Bluegrass grows in Coburg.Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard May is Worldwide Bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. Month. For the fourth year in a row, the Knott Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . will lead the local celebration of a music style that sprang up in 1938 when Bill Monroe For the retired NBC News correspondent of the same name, see Bill Monroe (journalist). William Smith Monroe (September 13, 1911 – September 9, 1996) was an American musician who developed the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his split with his brother Charlie and formed a string band he called the Bluegrass Boys. The Knott Bros., one of the Willamette Valley's busiest bluegrass bands, will mark the continued evolution of bluegrass - a sound defined by fast tempos, fiery solos and high-pitched vocals and instrumentals - with an all-ages show Saturday at the Coburg Grange. The five-piece group plays original songs and traditional tunes. Upright bassist Suzanne Pearce says the music doesn't just appeal to hard-core bluegrass fans. "Kids really enjoy this music," Pearce says. "It's very lively music and it's real foot-stompin'. And even though the themes of the songs themselves really emphasize hard times, it's presented in a very lively, driving fashion and that really appeals to young people." The format is designed to appeal to young listeners and families as well as to serious pickers and bluegrass fanatics. Picnic dinners are readily encouraged, an open jam session will precede the show, and informal jams will continue throughout the night in the basement of the hall, which was built in the early 20th century. "The thing about bluegrass music bluegrass music: see country and western music. is it's very participation-oriented, so it's a very community-oriented kind of music and so the grange hall is just the perfect place," Pearce said. "It's a community gathering place and it's open to all ages. It's not the fanciest venue around, but... .' A fixture on the bluegrass festival circuit, the Knott Bros. play only infrequently in·fre·quent adj. 1. Not occurring regularly; occasional or rare: an infrequent guest. 2. in Lane County, but the group's May show in Coburg has become an annual tradition. This year, instead of including an opening act, the group has invited several guest artists to perform with them. One of those guests, banjo banjo, stringed musical instrument, with a body resembling a tambourine. The banjo consists of a hoop over which a skin membrane is stretched; it has a long, often fretted neck and four to nine strings, which are plucked with a pick or the fingers. player Chuck Holloway, is among the area's most active bluegrass supporters. The former president of the Oregon Bluegrass Association, Holloway hosts the weekly "Miles of Bluegrass" radio show every Monday night on KRVM-FM. He's also a frequent guest at the Tuesday night bluegrass jams at Sam Bond's Garage. "It (bluegrass) is acoustic music Acoustic music refers to music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electronic means. Given that electronic instruments are a very recent invention in the history of music, almost all musical instruments are ," Holloway said. "It's honest music that isn't really enhanced by electronic gadgetry gadg·et·ry n. 1. Gadgets considered as a group. 2. The design or construction of gadgets. Noun 1. gadgetry - appliances collectively; "laborsaving gadgetry" . `If your instrument's out of tune, your instrument's out of tune. In a bluegrass configuration, everybody steps to the mike." CONCERT PREVIEW The Knott Bros. What: Willamette Valley The Willamette Valley (pronounced [wɪˈlæ.mɪt], with the accent on the second syllable) is the region in northwest Oregon in the United States that surrounds the Willamette River as it proceeds northward from its bluegrass act headlines a celebration of Worldwide Bluegrass Month When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday (open jam starts at 5 p.m.) Where: Coburg Grange, 32663 E. Mill St., Coburg How much: $10 CAPTION(S): The Knott Bros. will return to Coburg Grange Hall on Saturday with a jam session and concert to celebrate Worldwide Bluegrass Month. |
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