New Old Time Music at the Museum

ISM Location: Springfield

For Immediate Release:

Come hear some great old time music at 7:00 pm in the Thorne Deuel Auditorium of the Illinois State Museum.  The Music at the Museum concert series will feature a new take on old time country music with an exciting duo out of the wilds of Western Wisconsin, THE YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS.  The Sapsuckers perform original songs and fiddle tunes inspired by the classic hillbilly, western-swing, and old-time fiddling traditions—and they also mine this same repertoire for forgotten gems that deserve to be heard again. 

Based in Soldiers Grove, WI, the Sapsuckers are Nikki Grossman (fiddle, guitar, vocals) and Joe Hart (guitar, vocals).  Hart and Grossman are seasoned musicians and performers who have worked, together and separately, in numerous other old-time, folk, rock, and country bands, and other musical projects. They are regular performers on the Kickapoo Barn Dance, a live radio musical variety show on their local community radio station, WDRT (www.wdrt.org). They also perform as a dance band for square and contra dances and favor traditional fiddle music that represents their roots in the rural Upper Midwest.   

Their second album, “Ocooch Mountain Home,” (2015), has received high praise from the critics. fROOTS calls out the duo’s “enchanting harmonies” and Grossman’s “note-perfect old-time fiddle playing,” while Bluegrass Today calls the group “impressive.” 

The Music at the Museum Concerts take place every 2nd Thursday of the month all year long at the Illinois State Museum Auditorium. Concerts start at 7:00 pm, admission is $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for museum members and kids under 12.   There will be a variety of desserts and drinks available during the break.  

You can see the full 2017 schedule at www.museumconcerts.com. The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S Spring St, Springfield, IL 62706.  For additional information call the Illinois State Museum at (217) 782-7386.

Contact Person: Karen Everingham

Contact Email: karen.everingham@illinois.gov

Contact Phone: (217) 782-7386