Monroe Crossing and Sloughgrass to present concert Monday

They’ve been here before and based on their reception almost two years ago, Art Blackburn of Monroe Crossing said he believes that bluegrass gospel music has a warm following in Borderland.
But, he added, everyone would like his band’s music and he gave several reasons why.
Monroe Crossing will perform Monday on the Backus stage and the local band Sloughgrass will open the show.
“We have a joy of performing and our audiences can see that joy,” Blackburn told The Daily Journal. “And it transfers back and forth at our concerts.”
Blackburn added that the warm tone of the band connects with people of all ages and backgrounds and is the kind of music that fits many walks of life. The old-time radio style, the constant moving about on the stage, and crowd-pleasing interaction are reasons Blackburn gave for the band’s wide appeal.
Monroe Crossing is named in honor of Bill Monroe, known in the industry as "The Father of Bluegrass." William Smith Monroe (1911–1996) was an American musician who developed the music style known as bluegrass. The genre “bluegrass” takes its name from Bill Monroe’s band, the "Blue Grass Boys," originally named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky.
Monroe Crossing plays a blend of classic and traditional bluegrass, bluegrass gospel and its own originals. The group performs about 130 shows a year at major venues and festivals across the country.
The first set on Monday will likely be a mix of familiar songs and new songs, Blackburn said. The second set is usually comprised of audience requests, which the band gathers during intermission. Examples of favorites often requested are “O Brother Where Art Thou,” “Orange Blossom Special,” “Dueling Banjos,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”, which Blackburn heard originally in the ’70s by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. A famous country-rock group that started in the ’60s, Nitty Gritty’s 1972's “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” featured traditional country legends Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Roy Acuff and others. The group’s music converted Blackburn, who up until then had been more of a rock purist.
“I heard (guitarist) Doc Watson on that album and that kind of ruined me,” joked Blackburn, who then went bluegrass. Blackburn was born in St. Louis but has lived 35 years in the Twin Cities, where his band is based.
Members of Monroe Crossing are Blackburn: guitar, lead & harmony vocals; Lisa Fuglie: fiddle, mandolin, lead and harmony vocals; Matt Thompson: mandolin, fiddle, baritone vocals; Mark Anderson: bass and bass vocals, and Benji Flaming on banjo.
Described as one of the hardest-working bands in bluegrass, Monroe’s eighth and latest CD is “Live From Silver Dollar City,” from the group’s performances in Branson, Mo. "I dare ANYONE to watch Monroe Crossing and not get happy ...," said D.A. Callaway of Silver Dollar City. The name of Monroe’s second gospel CD is “Into the Fire.”
The band has been called "the Midwest's premier bluegrass and gospel quintet" and it is the only bluegrass band ever nominated as "Artist of the year" (2004) by the Minnesota Music Academy. Monroe won the MMA's "Bluegrass Album of the Year" award in 2003. The group also took home awards for best female vocalist, guitar, mandolin and banjo at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association's 25th Anniversary Awards Banquet.
The group was an International Bluegrass Music Association Showcase Band at Nashville’s 2007 World of Bluegrass Convention, and was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Members of the band are looking forward to returning to Borderland, said Monroe, who was told that a Monday was a better day to play than a Saturday during deer season.
“Hopefully, we can get some of those guys out of their hunting shacks,” Monroe said.

Sloughgrass
Having met at one of Monroe Crossing’s bluegrass training camps, this is not the first time Sloughgrass has opened for the band. Both performed at Backus in January 2007.
Sloughgrass (pronounced Sloo-grass) is anchored by husband and wife musicians Judith Nelson and Soren Olesen of the Indus area. Sloughgrass’ eight band members are also family members, comprised of Nelson’s and Olesen’s two children along with Nelson’s sister, her husband and their youngest son; and the women’s mother.
Sloughgrass will play for about 25 minutes on Monday, Nelson said. And featured will be Gary Hultman who, in the song “Cripple Creek,” will play four instruments.
Nelson remembers the last time when Sloughgrass teamed up with Monroe Crossing as “just having a lot of fun.”
“I think the audience fell in love,” she added.

Supper before the concert
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Monday at Backus. Admission at the door is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 12 and under, and $30 for families with three or less children.
Preceding the concert, the Backus “Top the Tater” supper will be offered from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the reception room. Cost per person for a meal is $5.

If you go:
WHAT: Monroe Crossing and Sloughgrass Concert
WHEN: 7 p.m. • Monday
WHERE: Backus Auditorium
Tickets $12 adults; $6 students, $30 families (up to 3 children)
WHY: To hear award-winning bluegrass and country gospel music by Monroe Crossing and local band Sloughgrass.
“Top the Tater” supper preceding concert 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
in Backus Reception Room.