Barn Owls Live, by The Barn Owl Band

Barn Owls Live

by The Barn Owl Band

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commanderdingus Johnson Boys is one of my all time favorite bluegrass tunes. Makes me smile every time that little descending line on the chorus, and when the whole band kicks in after the first verse, makes me wanna dance. Thanks a ton!

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1.	Johnson Boys 04:18	info	buy track
2.	Trip to Durrow / Buffalo Creek / Tam Lin 05:43	info	buy track
3.	Cloud Forest 03:24	info	buy track
4.	Speed the Plow / Cold Frosty Morning / Salt Creek 04:09		buy track
5.	Gaspé Reel / Reel Traditionnelle! / Reel Saint Antoine 04:32	info	buy track
6.	Little Rabbit 03:16	info	buy track
7.	Musical Priest 02:44		buy track
8.	New Chinquapin Hunting / Cattle in the Cane 04:33	info	buy track
9.	Behind the Haystack / Banish Misfortune / Cooley's 05:59	info	buy track
10.	Texas Gals / Swinging on a Gate / It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing) 05:41	info	buy track
11.	Field Behind the Plow 04:05	info	buy track
12.	Mrs. Garden of Troup / The Dashing White Sergeant / Oyster River Hornpipe / The Snow Queen / The Flowers of Edinburgh 05:50	info	buy track
13.	Closing the Cottage 05:12	info	buy track
14.	Mandolude 03:25	info	buy track
15.	The Fiddler of Dooney (spoken) / Julia Delaney / The Merry Blacksmith / Pleasant Street 06:01	info	buy track
16.	Star of Munster / Pére Leon / The Mason's Apron / Devil's Dream 06:08	info	buy track

about

Recorded live at the Ames City Auditorium, Ames, Iowa on April 12, 2003, Barn Owls Live! was originally released in December 2003. Here's what we wrote for the CD inser about the experience of doing a live album:

Since 1991, the Barn Owl Band has been the house band for the Central Iowa Barn Dance Association’s monthly dance in Ames Iowa. Other than the occasional private party, political fund-raiser, or wedding celebration, we have pretty much stayed around the dance hall. Besides, despite the enjoyment that we all have for playing music, each of the Barn Qwls has a regular job — a math professor, two sociology professors (one retired but busy as ever) , a research fellow, a facilities information manager, a graduate student, a software developer, and a high school student. As Garrison Keillor wryly noted in his introduction of the band on National Public Radio‘s A Prairie Home Companion, we are “kind of a typical Midwestern string band, I guess“.

Yes, that single invitation to appear on Garrison’s live show in the spring of 2002 changed things for the band. Though up to that point we had been more comfortable playing for contras and squares, we gave what we considered to be a respectable performance in front of an enthusiastic audience. Following the show, Marty suggested we try more performances in a concert like setting. We booked the MonteBello bed-and-breakfast and invited another central Iowa group, the Bone People, to open for us. Needless to say, we all had a great time and, playing to a standing room only crowd, it was apparent that we should not only continue to perform outside the dance hall, but get a larger venue.

Jump ahead to a warm, picture perfect,Iowa spring day on April 12, 2003. This time, we invited Bob & Kristie Black to open for us in the Ames City Auditorium – a fine Iowa banjo player singer - songwriter - bluegrass - folk duet in a fine old auditorium. Although Kristie was unable to join him, Bob brought some friends along and they did a great job of building the audience while we all sweated nervously backstage. Almost on a whim, we had decided to record the show, and this CD is the result.

Nothing quite captures the spirit, energy, and thrill of acoustic music like a live performance. The dancers know it when we play, and we can tell how much they enjoy what we have to offer. Though we don’t think will ever stop playing for dances, we’re beginning to understand that performing a concert can be just as rewarding, both for our audience and for us. To those of you who joined us that evening, we are glad you were with us and hope that this recording will bring a smile to your face. To those of you who are listening for the first time — enjoy! Whether you sit and listen quietly, tap your toes, stomp your feet, or dance around the room, we hope that you enjoy our music as much as we love playing it.

We hope that a long-standing tradition has begun. See you next year!

The Barn Owls

credits

released December 1, 2003

Jason Huntley, fiddle
Mike Bell: mandolin, 4-string banjo
Roger Alexander: piano, accordion, penny whistle
Jon Duvick: guitar, vocals
Marty Miller: upright bass, percussion
Brad Johnson: mandolin, bouzouki
Merle Hall: 5-string banjo
Ehler Orngard: fiddle, bodhran

Sound engineering by Dallas Thies and Jon Duvick
Recording engineering by Dick Trump and Jon Duvick
Audio mixing and mastering by Jon Duvick
Graphic design and cover art by Michael Marti

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about

The Barn Owl Band Iowa

Hoot it up with barn dance music from the mighty Barn Owl Band! The nationally recognized Owls are powered by fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and upright bass and give new wing to the exciting sound of the traditional American string band.

The Barn Owls are still making music after 30 years! Although we haven't recorded for awhile, you can listen to or download our classic tracks here. Enjoy! ... more

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