As Bluegrass Thursdays enters its fifth week at Nectar’s, some changes might be coming in the near future. Resident bluegrass band Goldtown has enjoyed an incredibly successful start to the recurring event, due in no small part to their ability to lay down solid sets week after week. Although bluegrass night has been met with nothing but enthusiasm and rave reviews, Goldtown envisions taking a break in the next few weeks.

Forming just over a year ago, Goldtown has already picked up a lot of recognition and experience–a wide range of experience. Recently releasing their first EP in December, the band has a bright future. Goldtown consists of a core trio including Andrew Stearns handling the guitar and vocals, Josh Loun on upright bass and Will Mosheim on banjo, the variety of shows they have played in just one year is quite a feat to behold. They have played at bluegrass festivals, backyard parties, pig roasts, some weddings, and a few other peculiar gigs.

“We’ve done a lot of random stuff, we played at the Proctor Marble Museum at some weird wine and beer tasting thing. We play a lot of farmer markets actually, which is another thing I really like doing. It’s the best cause you get all these little kids rockin’ out in front of you as you’re playing in a field on a nice day,” Stearns continues, “those are sometimes the most lucrative gigs too. After we play a lot of vendors will give us left over stuff, so you get fifty bucks of groceries so I’ll be eating great for a week.”

For this southern Vermont outfit, the night has been nothing short of amazing, but a short hiatus is in the works. Even though it may be a month or two before Goldtown graces the stage at Nectar’s again, they do plan on returning. “Its been so good to us, so we all want to keep it going. So we maybe will take a break for a month or two, something like that and then come back for another month,” says Andrew.

While Goldtown has performed every Thursday night to a packed Nectar’s, it is their ability to bring out great opening acts that makes each week a brand new experience. With opening acts like Kyle The Rider, Greyspoke, and The Creaky Trees, it is no wonder why people keep coming back.

“It’s just finding good people who are people we wanna share a stage with,” Stearns continues “with the opening bands, we just like good music, so it was just finding that good music and having a night.”

With the mix of opening acts, it keeps everything fresh. To belong to bluegrass night, you aren’t required to fall strictly under the genre that is bluegrass. All sorts and shapes of Americana are welcome on Thursdays. Goldtown themselves don’t necessarily fit the mold, “whether or not we’re ‘traditional’ we just have a good time.” From folk to country to traditional bluegrass, if you like pickin’, you’ll fit right in.

Of course, all of this wouldn’t have been without a beginning, the pitch for the bluegrass night was needed. Goldtown was approached by one of Nectar’s talent buyers, Alex Budney, with the idea to have a resident bluegrass band on Thursday nights.

“We played a seven to nine slot here before awhile ago and it was just like ‘we’re trying to do this Thursday night thing are you interested?’ And we said ‘Yeah.’” Nectar’s has experimented with “Blue Thursdays” before, so forming an official night wasn’t too far off. “He let us pick who we wanted to open up. It was a great opportunity and I’m really happy it happened, and it’s great exposure up here.”

As for the exposure aspect of Bluegrass Thursdays, it is evolving into more than just the bar crowd. Bands playing at bars usually benefit from the crowds just going out to have a beer, but Thursdays have been different. “Last week we saw a lot of people with Xs on their hands, and that is just great. It’s cool to see that people aren’t just going out to bar, but actually coming out to see some music, which I’m really thankful for.”

Soon Bluegrass Thursdays will be without Goldtown as they take a break, but their return is definitely something to look forward to. As a unit they are committed to their music and their performances, no matter what venue. “We always try to keep our energy up, we always try to play hard and keep it lively, and that definitely translates. We are always down just to do random stuff.”

The gigs will keep rolling in for Goldtown, based on their talent and the fact that “people are attracted to the word bluegrass,” so if you can’t make the next couple of Thursdays, be sure to keep your eye open for Goldtown. Who knows, next time you’re at a farmers market, you might get quite the show.

More Info:

Goldtown Website

Nectars Website

Walking through the doors of Nectar’s on a Thursday night leads you into a world that you might not expect. As people shuffle out from the weekly pub trivia, a new crowd settles into the confines of the landmark establishment. The anticipation builds among the patrons, to see what is in store for them, for what they are about to hear. And when it comes time for the band to take the stage, a sound unfamiliar to the college town scene washes over the crowd: the sound of bluegrass.

