Spring Fundraising Concert for Wallowa Valley Music Alliance
Saturday, April 26, 7:00 pm
Odd Fellows Hall, Enterprise
with Bryan Bowers, Dan Maher, Heidi Muller & Bob Webb, and Janis Carper

The Music Alliance  is honored to present several of the Northwest’s favorite musicians in a special fundraising event on Saturday, April 26, 7:00 P.M. at the Odd Fellows Hall in Enterprise. Nationally-known autoharpist and singer Bryan Bowers and Northwest radio icon, singer/guitarist Dan Maher, will join songwriter Heidi Muller and multi-instrumentalist Bob Webb, plus Janis Carper, to provide a concert you won’t want to miss!

Bryan Bowers comes to us from the Skagit Valley of Washington, but his roots go back to Virginia.  From a rather unglamorous beginning as a street singer, Bryan rose to become a major artist on the traditional music circuit. He is not what you might picture when you think of the humble autoharp-playing teachers of your childhood.  He has redefined it and inspired a whole new generation of players with his skill.  Also a singer-songwriter and interpreter of old songs, he brings depth and soul to his performance with a dynamic outgoing personality and an uncanny ability to enchant a crowd in practically any situation.  Towering with a six foot four inch frame, he can be wild and zany on stage while playing a song like `Dixie' and five minutes later have the same audience singing `Will The Circle Be Unbroken' in quiet reverence and delight.  For nearly three decades, Bryan Bowers has been to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the five-string banjo. He presents instrumental virtuosity combined with warmth, eloquence, expression and professionalism.

Many of you may know Dan Maher from his show Inland Folk on Northwest Public Radio and KPBX out of Spokane, WA. Besides hosting his radio show for close to 30 years, he is an amazing song collector and interpreter with a repertoire that must be a thousand titles long.  In a recent blog posting, Heidi Muller says: "I guess I’m biased, but I still marvel at all the songs he knows and the energy he puts into a performance. He sings with such heart, everything from Johnny McAdoo to Scotch and Soda. His dog Orient lays down and snoozes at his feet, having heard it all before… longing for some Dave Beck, no doubt...

He knows the past five decades of folk music like nobody else in these parts. He’s got all the lowdown on Scottish, Irish and Australian music, knows his cowboy tunes, bluegrass, baseball songs, 60’s folk and current songwriters. He’d be great at a folk trivia quiz… and what’s more, he can sing all that and Jimmy Buffett, too."  It’s a real treat to have Dan at this concert.

Heidi Muller is no stranger to these parts, as the singer and writer of “Good Road,” heard weekly as the theme song for Dan Maher’s radio show.  Formerly from Seattle, she drove out in October from her current home in West Virginia to spend the winter in Joseph.  While here, she’s joined a local songwriter’s group, taught youth and adult guitar and dulcimer classes and will host the area’s first Dulcimer Day of workshops on April 12.  With six CDs, three dulcimer books and a West Virginia history songbook to her credit, she has played guitar since age 11 and mountain dulcimer for over 20 years, and sings with a clear and engaging voice.  Bob Webb will be coming out from Charleston, West Virginia to join Heidi on their collection of original songs and traditional dulcimer tunes, adding mandolin, guitar, dulcimer and electric cello to the mix.  Cello players across the county are always delighted when he comes to town.  A founding member of the Mountain Stage band of the public radio show of the same name, Bob has accompanied onstage many of the biggest names in folk music.  Heidi and Bob’s latest CD Seeing Things showcases not only their music, but Bob’s fine skills as Charleston’s premier recording engineer.

Janis Carper  (a.k.a. Two-Bucket Woman)  will be on hand to open the show, host the evening with a smile, and lend a note or two of support to the other performers as needed. Bryan, Dan, Heidi, Bob and Janis have all crossed paths and shared stages over the years, so it’s great to have them together in one concert.  Who knows what collaboration might result . . .?

The Music Alliance has developed a number of programs over the past four years that have provided musical education and enjoyment for folks of all ages in Wallowa County. Musical Expressions for Youth has taught guitar  to over a dozen children aged 7-14 this school year alone,  as well as engaging teenagers in” School of Rock” workshops.  The Spring Strings retreat has offered unique opportunities for classical musicians to hone their skills; The Courthouse Concert Series has brought a wide range of fabulous musicians to Enterprise for free summer concerts; Tunesmith Night presents a monthly  showcase of songwriters; Wallowa Fiddle Tunes Workshop offers multiple levels of instruction in old-time fiddling and accompaniment, made affordable for families. Lifetime Music Workshops has held classes for all ages in songwriting, African Drumming, dulcimer, and guitar. Most recently, the Music Alliance has launched the effort for a local, homegrown public radio station in Community Radio Enterprise.  There is significant need for funding in all of these areas, and some grant money has been obtained from city, county, state and private sources.  The radio effort, however, needs approximately $15,000 more than what has already been raised in order to move forward, and is not a candidate for traditional grant funding at this phase of the project.  So, by coming to this concert you can help, and the Music Alliance would welcome donations of any amount toward all of their programs, especially Community Radio Enterprise. For the latest updates on the radio project please visit www.radioenterprise.org and please check out the Music Alliance website, brochures and flyers for upcoming events.  

Tickets for the April 26 concert are $12 advance, $15 at the door, available at Second Harvest Books in Joseph, The Bookloft in Enterprise, or from any Music Alliance board member. There will also be a raffle of some interesting items, such as a private concert by Gail Swart complete with wine and cheese, a night's stay at the new exclusive "Mirror Lake" suite at the Bronze Antler B&B and much more.