By Rick Zeigler—
MUNCIE, IN—Grammy nominees The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys will be performing a FREE outdoor concert as part of the 2023 Muncie Three Trails Music Series. The concert will take place at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 12th at Canan Commons (500 S. Walnut Walnut St.) in the heart of downtown Muncie, IN. Muncie’s own Bashville Boys will open the show.
At a time when most people feel constantly distracted by technology and barraged by the news, authenticity and straightforward honesty are paramount. There’s something about the music of The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys that cuts right through the noise of the world and speaks plainly to the soul. Formed in the Smoky Mountains, The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys take pride in being bluegrass ambassadors, performing their music everywhere from rural bluegrass festival stages to the rock clubs of Europe, and even the Grammy Red Carpet. “I think to a certain extent everyone is just craving music that they can feel, and any music that feels real will reach any audience” says CJ Lewandowski, the group’s founder. Perhaps this mindset is why the group arned the title of Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards.
Listen to Rick’s interview on WMUN below. He discusses the Three Trails Music Series.
In 2014, Lewandowski was working at Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Sevierville, TN. The distillery employed musicians to play for visitors seven days a week, and Lewandowski, who primarily plays mandolin and sings, was occasionally hired to fill in when the entertainment didn’t show. Eventually, the distillery approached him about forming a band for a full time slot, so he reached out to long time music friends Jereme Brown, who plays banjo for the group, and Josh Rinkel, who plays guitar, as well as to bassist Jasper Lorentzen, who happened to be working in the tasting room at the distillery. Then, in 2020, the finishing touch was added to the quartet when Laura Orshaw, a seasoned fiddle player and singer, joined the Boys.
Material for the group’s freshman Rounder Records album, Toil, Tears & Trouble, is a combination of original songs and old numbers that honor the group’s mentors and bluegrass heroes. “We love to dig up old songs that haven’t been heard in years and bring them back into the spotlight”, explains Lewandowski. In fact, two of those gems on the Rounder album, “Next Train South” and “Hickory, Walnut & Pine,” were nominated for IBMA Song of the Year along with “Next Train South” taking the trophy for SPBGMA same category in 2020. And the momentum of Toil, Tears & Trouble has continued to grow with the band’s first Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album.
The Muncie Three Trails Music Series is a non-profit partnership between Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, Muncie Arts and Culture Council, and Rick Zeigler, series founder and organizer. The mission of the series is to bring critically acclaimed, national recording artists to perform at Canan Commons, Muncie’s premier outdoor performance venue, located in the heart of Downtown Muncie. A second mission is to promote the many recreational, artistic, and cultural attractions located along, or in close proximity to, Canan Commons and Muncie’s popular “Three Trails” — The White River Greenway, Cardinal Greenway, and Muncie Arts and Culture Trail. We hope attendees will heed our slogan, “Explore the Trails, Enjoy the Music.”
Complete information about the Three Trails series can be found at www.munciethreetrails.com.