Thursday nights at 9:30 the stage belongs to residential bluegrass outfit Goldtown as well as other bluegrass, funk, folk and country musicians to share their craft. Two bands each week will welcome you into their world, and share the stories that stuck with them. Even though the recurring show is still in its infancy, it has commanded a good following thus far. And with solid acts by the weekly guests and Goldtown, it is no surprise.

What this night brought out was more than just a different sound to the streets of Burlington, it brought out an eclectic mix of characters. From the college crowd to some people in their sixties, to entire families, they all came to hear some bluegrass. “You just don’t hear this stuff anymore, not in places like this,” remarked an older gentleman from South Burlington, “you have to search for it.”

Scanning the upcoming events for most venues, there is a noticeable lack of country flavored music. Folk acts make appearances here and there, but in the city of Burlington, certain sounds take the forefront. With indie rock bands headlining most nights at Higher Ground and dance mixes filling the clubs and bars, there aren’t many popular venues left for a different style, one that doesn’t necessarily pop into younger generations minds when deciding to go see a show. Nectar’s is helping to change that by providing a venue for these overlooked styles, a way to reach out to long time listeners and newcomers alike.

The January 21st edition of Bluegrass Thursdays featured the opening act Kyle The Rider, a country duo hailing all the way from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories province of Canada. Even though it supposedly took them sixty-four hours to get to Burlington, they still put on a great show. From playing original compositions, to some hilarious banter between the two of them, to plugging their mailing list (an actual mailing list due to “not having the email yet,” as stated by Rider), it was a perfect way to kick off the night. Also, the heart touching rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ really brought the crowd together, especially the man who it was dedicated to.

The easygoing style of Kyle The Rider certainly won over some who weren’t sure what to expect. “We’re gonna start coming every week,” said a group of UVM students, “they were awesome.” The good natured, just-have-fun sensibility of bluegrass music itself definitely resonated with the crowd. And that was only the beginning, while Kyle The Rider brought a country sound, Goldtown was ready with straight-up, 100%, pure bluegrass.

As soon as the notes began pouring forth from the banjo, guitars, and bass, the whole place was moving. A song later some hoe down dancing erupted up front and what started as an experiment with country fried music, turned into a full on love affair. And that hoe down wouldn’t stop until the last chord was strummed on that guitar, and the last syllable was uttered from the front man’s throat. Most striking about Goldtown was their talent and dedication to a style. For a group consisting of younger men, they played like they were twenty year veterans.

The blend of all things acoustic with the sweet whine and moan style vocals could make you forget the fact that this was still Burlington, Vermont. The atmosphere was so intoxicating that even the most skeptical patron that night couldn’t help but be brought into the festivities. There was just as much dancing, drinking, and fun being had at Nectar’s on Thursday as there was in any dance club, music hall, or sports bar in town.

Looking around the room, seeing so many glasses and bottles raised, and hearing so many cheers, makes you wonder, where is all the bluegrass? As the older man from before passed by, with a big smile on his face and beer in hand he said, “This is what you come for, it’s all about having fun.”

After both sets had finished, it was all about a good time. The bands did not play song after song, and rush their set list, they took their time to enjoy the show. They took their time to tell the stories behind the songs, and speak to the fans who had come out to see them. If people from all different backgrounds, of all different ages can all share a love for this kind of music, then it has to be a good thing.

So the next time you’re looking for something to do on a Thursday night, why not change it up a bit. Forget disco bowling, dance clubs, the movies or staying in, check in on something new. Head on down to Nectar’s and get a dose of Americana, or Canadana in some cases, and get a glimpse at some of the best bluegrass Vermont has to offer.

More Info:

Nectars Website

Goldtown Website

Well, speaking for the workaday people in this country, first we saw Rednecks for Obama and now we have Bluegrass legend (and friend of Jesus, mind you), Ralph Stanley endorsing our Barack Obama! This utterly amazing ad is running in southwest Virginia and is another ray of light on the horizon that real people are seeing through all the bullshit and recognizing the candidate who can bring positivity, heart, compassion, banjos, and perhaps even corn pone back to American politics. Go Ralph! And Go Obama!

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUOfaIyv4Bs

Brooklyn musician Rench, has released “Gangstagrass” a 22 track bluegrass/hip-hop mash up album. Rench is a singer, songwriter, and producer with roots in honky-tonk, hip-hop, and trip-hop music. With the help of very talented friends he records and releases music because he enjoys it. He likes sad songs and pedal steel guitar. He likes drum samples and scratches. He likes playing live sets at Hanks Saloon in Brooklyn.

Download the album for FREE here: http://www.gangstagrass.com