FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PERFORMERS AT 9TH ANNUAL MAMA AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Contact: Richard Brown | richard@themamas.org | 608.620.3786

Madison, WI (05/02/2012) – The Madison Area Music Association is pleased to announce the lineup of performers for the 9th Annual Madison Area Music Awards. The MAMAs will be held June 2 at the Capitol Theater in the Overture Center. Tickets are $15 — $10 for students and teachers — and go on sale May 1. Tickets are available at the Overture Center Box Office and online at www.overturecenter.com/boxoffice. Red Carpet festivities begin at 6 p.m., and show time is 7 p.m.

Performers Include:

Cork & Bottle String Band
Formed in 1996, this six-piece bluegrass band has single-handedly upped the ante for bluegrass music in the Madison area. Best known for their six-year run as the house band at the now defunct Ken’s Bar, the Cork & Bottle String Band continue to have a strong following. The band recently released a documentary DVD titled Corn ‘n Bottle String Band; The Ken’s Bar Story and just celebrated their 15-year anniversary.

The People Brothers Band
From humble beginnings at late-night open jams in a downtown Madison bar, the People Brothers Band have solidified over the past three years into an eight-piece rhythm-and-soul powerhouse. Their eclectic blend of original grooves, conscientious lyrics, soulfully mastered vocal and instrumental work, along with diverse self-tailored covers, holds the crowd on the dance floor and keeps them begging for more. From funk to soul, rock to reggae, folk to rhythm and blues, they’re guaranteed keep the audience on their feet.

Sincere Life
Sincere Life is an emcee from Chicago currently living in Madison. He has been mastering his craft as an emcee since before his adolescence. Raised by a single mother after losing his father in a car accident in 1996, He likes to credit hip-hop as a savior for him at that point in his life. He’s been involved in the hip-hop scene since 2000 and has since formed ILL-NOIS Nation, a rap label which stands for Intelligent Lyrical Legends Neglecting Oppression and Inspiring Society. He brings a different feeling through his music, and when you hear him you can tell he does it for the music first.

KAT Trio
This unique classical ensemble known as the Ekaterinburg Classical Trio, or Kat Trio, was born in the summer of 1998 in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The Kat Trio is violinist Victoria Gorbich, clarinetist Vladislav Gorbich and pianist Julie Page. They present unique Russian arrangements and transcriptions of timeless melodies. The trio’s concerts feature classical works, well-known inspirational songs, and even American pop standards, including Scott Joplin rags.

The Roots Collective
Roots Collective is Madison’s hottest roots reggae band in the finest one-drop tradition. This award-winning band features a collection of six seasoned musicians that mirror the horn driven reggae beats of Jamaican groups such as The Mighty Diamonds, The Abyssinians, The Wailers & The Skatalites. Formed in 2005 by lead singer/keyboardist Michelle Flood, Roots Collective focuses on playing music with a message that speaks to all people no matter what race, age or background. The players, all from the Madison area have performed with other popular local acts such as Natty Nation, Que Flavor!, Jose & Sumlimes, Tony Brown and Vibe Syndicate.

Making Purple, representing Girls Rock Camp Madison
Making Purple was formed at the 2011 Summer Girls Rock Camp and is performing a song that was written from that experience. Girls Rock Camp Madison is an intense week-long day camp for girls ages 8-18 where campers learn an instrument, form a band with their peers, write a song under the guidance of some of Madison’s finest female musicians and then rock out at an end-of-camp performance in front of hundreds of fans. Making Purple was one of the 16 bands to form at the 2011 summer camps.

