Saturday - June 19, 2010
Sunday - June 20, 2010
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Pastor Dorothy Bull |
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PRESTON GUNDERSON and “THE CREW” will be performing at the Land of the Loon Festival this year. Preston has released his first CD, and they will be available during the festival. Born and raised in Virginia, his musical roots began with piano. He has been in performance for over 15 years. His original music and cover tunes are appealing to all ages. You will enjoy the variety of music that this “Hometown Boy” brings to beautiful Olcott Park and “The Land of the Loon Festival!”
ALABASTER FALLS is Bill Kaiser, Paul Jones and Julie Kaiser. Their self-described folkgrass style is defined by close three part vocal harmony and excellent instrumental skills. Bill plays fingerstyle guitar and sings baritone. Paul plays fingerstyle guitar, dobro and sings tenor. Julie sings the lead vocal and has been spotted recently with a mandolin. These three musicians have decades of performing experience and have played in a variety of venues, including festivals, fairs, concert halls, coffeehouse stages and even grocery stores! The trio is based in the Minnesota northwoods between Bemidji and Walker and, if you ask, will come and play just about anywhere! Any day with music is a good day and in the words of one listener, Alabaster Falls is "...two guys and a woman who can sing the pink into the morning sky."
MONROE CROSSING was formed in September of 2000, but their history goes back much further. Monroe Crossing actually grew out of three different bands; The Pretty Good Bluegrass Band featuring Art and Mark, Big Skyota featuring Art and Matt and the Deadly Nightshade Family Singers which was home to Lisa and Mark. Each of those bands formed between 1995 and 1997 and performed into 2000. Also during 1995, a young banjo phenom named Benji Flaming recorded his first solo work at Mark's studio.
Between 1996 and the fall of 2000, these five folks had occasion to work together as subs for each other's bands but it was in August of 1999 that they had the good fortune of working together on the same show and found the combination to work well. Monroe Crossing was formed in September of 2000 with Brian Fesler on the banjo but by January 2001, Benji was on board.
Since then, Art, Lisa, Matt and Mark have constant members of Monroe Crossing. There have been six banjo players over the years. Brian Fesler was with the band from September through December of 2000. Benji joined in December of 2000 and stayed until October of 2001. Graham Sones was next on the five and played until October of 2004 when Jeff Whitson moved up from Arkansas to take his place. Jeff picked with Monroe Crossing until May of 2006. Jason Ericsson of Pennsylvania filled Jeff shoes and stayed until December of 2006. Jason's departure cleared the way for the return of Benji.
Beginning in October 2004, Monroe Crossing has been playing full-time, a feat few musicians in any genre can claim. With Benji back in the fold, the five original members of Monroe Crossing look forward to entertaining audiences of all sizes from coast to coast and from Canada to the Caribbean. It's hard to believe that these five individuals will celebrating their tenth anniversary with a year long tour beginning September of 2009.
THE SINGING SLOVENES -- Under the direction of Frank Bucar and assistant director Mary Spehar White, “The Singing Slovenes” were formed in the multi-ethnic community of Gary-New Duluth in 1980. The mission of the Minnesota group is to preserve Slovenian music and cultural heritage. Slovenia is an alpine country nestled between Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. Though the name of the troupe is indicative of the Slovenian heritage, the group boasts a wide and varied number of nationalities. The “Singing Slovenes” represent countries far and wide; Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden.
Sharing the joy of their musical heritage helps promote good fellowship and love of their neighbors through the use of their time and talents. These performances are educational as well as entertaining. Dressing in native costumes for performances at educational facilities gives the students the opportunity to experience other cultural attire. There are also geographical and language lessons that transpire during the course of the performance. The singers also appear at festivals, senior centers and nursing homes, as well as area churches with their Slovenian Folk Musical Ministries. Instrumental accompaniment for the troupe is provided with accordions, button boxes, guitars, baritone horn, trumpet, and drums. “The Singing Slovenes” promote fellowship through music and cultural education, sharing the Slovenian heritage and preserving it for current and future generations.
The following members make up ”The Singing Slovenes”: Frank and Sharon Bucar, Mary Spehar White, Mark Spehar, Joe and Alice Janchar, John and Polly Stojevich, Ann Menart, Joe Jagunich, Gail Keefe, Seannn McGovern, Stephanie Fehringer, Bobby Logergren, Randy and Rose Hella, Frank B. Bucar, Jen Brown, Barb Smolnikar Larson, D.J. McClain, John Stark, Chris Nollet, and Ray Dincau.
SHELTERED REALITY -- Founded in 1996, Sheltered Reality (SR) is a nonprofit musical organization whose performing membership spans all ages (currently as young as 4 and as old as 76!!). However, the majority of the members are youth aged 7-18 who come from practice sites located in Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming (with more sites and states to come). SR believes that Music can have Meaning, yet be a blast at the same time! SR performances use the power of percussion set to music, as well as high energy choreography, to engage and then motivate audiences to realize that any person, at any age in life, can dream and succeed. Success is first demonstrated through audience drum lessons followed by one or more audience participation songs; these always prove to be fun for audience members of all ages. However, SR then uses stories of hardship and triumph, as well as a sequence of Steps of Success to teach personal empowerment, character building, and ultimately translate the drum-playing success into something much more important: success in changing the world, and especially helping advocate for youth in crisis...the ultimate mission of Sheltered Reality.
Range Academy of Dance
The performing dancers of the Range Academy of Dance, called RADETTS, have entertained at the Land of the Loon Festival for 33 of the 34 years it has been in existence. Dancers 3 years of age and up have enjoyed sharing their love of dance with all those attending. Miss Erveen, Director of the Range Academy of Dance, has taught dance for 57 years on the Range.
Royal Sil-O-Ets Cloggers are a family-oriented performance group which was formed over 30 years ago. They are the first shuffle cloggers in Minnesota, with ages ranging from 16 to 88. Royal Sil-O-Ets Cloggers have danced in DC, Canada, Germany, the Land of the Loon Festival, Festival of Nations, the Minnesota State Fair, and many other places around the State of Minnesota as well as in several other states.
Clogging is a fast-paced dance which came from many different dance styles with quick foot movements, kicks, stomps, and jumps. Music is usually Country, Bluegrass, R & B, Pop, Rock & Roll, or anything with a 4/4 time. Clogging is great exercise and really fun too!
