Concert at Black Butte Ranch brings out bluegrass fans

The Infamous Stringdusters turned the grass at Black Butte Ranch blue last Friday in the first collaboration between the Ranch and the Sisters Folk Festival.

The concert, which drew about 350 people out to enjoy music against a backdrop of lake and mountain, was a benefit for the Sisters Folk Festival's Americana Project and Americana Project students. Program alumni opened the show.

Laura Curtis will be attending Willamette University this fall because of its strong academic background. Her eyes are set on the University of Tennessee in Nashville, with its strong music program, further down the road.

Tennessee is the home state of the evening's star performers, The Infamous Stringdusters.

Another of the evening's performers, Tanner Smith, a junior, already gained recognition with his sculpture which was exhibited at New York's Carnegie Hall last month. Still, music is his passion, he says, and he hopes to go to college as a jazz drummer.

Drew Harrison, senior, played guitar, but says he started playing violin as a child.

It was something he wanted to do since kindergarten. It took a lot of encouragement from his parents to keep him on track. Basketball and track are his other interests.

The Americana Project students all write their own songs and already have six full-length CDs under their belts.

Performing gives them confidence in all areas of their lives, program director Brad Tisdel says.

Out on the lawn were Black Butte School students Lonnie Fernandez along with Annie, Maddie and Nolan Mayfield. They are already writing songs with high hopes of someday being part of the Americana Project themselves.

They have done some writing individually and together, and have been taking guitar lessons to help bolster that hope.

The concert was organized faster than a banjo breakdown. The Infamous Stringdusters had one free day in their tour, and Tisdel grabbed it. Tisdel, who is the Executive Director of the Sisters Folk Festival, approached the Ranch about hosting the benefit performance for the Americana Project.

Scott Huntsman, General Manager, leaped at the idea. This was the inaugural concert of what all hope will be many more Live at the Ranch performances.

The Infamous Stringdusters have become international performers. Jessie Cobb on mandolin, Andy Hall on dobro, Andy Falco, guitar, Chris Pandolfi, banjo, Jeremy Garret on fiddle, and Travis Book on bass, tour the world with their unique style. Falco is the newest member of the band. They travel with their technical engineer, Drew Becker.

Last year they completed a five-week tour in Europe. They will tour Europe again this year, but band members said, for a shorter time period.

Five weeks is just too long to be away from home in Nashville, Tennessee.

They will be back in Bend, at Camp Silverado on July 26, performing for Equine Outreach.

For more information visit http://www.TheStringdusters.com.