Ida Jo with Midnight Voices
A student of violin from the age of 7, Ida Jo’s life has been full of honors, including the prestigious Emerson Scholarship to Interlochen Arts Center at the age of 14 and the first of several performances at the Winnipeg Folk Festival at 15. Having grown up listening to The Band and Van Morrison, Ida Jo combines classic rock passion with violin virtuosity. Ida Jo approaches her songs with the immediacy of a jazz improviser, the honesty of a folk singer, the humility of gospel seeker and the genuine passion of a classic rocker. Midnight Voices is an all female high school group from Madison, combining members from West, Edgewood and Memorial high schools. Their life motto is simple … Do or Dah.

Taalbi Brothers
Bronson and Preston Taalbi (ages 17 and 15 respectively) are the youngest of a family in love with music. Despite their adolescence, the Taalbi Brothers are energizing in their musical presence and create the raw, awakening music made possible by the bonds of blood. This inspiration allows for the Mediterranean ancestry and new millennium youthfulness of the Taalbi Brothers to emerge from their songs, shattering all typical shades of Flamenco-inspired guitar performance.

Charles Dieterle
Charles Dieterle, 18, is a senior at Madison West High School. He began playing trombone in fifth grade and has studied with Mark Hetzler, Mark Lusk and currently Jamie Kember. Charles also plays tuba, which he began learning in eighth grade. He joined WYSO his freshman year of high school and has attended Interlochen Arts Camp for the past two summers. Last year, he won the Fine Arts Award for Outstanding Achievement on Trombone. Though he describes himself as a classical musician at heart, Charles is also comfortable playing jazz. He performs with Jazz West (his school jazz ensemble), At Dim Fom (school jazz combo), Isthmus High School Jazz All-Stars and Spontaneocity (a trombone-sax improvisational duo).

Madison Jazz Orchestra

***The Madison Jazz Orchestra will play in honor of Doc DeHaven, our 2012 Michael St. John Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.***

The Madison Jazz Orchestra is founded on the idea of the New York rehearsal band. Players would come, sit in and play if they didn’t have a job that night or came right from the studio. The MJO is also a repertoire band playing a selection of works from the libraries of the bands of Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Bob Mintzer, The Tonight Show Band, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and many more.

Orphan Bloom
Orphan Bloom is a group of musicians influenced by genres as diverse as blues, heavy metal, jazz-rock fusion, classical Indian and European music, and acoustic fingerstyle. They forge a style that combines vivid lyrical imagery with music that is related to yet distinct from the music the band loves. Orphan Bloom’s self-titled debut album won the Hard Rock/Punk Album of the Year award at the 2011 MAMAs, was rated among the top-10 albums of 2010 by the Isthmus Magazine, was considered the best album of 2010 according to All Media Reviews and has been rated highly by Progression Magazine alongside bands like Mars Volta, King Crimson and Jethro Tull.

Mark Croft
Award-winning singer-songwriter Mark Croft is one of the most distinguished musicians to ignite the acoustic pop and roots scene in Madison. A seasoned performer, Croft has been serving up exciting and emotional performances throughout the nation. His ability to navigate his six-string with superiority, wrapping frantic acoustic riffs around unforgettable melodies, has garnered him praise from press outlets, industry professionals, club owners and fans alike. Croft has won numerous MAMA awards over many years.

The MAMAs are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and expansion of all forms of music education in the Madison area, and to encourage and promote the artistic advancement of our emerging musical youth. For further information please contact Richard Brown at richard@themamas.org or 608.620.3786

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Judy Bukowski won this guitar in the raffle

If you had told me 10 years ago that I’d be at the Great Dane in downtown Madison in 2012 sandwiched between blues guitar legend Jim Schwall and MTV-era pop star and member of the Producers Kyle Henderson sipping GD brew and munching nachos, I’d have thought you were crazy. Of course if you had said that we’d be raising money for the Madison Area Music Association and helping kids get instruments and music education I also would have thought you were crazy. After all, I was supposed to be touring the world, living large like some Norski version of Keith Richards, playing guitar and slaying chicks. Oh well, some dreams die hard.

But there we were on a pleasant Sunday afternoon, February 19. It was great fun too; you should have been there. Let me tell you a bit about what you missed …

There were three fine performances.

