At Willow Farm 11898 N. 75th St. Longmont Colorado 80503
Sat. Aug. 6th from 3:00 pm-9:00pm
$20 day-pass or $35 2-festival combo-pass (with banjola festival) Purchase ticket(s)
Featuring The Denver Mandolin Orchestra, Duo Cantabile, Panache, The Mullins Brothers, Wonderlic, and The New Mandolin Quartet.
Food and drink available on-site!
This is an outdoor event, so come prepared; some seating and shade provided, in case of rain performances will move to the nearby “Old Mill” building.
Bios/Information
The Denver Mandolin Orchestra
The Denver Mandolin Orchestra was founded in 1976. With a membership of over 30 mandolin-family performers, it is one of the few groups in the country capable of representing the classical orchestra tradition of mandolin music that was so popular in the early 20th century. In that era, nearly every city in the US boasted a mandolin orchestra. Today, this uniquely beautiful timbral palette is rarely heard, and not to be missed. Be sure to come early, as the DMO will be opening the festivities.
Panache
Longtime colleagues in the Denver Mandolin Orchestra, the Panache Ensemble brings a range of experience from classical, traditional, folk, pop and rock into a broad, eclectic mix.
Duo Camtabile: Richard Blanchard and Bill Urban
“Cantabile” — an Italian word meaning “singable”. And that describes perfectly the melodic voicesof Duo Cantabile, a pair of Denver musicians who champion four centuries of classical music with a distinctive pairing of mandola and guitar. Bill Urban has performed with numerous groups over the past 40 years as an accordionist and mandolinist, including his current endeavors with The Fair Weather Duo, The Panache Ensemble, and the Denver Mandolin Orchestra, which he started in 1976. Richard Blanchard studied classical guitar at North Texas State University and the University of Houston, and has performed
Wonderlic
Wonderlic is a groove band from Denver that has been playing along the Colorado Front Range for the past 5 years. The lineup consists of an 8-string electric mandolin, guitar, drums and bass. Their high energy shows focus on original compositions and occasional covers that span a mix of genres including funk, bluegrass and jazz. Whether you like to dance or if you’d rather rock, Wonderlic delivers an entertaining show appealing to to music lovers of all ages. Allen Galton (Mandolin) Mike Whalen (Guitar) Alejandro Castano (Drums) James Dare (Fender Bass)
The Mullins Brothers
Steve and Brian Mullins have performed together for over 30 years, called “acoustic string wizards” (Westword magazine), they specialize in original compositions for mandolin family instruments in a variety of world music styles—Irish, Latin American, Eastern European, and in their own fusion style; called “some of the most unique and innovative music to emerge from this area” (Boulder Weekly). Steve has earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and teaches at the University of Colorado and Front Range Community College. Brian performs with the well know Irish musical group Colcannon. Both Brian and Steve perform with the groups Laughing Hands and The New Mandolin Quartet.
Steve and Brian Mullins
The Ransom Notes
Siblings Amanda, Michael and Amelia Ransom are a dynamic ensemble of exceptional musicians that form “The Ransom Notes”, a group that combines intense classical training with the energy, excitement and passion of bluegrass, folk and Celtic music which, in turn has created a fresh and unique musical experience like none other. Over the past decade, “The Ransom Notes” have progressed into a highly sought after act — winning multiple competition awards and conducting impressive performances for such dignitaries as former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the United States Capitol and at the star studded “JFK a 50th Anniversary” concert series at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
The New Mandolin Quartet
The New Mandolin Quartet features Steve Mullins (from Laughing Hands, etc.) and Dawn Watson (formerly of Country Gazette) on mandolins, Brian Mullins (from Colcannon) on mandocello, and Peter Ehrmann on mandola. They have released 2 CDs; Sandstone Seasons (with Charlie Provenza and Brian St. John on mandola) and Christmas. They perform original compositions in a wide variety of musical styles along with music from the classical string quartet repertoire.