Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association

CHICKEN DINNER ROAD

This band comes from the Treasure Valley in Idaho.  They first got together at a jam session in 2005 and had so much fun that they decided to form a band and find some places to play in public.  In 2006 they gathered at the Old Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, ID and competed in the Battle of the Bluegrass Bands.  They won first place and competed again in 2009 and won again.  They play every chance they get and have had the opportunity to open for some great groups such as Valery Smith & Liberty Pike, Mike Compton and Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain.

The band members are Brian Haken, guitar & vocals, Dennis Stokes, mandolin & vocals, Bill Cates, banjo, Harry Strung, bass & vocals and Rue Frisbee, fiddle.

Listen Holy Unto the Lord

Listen, Gotta Do My Time

PANHANDLE POLECATS

These polecats come from Rathdrum, ID.  In just 5 short years the Panhandle Polecats have gone from just another cute family band to Dogs (er, Cats) in the thriving inland Northwest scene. The lighting fast picking, tight vocals and infectious stage presence of these five siblings have won a devoted following throughout the region.

The band consist of Jenny Little, bass fiddle & vocals, Hank Little, dobro and vocals, Molly Little (Wilbur) mandolin & vocals, Austin Little, banjo & vocals and Bonnie Little (Campbell)  guitar & vocals.

RED DESERT RAMBLERS

They come from  Salt Lake City, UT.  Red desert plays bluegrass, old country and swing music.  With combined experience of over 150 years, members blend traditional harmonies with smoking instrumental breaks.  This band is very very popular at festivals and has performed at bluegrass and folk festivals in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado.  The band members are, Steve Hewson, mandolin, guitar & vocals, Dave Bates, bass & vocals, Joe Farmer, mandolin & vocals, Rick Martinez, banjo & vocals and Sharon Mitchell, hammered dulcimer & vocals.

Listen: Roll On Buddy

NEW SOUTH FORK

New South fork is a group formed in Idaho Falls, ID.  They have recently welcomed new members to create a great band which loves to do up-tempo original and traditional bluegrass music.  Three of the members have been together for several years, and have played in several venues throughout Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Washington including Arizona and California.  New members who will be adding their own style and talents are great musicians in their own rights and have played with very successful groups in and around the area.  On banjo and vocals- Fred Frank, bass and vocals – Emily Frank, fiddle – Jeff Forbes, guitar and vocals – Joel Kaserman, mandolin – Chad Fadely.  A group that loves to have fun and play bluegrass.  Hope you enjoy the ride.

Listen: The Ride

BLUEGRASS COALITION

Part of this band comes from Montana and part come from Idaho.  Mike and Tari Conroy, from Connor Montana, love Old Time Bluegrass and love to perform the old style songs they have performed around the house for years.  The Conroy’s have had many years of duet singing and have done 9 recordings.  They are considered by many to be pioneers in Montana Bluegrass.  Now with Mike playing banjo and Tari playing her Martin guitar, they are very excited to be merging their style with the very talented Fred & Emily Frank.  Fred and Emily Frank regularly perform as a duet and are also members of the well known band New South Fork from Idaho Falls, ID.  They have played at many prestigious festivals, in Washington, Colorado and California.  Emily is a prolific song writer and wonderful bluegrass singer.  Fred is a multi — Instrumentalist, playing guitar, banjo and mandolin.  He is also a great bluegrass singer.

HAMMER DOWN

This group comes from the Salt Lake City, Utah area.  The group was originally formed by Mark Jenkins in the early spring of 2003 and to date has had several talented local musicians associated with the group.  Hammer Down has played at several major festivals across the country and is well known for their hard driving traditional and contemporary bluegrass sound.  The band members are, Mark Jenkins, guitar and lead vocals, Katelyn Jenkins, fiddle & vocals, Fairley Sparks dobro & vocals,

Tim Morrison, bass & vocals, Jake Workman, mandolin & vocals and Rick Martinez, banjo & vocals.

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This band comes from the Twin Falls, Idaho area.  Strings Attached has appeared at the Northern Rockies Folk Festival, the National Old Time Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, ID, the National Country Music Festival in Avoca, Iowa, the Southern Utah Bluegrass Festival in Kanab, several times at the Bannock County Bluegrass Festival in Pocatello, ID and many other bluegrass events around the US.  They are a traditional bluegrass band with a little folk flavor.  They have also played for square dances and contra dances.  The members are Jon Jacobson, guitar & vocals, Jenni Jacobson, fiddle & vocals, Mike McCarthy, banjo & vocals, and David Quinley, bass & vocals

Listen; The Minor Song

TRADITION

This band comes from Nampa Idaho.  The band consists of six members steeped heavily in solid bluegrass.  They have built the band of a good base of influences that include, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, Jimmy Martin, Jim & Jessie and the Stanley Brothers.  Their music is also influenced by some of the more modern bands of today such as, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Alison Krauss & Union Station, JD Crow & the New South and the Seldom Scene. Each member brings their own stylistic variance together into a culmination, which becomes the distinct sound of Tradition.  The band members are, Doug Jenkins, fiddle & vocals, Pat Massie, dobro & vocals, Emily Frank, bass & vocals, Bob Greer, guitar & vocals, Fred Frank, mandolin & vocals and Ron Hillier, banjo & vocals,