Beth Kille

An acoustic set by Beth Kille kicked things off. Kille has such undeniable stage presence. She’s hard to ignore, and the large crowd that gathered early responded generously.

The Eugene Smiles Project followed with a semi-acoustic set. These guys can sing some harmonies and made some familiar songs sound sweet on this laid-back afternoon. The rhythm section was especially groovulous.

Last up was Mighty Short Bus, all plugged in. These guys can sing too and the musicianship is very high, particularly Nik Adamany on guitar and the bass playing of Rob Junceau.

The fundraising aspect was courtesy of the performers who donated their time to the MAMA cause but also came in the form of a huge raffle. Emcee and MAMA Event Coordinator Matty Douglas gave away several dozen raffle prizes. The Great Dane kicked in a pony keg of beer which was won by Roscoe Evans from Sexy Ester and the Pretty Mama Sisters, so … party at his place.

Avery Sandker and Judy

The grand prize was an Epiphone SG electric guitar, and here’s where the story gets really good. A very enthusiastic fan by the name of Judy Bukowski – a 64-year-old retired postal worker and union activist – was anxiously awaiting the results of the raffle. When her number was called and she won the guitar, we all thought the jumping up and down and crying was a bit of an over-reaction. That’s what I thought until I was able to speak with her. Judy has a close friend, Andrew Sandker, a guitar player who writes melancholy tunes and performs mostly at open mics. Andrew’s son is Avery Sandker, an 11-year-old aspiring guitarist. Avery has been taking guitar lessons but doesn’t have a guitar of his own. Andrew has been trying to get Avery his own guitar but has limited resources. Well, needless to say, the very next day the very grateful raffle winner went out and bought a hardshell case and guitar strap and then delivered the shiny new Epiphone SG to Avery.

You know, it makes you think that some things are just meant to be. None of us – except Schwall – seemed to know Bukowski before last Sunday. It couldn’t have possibly turned out any better.

Rob Junceau - Mighty Short Bus bassist and music educator

I also had a great discussion with Rob Junceau, bassist for the Mighty Short Bus. Rob is a stay-at-home dad during the week. He’s been teaching stand-up bass for 15 years. On the weekends he travels with MSB, who did 180 shows across 15 states last year and have been carrying on like that for some time. Junceau has seen many of his students go on to get college music degrees and to other successes. The stresses of his life were apparent as he spoke and he remarked that he wouldn’t wish his lifestyle on anyone. He’s a straight-shooter too – he’s referring to the stress, the grind, the grueling travel away from home and family. He’s able to provide enough – barely. Junceau said he was a troubled youth and he probably would be in some jail somewhere had not music pulled him out and given him some purpose. He’s doing what he loves and according to him, “the only thing I know how to do and do well.” This is a story I hear over and over, though the circumstances vary. The common element is how music provided purpose, a reason to believe, hope to carry on and even salvation for some. I know this story too.

Hopefully Avery Sandker’s life won’t be fraught with such difficulties. But his odds just got a lot better thanks to Judy Bukowski and the synchronicity that brought all of us together at a MAMA fundraiser.

This is why we do it. This is why we’re here.

Avery and Andrew Sandker

Eugene Smiles Project

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Richard Brown | richard@themamas.org | 608.620.3786

THE MAMAS GREAT DANE FREE BEER RAFFLE

MADISON, WI, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 – The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) is pleased to announce the first in a series of fundraisers to promote the 9th Annual Madison Area Music Awards. The Great Dane Downtown will host the MAMAs Great Dane Free Beer Raffle on Sunday, February 19th from 1 – 5 pm. The event will feature acoustic performances by Beth Kille, the Eugene Smiles Project and Mighty Short Bus. In addition there will be numerous items to be raffled including a pony keg of beer from the Great Dane, an Epiphone SG guitar from Guitar Center and much, much more. Fans interested in signing up for a voting membership can do so (First round voting is open and runs February 9th through March 16th).

