Special Guests

Special Guests
Saturday, October 7, 2000

Jack Knife & the Sharps

JACK KNIFE AND THE SHARPS was started in 1984 by guitarist/vocalist Rick Hollister. Drummer Jeff Bjork joined the group in 1997, followed by the band’s newest member, Scotty Christianson on upright bass. Although their primary musical style is rockabilly, their sound also blends styles including country, blues, swing, and surf. They play classic tunes, as well as Hollister’s original songs, which sound as if they could have been written 40 years ago. They play their music fast, loud, fun, and definitely made for dancing, and retro rockers, rockabilly fans and swing dancers all count them as one of their favorite dance bands in the Upper Midwest. The band’s first two albums, the self titled Jack Knife & The Sharps and 1996’s Ace Cafe (both on Outta Control Records), as well as their constant performing, have spread their uncluttered style of roots music to audiences all over the Midwest. Their latest recording, Hot Rocket, was produced by Bruce McCabe, pianist for The Jonny Lang Band. The CD will be released on October 14 with a party at Bunker’s Music Bar & Grill in Minneapolis. Hollister also recorded with Jonny Lang for Lang’s new album, due out later this year.

DICK REES first appeared on A Prairie Home Companion as a member of the Powdermilk Biscuit Band in the late ’70s. Since then, he has continued to pursue his passion for the old-time music of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. His interest in the traditional music of Scandinavia was solidified when he lived in Norway and Sweden during the early ’80s. Rees is currently the co-host of the New Scandinavian Cultural Hour on KFAI-FM in the Twin Cities at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evenings. For most of the last 15 years Char Bostrom (fiddle) and Art Bjorngjeld (fiddle, button accordion) have joined Rees in playing for Scandinavian dancing and performing Scandinavian traditional music for the public. Bjorngjeld’s family roots are in western Norway, while Bostrom’s family hails from the Swedish province of Varmland. Loretta Kelley is widely known for her expertise on the Norwegian hardanger fiddle. Now a resident of the Washington, D.C. area, she has traveled extensively promoting the instrument and its music, as well as teaching and performing.

Lynn Peterson

Singer/songwriter LYNN PETERSON was born “in” Northfield, Minnesota. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Colorado, she worked as a Welch Scholar in Organic Chemistry in Houston, Texas. From there she moved to New York City, where she enjoyed eight years of studio work and songwriting before making her way back to the Twin Cities. Her songs have been recorded by popular recording artists and her voice has been heard on national television for years. She first appeared on A Prairie Home Companion last fall singing duets with Garrison Keillor. She has since made several return visits, including tour shows in Sun City West, Arizona, and Cleveland, Ohio. Peterson has appeared on records with Tony Terry, Sweet Sensation, Kim Criswell, Laura Theodore, and Coco. Her latest CD project is Hymns for the Whole Family.