Biography

The Sloughgrass band, from Birchdale, Minnesota, is a family affair with Grandma Audrey Nelson setting the rhythm on the upright bass. Her two daughters, two sons-in-law and three of her grandchildren all join her in playing on a variety of instruments. The band's music is a blend of Bluegrass, Old-time, Scandinavian, Gospel, Country and Folk music. All of the group members take turns on the vocal and instrumental pieces. The band has performed throughout Minnesota at a wide variety of events since 2003 including: The Rollag Steam Threshers Show, The Blackduck Bluegrass Festival, Bemidji Winter Bluegrass Weekend, International Falls Bandstand Summer Concerts, Timber Producers Annual Expo, The Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener 2006, the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-time Music Association's August Festival & their Winter Bluegrass Weekend, the Duluth Cabin Fever Festival, and at Brown's Ole Opry in North Carolina. In 2004 the band also performed at the Blomster Festival in Roskilde, Denmark. And in 2009 & 2010 they played six shows at the Minnesota State Fair at the Ramberg Senior Center on the opening weekend of the Fair and also performed on the popular AM 1500 radio program Garage Logic. The band was the featured artist on ww.Ampers.org radio in March 2011. The 2011 year started with a tour of NW Minnesota January and the band is booked to play at several county fairs, community celebrations and private events throughout the year.

In 2005 Sloughgrass released their first CD "Down The Road". It was recorded live at Bemidji Music Center, Bemidji, MN.

I July of 2007 Sloughgrass released their second CD "Are we There Yet?" which was recorded live in their hometown church in Birchdale, MN.

In the summer of 2011 Sloughgrass will release their third CD "Not Quite There". which was recorded live at Kezar Music in Thief River Falls, MN, in April of 2011.

The young people in the band with friend Maria Lewis also have their own band, Ditchgrade, and will be releasing their first Demo CD in the summer of 2011. Ditchgrade often appears with the Sloughgrass band, but also appear on their own. http://www.ditchgrade.com

The Sloughgrass band members are: Audrey Nelson, upright bass; Christine Hultman, banjo, vocals; Dave Hultman, rhythm guitar, vocals; Gary Hultman, resonator guitar, banjo, lead/rhythm-guitar; mandolin; Judith Nelson, fiddle, vocals, rhythm guitar; Søren Olesen, mandolin, rhythm guitar, vocals; Sofia Olesen, fiddle, mandolin; Holger Olesen, resonator Dobro guitar, saxophone, vocals.