Sponsored by Fulton Brewery, River Rock Studios and Street Factory Media
Friday, May 24, 2019
6 pm Doors // 7 pm Battle
$10 Advance // $15 Door — On Sale 10 am Friday April 5
The Parkway Theater, in partnership with The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association, is pleased to present our first ever Bluegrass Battle of the Bands.
Participants:
Last Pick'd String Band (Eden Prairie, MN)
The Minor Fall (Minneapolis, MN)
Midwest Cowboy Ministries (Osage, IA)
Fellow Pynins (St. Paul, MN)
The Gated Community (Minneapolis, MN)
Russell and the Absent Alley Dogs (Minneapolis, MN)
Barley Jacks (St. Croix, MN)
The Skally Line (Minneapolis, MN)
PRIZES:
1st Place — $500 cash, a full day of studio recording provided by River Rock Studios, and a professionally shot music video by Street Factory Media
2nd Place — $500 cash
3rd Place — $250 cash
Come on down for some pickin' and a-grinnin' and help your favorite local bluegrass band win BIG with your audience enthusiasm!
Eight of the area's best bluegrass bands will compete — and the top three bands will take home some incredible prizes including a full-day's worth of recording time, a professionally produced music video, and buckets of cash! Plus the pride that comes with WINNING. The contest will be judged by three professional members of the local music/bluegrass community.
HOST // Anthony Ihrig
Based in Minneapolis, Anthony Ihrig is a musician, composer, and banjo instructor with a passion for making a difference at the intersection of music performance, education, and entrepreneurship. He's also a heckuva charming guy with a seemingly boundless knowledge of all things bluegrass.
A former drummer who brought his rock-solid timing to the banjo and helped form the Midwestern newgrass band, Free Range Pickin,' Anthony is one of the founding members of the award-winning bluegrass greats, The High 48s. He has also released recordings under his own name. His unique melodic banjo style and songwriting skills have helped him earn radio play across the country and a review in Bluegrass Unlimited.
JUDGE // Becky Schlegel
Her music is original, drawing on the influence of classic country, bluegrass, folk, and her own thoughtful spirit. Becky Schlegel’s incredible voice floats, whispers then soars above music of the highest quality. She takes her listeners on a musical journey, exploring new places and meeting new people in every song.
JUDGE // Chris Riemenschneider
Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.
Riemenschneider has also written for Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News and Billboard and won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Society for Features Journalism and Society of American Travel Writers.
Star Tribune // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
JUDGE // Eric Christopher
Eric Christopher is a musician, composer and music instructor who plays and teaches fiddle, violin, and mandolin at his studio in St. Paul and at workshops and jam camps around the country.
Christopher has worked as a fiddler-for-hire, performing, recording and/or touring with dozens of bluegrass, Americana and alternative country acts, including the Grammy-nominated James King Band, Alan Munde and Vic Chesnutt. In addition to a solo career, he is a co-founding member of the award-winning bluegrass band, The High 48s, who just released their ninth album and have been awarded top honors at the prestigious annual RockyGrass Bluegrass Competition in Colorado.
