Featured:

Tani Diakite and the Malian Blues Band (Blues from Mali)

North Country Drifters (Western Swing)

Swing Gitan (Gypsy Jazz)

Square and Contra Dance featuring Mike Seeger w/ Chirps Smith, Tim Foss, (of the New Bad Habits) and caller Dot Kent (Old-Time)

Charlie Parr (Piedmont Blues)

The Goose Island Ramblers (Polkabilly)

Adam Tanner Duo (String Band Blues)

Mike Seeger (Old-Time)

The Bluegrass Boys Reunion featuring Bob Black, Tom Ewing, Mark Hembree, Mike Compton, John Fabke, and Paul Kienitz (Bluegrass)

Cajun Strangers (Cajun)

Deanna Varagona's Gospel Jubilee (Deep Soul)

Gospel Jubliee rounds out great schedule

Madison WI - (July 24, 2008) The Sugar Maple Festival rounds out its schedule with Deanna Varagona’s Gospel Jubilee, a loose but loving congregation of Chicago punk and alternative country musicians who pay joyful tribute to the most traditional of American musical forms: the spiritual. The group takes a dash of Varagona’s original bluesy compositions, combines country of the Appalachian Mountains, the rural and urban blues, the deep soul stylings of groups like the Soul Stirrers, and the modern vagabond jazz of Tom Waits. This is music about being human and alive, for people of all kinds.
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Festival builds on diversity in fifth year

MADISON WI (July 16, 2008) - Featuring blues, western swing, old-time country, bluegrass, Cajun and gypsy swing music, the 2008 Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival has been called "the summer's most robust and varied weekend of roots music" by the Onion. The festival, in its fifth year of presenting music by some of the country's best performers, has earned "Best of Show" kudos from the Wisconsin State Journal for the past three years.

Blues music will come in many varieties, from the roots of the blues with Tani Diakite from Mali, to Charlie Parr's gritty slide and steel, and the string band blues of the Adam Tanner Duo. The western swing of
the North Country Drifters will bring listeners back to when country and jazz merged to create a sound influenced by the big bands of the 30s and 40s and the country and blues singers of the time. The great gypsy swing of Chicago's Swing Gitan is sure to bring listeners to their feet. And of course, bluegrass fans will be invigorated by the Bluegrass Boys Reunion show, featuring Grammy-award winning mandolin player Mike Compton.

The legendary Mike Seeger will play for what promises to be the best barn dance of the year, with award-winning fiddler, Chirps Smith and
bandmate Tim Foss of the New Bad Habits. "We've put together one of the most diverse festivals in the country, and people come year after year. They love it!" said entertainment chair Bob Batyko.

Festival-goers will interact with and learn from artists in workshops and jam sessions. A variety of kids' activities will take place on both days, and kids under 12 are always admitted free. Tent camping is available-- musicians can sleep over and play around the campfire.

About Mike Seeger:

"His instrumental technique borders on the astonishing. He switches easily from guitar to banjo to autoharp to fiddle to mouth harp, singing and foot stomping all the while. Just playing with authenticity and style is a trick in itself, but Seeger does it with class and jovial spirit." - Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner

More about Sugar Maple:

“Best of Show” 2005, 2006 and 2007!
-Wisconsin State Journal

“A good opportunity to catch American sounds in a relaxed, bucolic setting.”
-Isthmus/TheDailyPage.com

"Sugar Maple fest is musical Americana in our own back yard...ahead of the curve for a traditional music festival and has been building an identity on its own unique qualities." - The Capital Times

Help spread the word about the 2008 Sugar Maple Music Festival.

Line-up update July 12, 2008:
Unfortunately, Hazel Dickens is facing health problems, and her doctor has advised her not to do any traveling for a while. She will not be able to appear at the festival in 2008. Hazel is in good spirits and regrets that she will not be able to appear at the festival this year. Please keep Hazel in your thoughts. We will be asking participants at this year's festival to help send their best wishes to Hazel for a speedy recovery.

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2008 festival features legendary performers

Madison, WI (June 18, 2008) - The 2008 Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival line-up is packed with some of the country’s most legendary traditional musicians.

The festival will features two of the most influential artists in American folk and country music over the last 50 years, Smithsonian Folkways Recording artist Mike Seeger. In addition, a special reunion of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys will feature Grammy Award winner Mike Compton on mandolin.
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The setting at Lake Farm County Park offers 330 acres of green space including foot and bike trails, a boat landing, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball court, and a playground all accessible at the festival site. Throughout weekend a wide range of affordable food and drink options will keep festival-goers stomachs as happy as their ears.

Tickets are available throughout Madison (Exclusive Company State Street, Whole Foods Market, Spruce Tree Music, and Willy Street Co-op) and on-line online at BrownPaperTickets.com. Advance prices for a two-day pass are just $28.

'Roots & Reasons Stage' promises learning in intimate setting

Madison, WI (July 2, 2008) - The fifth annual Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival is one of Madison's most cozy educational events, encouraging close interaction between artists and attendees.

"We started the festival to encourage people to learn from the artists and from each other," said Evan Murdock, president of the non-profit Four Lakes Traditional Music Collective.

The festival will feature a wide variety of workshops that enable traditional music fans to learn directly from the artists in a relaxed atmosphere. Workshops include: banjo instruction by one of traditional music's legendary performers, Mike Seeger. Also, Grammy-award winning mandolin player Mike Compton will conduct a workshop on the mandolin styles of Bill Monroe. "This year's workshops are the best we've had yet," said workshop coordinator Bob Batyko.

The Roots & Reasons Stage will also feature children's artists Dave Landau on both Friday and Saturday. Kids 12 and under are admitted free. As always, there is space for musicians to get together and jam.

Click here for schedule of the Roots & Reason Stage.