Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend

20 Jul 02 - 05:57 PM (#751736)
Subject: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Genie

I didn't know what heading to use, since this is music related but not a lyric add or request, etc.

Prairie Home Companion today and (repeated) tomorrow is featuring a bluegrass group from the Czech Republic. I didn't quite catch their name, but the PHC website (www.prairiehome.org -- I think) will have it.

I thought those of you who are into bluegrass and/or into ethnic music merging might be interested in 'Czeching them out.' I plan to.

Genie

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20 Jul 02 - 07:09 PM (#751764)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: masato sakurai

"DRUHÁ TRÁVA is referred to in the U.S. as "the Czech bluegrass band," though this description is not altogether accurate. While they play instruments typically associated with bluegrass, their music incorporates elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, and rock. The band (whose name translates as "second grass" to reflect their new view of bluegrass) was formed in 1991 and quickly earned the Czech equivalent of the Grammy Award for Band of the Year in 1992."

This Week: July 20 - A rebroadcast of our February 5, 2000 show. The link is this: ARCHIVED PERFORMANCE OF A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION: February 5, 2000.

~Masato

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20 Jul 02 - 08:30 PM (#751804)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Mudlark

I was fortunate enough to see these guys in action. They are incredible musicians, and a couple of them look like babies. They are coming to SLO County again this summer and I can't wait to see them again.

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20 Jul 02 - 10:26 PM (#751848)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Genie

Masato, I kinda had a feeling you'd come through with the inside dope on this band before I could find the info myself. Domo arigato.

Mudlark, what is SLO? San Luis Obispo is all that comes to my mind at the moment.

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21 Jul 02 - 05:35 AM (#751919)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: masato sakurai

The official U.S. website of Druha Trava

D.T.--Druhá Tráva (In Czech. This seems to be their official site.)

~Masato

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21 Jul 02 - 05:39 AM (#751921)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: masato sakurai

official U.S. web site of Druha Trava

D.T.--Druhá Tráva (In Czech. This seems to be their official site.)

~Masato

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21 Jul 02 - 10:15 AM (#751948)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: masato sakurai

Google search: czech bluegrass

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21 Jul 02 - 01:17 PM (#752002)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Mudlark

Genie: Bingo...I live about 40 mi n. of San Luis Obispo, where there is a thriving folk music society (SLO Folks) with venues all around the county, one of which is at a winery only a few miles from me. They get in some great people: Martin Simpson, Peter Finger, Michael Smith, Pepe d'Agustino...it helps, being midway between LA and SF. And with 3 separate venues, over 3 nights, the musician's take is considerably more than one would expect from the boonies.

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21 Jul 02 - 01:22 PM (#752004)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: GUEST,Sonja

The PHC show will be coming on at 11:00 AM today on the NPR station that's broadcast from U Dub (94.9 FM).

In Portland, OR, it will be on from noon to 2:00 PM on 91.5 FM.

In San Diego, it's on 89.5 (I think) FM, and it's on at 11:00 AM, I think. (It might be 10A or noon.)

SWO

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21 Jul 02 - 01:50 PM (#752012)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Genie

Sounds like a great place to put on my itinerary if I ever get down to the Bay area again. I understand from the Druha Trava website that they are scheduled to play in San Jose this fall (September, I think).

Genie

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21 Jul 02 - 02:32 PM (#752030)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Genie

They just finished a piece that sounded kinda Cajun. Now they're doing something that sounds more bluegrass-y. Pretty impressive pickin'!

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21 Jul 02 - 03:49 PM (#752061)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: Rick Fielding

Toronto banjo maker and ace bluegrass player Buddy Weston came from Czechoslovakia about thirty years ago. He was a fanatic about Flatt and Scruggs and told me that bootleg albums were as rare as gold. The first banjo he made (when he was in his teens) had a wooden head painted white, 'cause from the picture on the album cover he couldn't tell it was a skin head. Buddy's band in Canada was called "Cross Country Grass" and I was briefly in it as (an incompetent) mandolin player. One of Toronto's best bluegrass fiddlers, Jan Henko, is also Czech. Heard Druha Trava a while ago (from Mudcatter Peter T. I believe) and loved them.

Rick

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22 Jul 02 - 11:53 AM (#752426)
Subject: RE: Czech Bluegrass grp on PHC this weekend
From: BanjoRay

Well, they make superb bluegrass banjos (I hesitate to say that Pruchas are the best, but they could well be), so why shouldn't the czechs play great bluegrass.

Cheers
Ray

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