The Johnson Family Bluegrass will be performing the evening of Friday, May 5 in the Woodshed inside Main Street Mercantile on the Square in downtown Carthage, Missouri. For more information call 417-358-1800.

Les and Gary Gallier, nationally recognized as pioneers and innovators on the Mountain Dulcimer, are redefining not only how the instrument is played, but the music it is capable of. Each won the title of National Champion at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas by introducing two very unique playing styles. Gary flatpicks melodies on all the strings, much like a guitarist, while Less, playing in a different tuning, slips on fingerpickers to produce surprisingly intricate passages. The Gallier Brothers compose 90% of the music they play, blending influences from classical, Irish, rock, jazz, and mountain styles, to create a true signature sound. They appear with David Wilson on fiddle, mandolin, and cello.

Rick Thum taught himself to play the guitar and drums at age twelve and played the trumpet in his high school concert band. Throughout high school and college Rick played in rock bands, eventually playing regularly on the upper deck of the Admiral in St. Louis. While raising his family Rick directed his church choir. Rick's interest in traditional music was sparked when he bought a hammered dulcimer on a whim and found himself in a three-piece folk band.
In 1991 Rick became coowner of a large midwestern acoustic instrument shop. He placed first at the 1994 Southwest Regional Dulcimer Contest and third in the 1995 National Championship at Winfield, Kansas. At the prestigious Evart Dulcimer Funfest (the oldest and largest dulcimer fest in the nation) Rick was voted Best Performer and Favorite Teacher in 1995, '96 and '97. He has shared stages with Mike Seeger, The Tony Rice Unit, Steve Kaufman, Norman Blake, and Bryan Bowers and opened for John Hartford, Norman & Nancy Blake, and Leo Kottke. Rick is the founding member of the Cabin Fever String Band and travels across the country playing solo and teaching at music festivals. He currently has two recordings Hammered Fiddle Tunes and A Reason To Dance. Mel Bay Publishing Inc. has publishe the companion book to Hammered Fiddle Tunes and will soon be releasing the book for A Reason To Dance.

Plainsfolk is a band with a traditional Irish and American flare. The group first came together about three years ago by a chance meeting during a crafts show. All members are self-taught and play a variety of instruments such as: fiddle, harmonica,
guitar, concertina, bodhram (Irish frame drum), pennywhistle (tin whistle), and bones. Jack and Lee Ann Sours are from Dudenville, a small farming community near Golden City, Missouri. Steve and Linda Widders live in Springfield, Missouri near the James River. Both couples have traveled to Ireland where they had the opportunity to play traditional Irish tunes with local musicians that grew up playing jigs, reels, and hornpipes. Plainsfolk has enjoyed performing at local festivals, weddings, private parties, restaurants, and Main Street Mercantile. Chris Johnson, of the well known Johnson family, will join Plainsfolk at Main Street Mercantile this February 4. Chris is a talented mandolin & bass player.

Jim Curley to Perform at
Main Street Mercantile.

The performance is free of charge. You may want to show up early to catch a good seat. For more information persons may call Main Street Mercantile at 417-358-1800.

Curley's newly released album, "THE GREAT SHUNGA RIVER," which revolves around the mountain dulcimer, features John Hartford, David Schnaufer, Kim Forehand, and many other outstanding musicians. His previous popular album, "BORN HILLBILLY," also features the mountain dulcimer and a variety of other instruments.

Curley also appears on the albums of several other artists. He has appeared in various shows in Nashville, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri and the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas; and locally at the Northtown, Ottawa andOsage Oprys. He is a regular performer at area

Curley teaches a variety of instruments at the University of Missouri's Communiversity, folk and dulcimer festivals and private lessons.

Curley is available through 5th Gear Productions, P.O. Box 3406, Shawnee, Kansas 66203, Phone (913) 268-1156

The Johnson Family Bluegrass will be performing the evening of Friday, December 3 in the Woodshed inside Main Street Mercantile on the Square in downtown Carthage, Missouri. For mor information call 417-358-1800.