audience, a standard of excellence and a nurturing creative community. The SDJO plays music from the masters of the art such as Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich and others as well as new compositions and arrangements.
Beadwork Exhibit Opening July 10th at the Old Courthouse Museum
American Indian beadwork was and is today a major art form in Indian culture. Artistic expression was a central part of everyday tribal life, as Indians decorated themselves, their homes, and their possessions. Before their contact with Europeans, American Indians made their beads from stones, shells, teeth, animal bones, deer hooves, and seeds. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, Venetian glass beads had become a form of currency between European fur traders and Indian tribes all across North America. Tribes found these beads appealing, colorful, and much easier to use than porcupine quills.
The exhibit American Indian Beadwork will open on Thursday, July 10th at the Old Courthouse Museum with a free public reception from 5-7 p.m. The exhibit will highlight beadwork from many different North American Indian tribes including Iroquois, Chippewa, Potawatomi, Woodland, Ojibwa, and Lakota. It will feature both historical and contemporary objects as well as the different techniques the American Indians used in creating their beadwork designs. Some of the artifacts that will be on display are a shirt and leggings worn by Chief Spotted Tail, an 1870s war shirt, bandolier bags, purses, and beaded moccasins.
R.F. Pettigrew Birthday Party July 24th
Celebrate R.F. Pettigrew’s birthday with an evening of family fun at the annual R.F. Pettigrew Birthday Party on Thursday, July 24th at the Pettigrew Home & Museum from 5- 8 p.m. The event will include an open house, horse-drawn wagon rides around the historic neighborhood, a Historic Walking Tour of Duluth Avenue, live music by Fiddler Nelson, and refreshments.
August 1st, 2008
Mat d
Hard Luck Americana
Emerging as a new,critically acclaimed songwriter and performer in the folk music scene, Mat d. has entertained Midwestern audiences with his gritty approach to old time country and acoustic blues to create a dark signature sound best described as hard luck Americana. His lyrical themes focus on life from the darker side of the tracks with a raw sense of wit combined with a faint if not tarnished silver lining. Jim Pipkin of HickoryWind.org, who picked Mat's album "Gasoline Rattle" as one of the top 4 CD's of 2007, writes "Mat reminds me of a young Steve Earle with a better set of pipes...Mat's songs are funny, crusty, dirty glimpses into an America out beyond the strip malls. The subjects of his songs flash by like memories of a road trip, with recurring themes of faith, cynicism, and finding what love the world throws at us." Mat has also cruised into 2008 with some 2007 accolades. Folk Rising, a community of musicians and acoustic music enthusiasts based in Sioux Falls, S.D. dedicated to helping the folk music scene reach new heights, named Mat's album "Gasoline Rattle" it's 2007 album of the year. Gary Kappenman, head of A&R for the organization said the record "combines the best of old acoustic roots/folk/country blues music with leading edge Americana blues and a hard driving gospel flavor. My favorite lyric is from his 'Bound for Glory' track which provides hope in the depths of despair with 'Baby, this train is still bound for glory, despite all of our rambling ways'".
August 8th, 2008
Speghetti Western String Co.
Amero-European Composition Pickin'
The Spaghetti Western String Co., is an instrumental acoustic quartet from Minneapolis, MN that began it's career in the winter of 2003. Their music is fit for film scores and at times bittersweet and chaotic. They are two-time recipiants of Minnesota Music Awards in 2005 and 2006 for 'Eclectic Artist of the Year.' The current line-up features Michael Rossetto (banjo, guitar), Nicholas Lemme (mandolin, guitar, voice), Ethan Sutton (cello), and Paul Fonfara (clarinet). They have performed on such stages as the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, the Southern Theater and the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis.
August 15th, 2008
Hank Harris & Jeremy Hegg
Serious Musical Fun
Hank Harris
When it comes to musical diversity, Hank Harris has cornered the market. In a market that has so many competing for the same thing, so few are successfully able to offer something new and different. This man accepts the challenge and overcomes the obstacles, side stepping the stereotypes that prevail in his chosen endeavor to construct a musical landscape of his very own. Many artists are content to sound like someone else instead of who they are, not Harris. You can hear who Hank is in his music.
Jeremy Hegg
Jeremy Hegg is the staff arranger for the Augustana Brass Choir, Sioux Falls Municiple Band, and many marching band programs throughout the country. As a performer Jeremy is known for his band Spooncat!, which has performed throughout the region since 1996 and has four compact discs of original music to its credit. In addition, Jeremy has performed around the world with popular artists ranging from Smokey Robinson to Chuck Barry, and in recent years he has been a featured guest pianist with A South Dakota Acoustic Christmas. Jeremy was the 2003 recipient of the Mayor’s Award For The Performing Arts.
August 22nd, 2008
Dakota District Pipes and Drums
Traditional Scottish and Irish Pipe Tunes
Dakota District Pipes & Drums brings the stirring music of bagpipes and drums to listeners throughout South Dakota at events from Mount Rushmore to the Minnesota border. Dedicated to a musical tradition that has been in existence for 500 years, the Dakota District Pipes & Drums has an extensive repertoire of traditional Irish and Scottish music and a strong piping tradition. Based in Sioux Falls, Dakota District Pipes & Drums is a non-profit corporation with the goal of bringing bagpipe music to the general public.
August 29th, 2008
Terry Brooks Trio
Jazz - Fats Waller to John Coltrane
Family Farm Dinner August 22nd at Beaver Creek Nature Area
Join the Siouxland Heritage Museums for a unique family farm-style dinner on Friday, August 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at Beaver Creek Nature Area east of Sioux Falls. The dinner will include pioneer activities and live musical entertainment as well as the meal at the pioneer cabin. Open to everyone 8 and older, $20 per person. Call the Old Courthouse Museum at 367-4210 ext. 0 to reserve your ticket today.
