Sloughggrass Records CD
November 3, 2005
Sloughgrass records CD
Journal Staff Report
Thursday, November 03, 2005, International Falls Daily Journal.
One local family affair is laying tracks.
The Sloughgrass band, of Birchdale, recently announced the recording of their first compact disc, "Down the Road."
"We just thought we'd play at a nursing home or two and that would be pretty fine," said mandolin, harmonica and washboard player Soren Olesen.
But after performing at a number of gigs, the nine-member family -- ranging in age from 6 to about 70 -- found their way to a recording studio in Bemidji last June.
The CD was released in October.
Setting the rhythm on the upright bass for the band is Grandma Audrey Nelson. Her
two daughters, two sons-in-law and four grandchildren all join her in playing on a variety of instruments.
And when Sloughgrass says "variety," they mean they play instruments like a dodumzagger, which Olesen said is similar to a "stump fiddle." It's made of a stick, hubcaps and rocks that can be banged together or against the floor.
All of the group members take turns on vocals. And sometimes they sing in Danish.
The band's music is a blend of bluegrass, old-time, gospel, country and folk music.
Olesen calls it, "bluegrass-old-timey."
"We really call ourselves 'Sloughgrass' because we play really slow bluegrass," he said.
The group started with Judith Nelson, Olsen's wife and Grandma Audrey's daughter, inheriting her grandpa Hilmer Rud's old fiddle and then deciding in 2001 to learn to play it.
Over the next two years, the rest of the family joined her in taking lessons and eventually everybody played an instrument.
The whole band's first "real" performance was at the Rollag Steam Threshers reunion in 2003, according to Olesen.
Since then, Sloughgrass has played at many Minnesota locations. In 2004, they performed in Roskilde, Denmark at the BlomsterFestival.
In 2005, Sloughgrass won the family area talent contest at the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Festival.
The band's next area performance is expected to be at an annual Warroad library fund-raiser Dec. 4, 2005.
Olesen said the band is producing the CD themselves to create a family record of their musical endeavor.
The Cd's are available in Bemidji and Thief River Falls music stores and International Falls Thrifty Drug. They can also be obtained by calling 218-634-2800 or 218-634-1220. Cost is $15.
Song list
1. Cripple Creek
2. Bile' em Cabbage Down
3. Salty Dog
4. Green Pastures
5. Lordags Valsen
6. Pig In The Den
7. Shortening Bread
8. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
9. Red Haired Boy
10. Beautiful Life
12. Angeline Baker
13. Old Joe Clark
14. Get In Line Brother
15. In The Pines
16. Battle Of New Orleans
17. Gik Mig over so og land