There is no cover for this event. Raffle tickets are $1 each, 15 for $10, or a whopping 35 for $20. You must be present to win and prizes will be drawn throughout the event.

More information on this event, as well as all upcoming MAMA events and important dates can be found at the MAMAs’ website: www.themamas.org.

The 9th Annual Madison Area Music Awards will be held Saturday, June 2nd at the Capitol Theater in the Overture Center. Performers and special award recipients will be announced soon.

The MAMAs are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and expansion of all forms of music education in the Madison area, and to encourage and promote the artistic advancement of our emerging musical youth. For further information please contact Matty Douglas, MAMAs Events Coordinator mattd@themamas.org or Richard Brown at richard@themamas.org or 608.620.3786

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Richard Brown | richard@themamas.org | 608.620.3786

The Madison Area Music Association and The Wisconsin School Music Association Join Forces

Madison, WI December 19, 2011 – The Madison Area Music Association (The MAMAs) is pleased to announce that it and The Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) have joined forces to expand the opportunities for youth participation in Ninth Annual MAMA awards to be held on June 2nd at the Overture Center for the Arts.

Specifically the connection with WSMA assists in expanding the reach of the MAMAs youth categories from Monroe in the south, west to Dodgeville, north to Portage and east to Jefferson.  Registration for youth performers (ages 5 to 18) is free and open until May 15th, 2012. Additionally the awards categories have been expanded to include Instrumentalist of the Year (8 categories), Vocalist of the Year (3 categories), Band or Ensemble of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year with additional awards being presented to the Madison Regional WSMA Launchpad winners (Launchpad winners are able to enter the other categories as well).  For full details, including a list of musical equipment and instruments on-hand for use by youth, please see this attachment or visit our website www.themamas.org.

The MAMAs are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and expansion of all forms of music education in the Madison area, and to encourage and promote the artistic advancement of our emerging musical youth. For further information please contact Richard Brown at richard@themamas.org or 608.620.3786

The WSMA is a proud partner to more then 3,500 music teachers and school administrators in the education of more then 200,000 students who annually participate in our activities. Our mission To ensure that all students have opportunities which encourage lifelong involvement in music, the Wisconsin School Music Association will provide statewide music programming activities, offer leadership and support for school music programs, and advance music as an integral part of the school curriculum and community life. For further information on the WSMA please visit our website at www.wsmamusic.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Richard Brown | richard@themamas.org | 608.620.3786

Madison Area Music Association Announces November Registration Event

Madison, WI November 02, 2011 – The MAMAs join Shari Davis and the Hootchy Kootchy Band on November 19th at The Locker Room (1810 Roth St.) for a night of Blues, Swing and Jazz from 8pm to 11pm.  Any interested artist or fan of local music should stop out and say hello.  Artists will be able to register for the ninth annual awards and everyone can purchase MAMAs T-Shirts ($10 S,M,L,XL,2XL,3XL) or signup for one of our mailing lists and learn more about us. Hope to see you!

For a listing of other registration events or to register online, go to www.themamas.org of visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/madisonareamusicassociation.  Current artist members and fans can register using the Member Login tab while new artists and fans can use the New Artist and New Fan tabs.

Shari Davis and the Hootchy‑Kootchy Band play a musical range of jazz, swing, and blues. Shari’s vocals and dancing encourage the audience to do the same; seldom has a bare dance floor been witnessed when the Hootchy‑Kootchy Band takes the stage.  Tunes include originals by some of the band members as well as renditions of popular and vintage swing. The energy of the band is apparent along with the enormous talent of the musicians.

The MAMAs are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and expansion of all forms of music education in the Madison area, and to encourage and promote the artistic advancement of our emerging musical youth.  For further information please contact Richard Brown at richard@themamas.org or 608.620.3786

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