Pat Hansen's Life an Inspiration Pat Hansen, longtime owner of Hansen Music in Billings, passed away on May 1 1,2008 while vacationing in France with his wife and her parents. His full obituary can be seen on the internet at www.billings@zette.net . It was printed in the Sunday paper on

June 8th. 2008.

There are many questions that all of us ask ourselves when such a fixture in our community is suddenly gone. Who will do their work? To whom will we turn to answer our questions? Why him? Why now? It would be wonderful if someone could type a line o r two in this news- letter and make us feel secure, answer our questions, and make sense of Pat's death. There are however. I believe, no words quantitatively o r qualitatively t o

do any of those things.

Pat had many friends in our community. He loved his wife and family. He was loved by them. He ran a respectable

business for a long time. He treated the Yellowstone Blue- grass Association well, often donating money and merchan- dise to our cause.

If you aspire t o be a friend, a husband, a brother, a business- man. a recognizable part of the Billings community and any or all of the other things Pat was, look to Pat Hansen's life for inspira-

tion.

Hansen Music Hosts Memo-

r ial Jam

The gang at Hansen music cele- brated Pat Hansen's life with a jam session on June 12,2008 at 4 pm at the Shrine Auditorium. Many local bands including YBA's Highway 302 and The All Hands Str ing Band picked and

sang at the event

Local musicians of every type were on hand to show their

respect.

Prairie Winds Schedule 2

Billy Pilgrims 2

Hardees 2

Bluegrass DVD 3

Grand Targhee Camp 3

YBA Cornpout 4

VIPs 4

The Flrst Day of Flddle Camp 2008 The first week of June finds our heroes deep in the wilds of central their cell phones for the upcominn concern his rinns send in^ the crowed Montana (just a ways from Greatfalls) at "~iddle Camp". This event into grins'and giggles. '

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'ponsored the Montana Oldtime Fiddlers Association is designed The lodge begins to heat up as spectators no longer able to find chairs

t o educate musicians of all levels and bring like minded acoustic mu- squeeze in t o watch the show. The fiddle instructors start with a tune they

sic enthusiasts together. all know. Wow, can they play! April Verch from Pembroke, Ontario plays a Sunday morning just after cereal, fruit. and coffee, all so is of folks lively Canadian number.'S'he has wonderful tone and is very lively wiih ;hat hauling cases make their way into the lodge. The air is a buzz with bow. Nex t Barbara Lamb of Nashville in Tennessee fiddles a bluegrass num- discussion of this mornings introductions and concert by the instruc- ber. Her forte is improvisation. Emily Callender from Livingston, Montana tors. demonstrates a contest style piece acconipanied by her husband Isaac on .. -.

guitar. Finally the star of the show. ~ u d d ~ spicher of Nashville, Tennessee, The crowed settles down a bit as Mr. Fred Buckley lays down the

slowly burns the strings on his composition "Paula's Waln". His playing law on camp and jamming etiquette. One of his peeves is apparently

leaves everyone speechless. He then lightens things up with his version of something called "doodling". His remarks are directed at those students who don't listen to instructors and play softly all the time

the old tune "Red Wing". In mid stride he calls out a style of music and then

even during lectures. As Mr. Buckley is requesting that pupils shut off changes his playing to wit that style. The sperratOrs go wild.

Check out the Billy Pilgrims @ coloradobluegrass.org

uly 10, 2008 @ Venture Theatr

Tickets at the Door $10 for Members

$12 for Non-Members

YBA Meets at Hardee's On 27th for the Summer If you enjoy goodies It appears that the new place t o

with your bluegrasss, pick on Fr~day n~ght In Billings is

attend concerts at the at Hardee's on 27th street

Venture Theatre at Since remodel~ng last winter, the restaurant has a new large area

23 19 Montana Ave for jamming with movable furni-

in Billings. They even ture.

have wine and beer! There have been plenty of pick- ers on recent Fridays and man- agement has been accommodat- ing by turnlng off the rad~o wh~le

members are there.

On June 27.2008 reporters from the Bill~ngs Gazette where on hand to "do a story" about the YBA. Watch for the article

to appear soon in the paper.

At the Prairie Winds Caft5, Molt

12 ... Spur of the Moment 9...Spur of the Moment 19...All Hands String Band 16 ... Ramblin' Laurels 26...Southbound 23 ... Cold Frosty Morning

30 ... Southbound

Bluegrass Country Soul:A Film By Albert lhde ~ a l m a r t may or may not pay its workers for. overtime, but it knows how t o stock its selves with great bluegrass. I've run on to some great cds by Lar ry Sparks, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and Ralph Stanely in the discount bin

there.

Most recently I found a wonder- ful dvd produced under the "Time Life" label. I t is called Bluegrass Country Sou1 : A Film by Albert Ihde. It is a remastered film about a bluegrass festival which took place in 197 1 on Labor Day

to appear. The "Freeborn Man" is sporting a checkered red and white cowboy hat, smoking jacket, and white patent leather shoes. The young lady playing bass in the group is wearing a very short red dress and has her hair up in a beehive style. For authenticity you can't beet the Osborne Brothers playing and singing that old standard, "Rocky Top".

Although bluegrass has had its fans and players in countries outside of the United States for a long time, Japanese players

weekend in Camp Springs, have proved to be some of the

North Carolina. most dedicated to the traditional sound. Bluegrass 45 from Kobi,

The promoter of the festival was Japan appears on this dvd. It is

none other than Hane~' amazing how the crowed takes Hanev is attributed with ornaniz- .. inn one of the first festivals of t o their performance.

that kind back in 1965, He ap- I enjoyed seeing all the perform- pears often in the film and his ers on this dvd, but I also en- enthusiasm for the genre is infec- joyed the shots of the crowd.

tious. M& wore their hair much longer back in 197 1, didn't they?

