By MARK VOSBURGH
I caught up with Grammy nominated and International Bluegrass Music Association award winning artist Claire Lynch in a spare moment on her tour of the Rocky Mountain West, and on her way to Missoula for this Friday night’s show at Ruby’s Inn.
She told me that while she’s never played Missoula, she’s heard of it, predictably for a musician, through a song, ‘Good Bye Old Missoula’.
Clarie said, “Before this weekend, I’ve only played in your state twice – once in the 90’s at the Hamilton bluegrass festival and once at the Ellen Theater in Bozeman, last year. Both were amazing experiences.”
While she may not know much about us, Montana’s bluegrass community certainly knows her about. And we respect her pioneering role establishing a place for female vocalists (ever hear of Alison Krauss?), in a male dominated bluegrass business.
Not that enthusiastic about bluegrass? The rest of this article is aimed at you.
Take this quote from one of her fans. “Claire Lynch has found a way to get me to love music that I would have never been caught dead admitting I liked in my earlier days.”
Take notice that Claire Lynch has just been awarded a $50,000 fellowship from United States Artists, who’s mission is to invest in America’s finest artists.
Claire Lynch headlines at the Ruby Jewel Jamboree, Missoula, MT. Photo by Alison Harbaug.
Take note that Claire Lynch has written songs for Patty Loveless, Cherryholmes, and Kathy Mattea and has recorded with Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.
But most importantly, come to her Friday night Missoula performance and take note of her voice, which Dolly Parton calls, “One of the sweetest, purest and best lead voices in the music business today.”
Still not convinced?
Come to the show anyway. Clair has surrounded herself with extraordinary musicians whose genre-bending talents include swing, jazz, country, and if that’s not enough, percussive dance.
Claire Lynch performs this Friday April 5th at 7:00pm at the Ruby Jewel Jamboree, Ruby’s Inn and Convention Center on North Reserve. Details and tickets at Ruby Jewel Jamboree website.
******************
Get another dose of the Missoula bluegrass music scene in these posts: Bluegrass Music Growing in the Garden City, A Marriage of Music, and Missoula’s Own David Boone.
******************
Mark Vosburgh is a fourth-generation Montanan who has lived in Missoula for 26 years. He’s worked as chemical engineer, backcountry ski guide, and wildfire scientist. He started playing mandolin and attending bluegrass jams a few years and has just started performing with local bands: The Black Mountain Boys, Alley Cats Bluegrass Band, and The Flaming Wheelbarrows. You can follow him on Tumblr.