The first group to appear in the film is the Lil ly Bras. I've been a This film really takes one back-

fan of that group for a long time. Check out the sale bin at Wal- but I never heard any recording mart or look around on the to equal their performance here. internet and your bound to find I was shocked to see Kei th a copy of this dvd. Every blue- Whi te ly and Rich Skaggs on grass fan should get one. stage with Ralph Stanley. Dr. Stanley was recognizable but the rest of the group looked hardly old enough to shave. J immy Martin's group gets the award for the wildest costumes

ARE Y'A 6OWB TO MUSIC CAMP? If you missed your chance to attend the Montana State Old- time Fiddler's "Fiddle Camp" in Monarch, Montana in June this year, the summer isn't over yet. There may still be time to get in a few classes at the 3rd Annual Targhee Bluegrass Music Camp.

August 5-8.2008.

Musicians and wanna-be musi-

days of learning, jamming, and fun that precede the Grand Tar- ghee Bluegrass Festival. Located at the resort, the setting is ideal for getting away from the real world and spending time in the

mountains picking and singing.

2008 Instructors

Ben Winship-Director

cians. get ready for the 2008 Darrel l Scott- Sonwritinn

Br ian Wicklund-Mandolin

Tim Stafford &John Lowell-

Guitar

Rob lckes -Dobro

Jeremy Gar re t t -Fiddle

Eric Thor in -Bass

For more informahon check

ourwww.grandtarghee.com

" " Targhee Bluegrass Camp! This event entails three and a half Tony Trischka-Banjo

Association

A RemEnderT When Scbeo17s Out fer t h e Summer, the Lhceln Cen*e.r

Other Places t o Jam, doses tee- ~d~ ~ d ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ Butte, America has been chosen to "put on" the National Folkfestival for the next

three years. Big deal, you say. It is! (Do you know where organizers can put 50,000 out of state cars in Silverbow county?)Arts, crafts, music and dance of every kind fill the festival which most recently took place in places like Rich- mond, VA and Washington D.C.. This year (the first of three in a row in Butte) will take place July 11-13. The seldom-scene are playing uptown in the street for

Phone:406 256-8294 free! Fax:NA

E-mail: pierson95ain-tch.net

Promoting Muegrass musicSn the - -- -- - Yellowstone Valley

I YEA to Host Campout Near Redlodge Don't you love camping out? Montana is a paradise for those of us who love the great out of doors. With us in mind (people who love the outside), YBA is going to host a campout on the banks of Rock Creek near Red- lodge and Roberts, MT at Kalava Park. It is a great place with a lodge, bathrooms, dry camping spots, and all the "wide open"

you can stand.

The organization will furnish a swine to be BBQed t o perfec- tion by master swine BBQers on Saturday July 26, 2008 as well as pop, water etc. The meal (potluck salads, deserts etc) will be free to EVERYONE. Dona-

interested. -

l t~ is r;mored that the Montana State Oldtime Fiddler's contest will be going on in Redlodge that President ... Chuck Bishop 248-3645 very w n e w ~ ~ k e n d . If you also Vice-President ... Barry Gum 256-91 82 belong to the MSOTF, let us Secretary1 Treasurer ... Terry Indreland 652-4677 know. A contingent of bluegrass- Board Members ... Trent Indreland, Brad Sherseth, Wade ers will come root you on. Steinmetz and Ed Pierson

tions to the cause will be appre-

ciated.

jamming will start early and end late as usual. Organizers would

MELVIN F. HANSEN, JR.

' 1819 GRAND AVENUE 406-245-4544 BILLINGS. MT 591 02 hansenmusic.net

We are very fortunate to have had a friend and owner whoYs.love for music, and the community inspired him to make plans for Hansen Music to continue it's legacy long after he had passed.

The now family, and employee owned store will continue in the path in which it has gone for over 60 years- onward, with full force!

We will also be continually supporting many of the same groups we have in the past years, including the Yellowstone Bluegrass Association.

We appreciate all of your support, business, and mostly the friendships you've provided for us over the years.

JULY 11,12 & 13,2008 Johnson County Fairgrounds

Buffalo, Wyoming

Acoustic Americana, Bluegrass Folk, Old- Timey, Western & Traditional Music

I I I

Pea- Peter Rowan Blngrms Band, The Kenny & Amanda Smith Bmd,

The Byron Berline Bad with Barry %oness Patton, Don Edwards, Clumsy Lovers, Spring Creek, The Jalan Crosslaad Bmd,

Anne & Pete Sibley, k e l & Hrieger D. Mlchael Thomas

I Bay Y o n Ilcketk Early and Save Monyf!

J&7omation & ZYckeets at www.Bi~o~ounta inFes t ivdcom Advance Tickets.' 3 Day $65 * Friday $25 * Saturday $35 * Sunday $15

At The Gate: 3 Day $80 * Friday $30 * Saturday $40 * Sunday $20 Kids 12 and Under Free (with an adult)

Or Get Your Tickets at These Oatlets In Sheridan: The WYO Theater and 2nd Chance CD

In Buffalo: Chamber of Commerce, Joy Appliance & Video, and The Sports Lure Hansen Music in Billings, ~aggerty's Music in Gillette & Rapid City

Rain or Shine Friday Performances Start at 1:30 PM

Saturday Workshops and Contests All Day * Music to 10:30 PM Sunday Gospel Music 9 AM to Noon * More Music to 5 PM

State Championships for Mandolin and Banjo (Guitar & Fiddle Contests Too!) Workshops, Raffle Prizes, Band Scramble, Food, Beverage & Craft Vendors,

Pancake Breakfast, RT7 & Tent Camping & Lots of Jams

I Contact us at Info@BigHordMounta,inFestival.com