Many celebrations took place around the country this holiday weekend. I’m sure bluegrass was well represented at many of them. In Milwaukee, WI the celebration included both bluegrass and Harleys.

The Harley Davidson 105th anniversary celebration was held in downtown Milwaukee over the weekend. The entertainment included a number of bands, including a Saturday evening performance by Bruce Springsteen.

Harley Davidson held a band contest for bands wishing to play at the celebration. The twist was, the contest was only open to bands who had at least one Harley employee. Over 50 bands entered, but only was selected.

The Liberty Bluegrass Band was the winning band. The band’s lead singer, Rick Lewis, has been a Harley employee for over 16 years, and currently works as a manager at the Harley Davidson headquarters.

The guys in the band had a lot of fun and sent us a report along with a bunch of photos.

Yesterday we played the H-D 105th Celebration in Downtown Milwaukee at the Main Street Stage. We were the only bluegrass band to play during this whole weekend of music. We were well received and many comments came back that it was a great change from all the rock bands being played all weekend. Bruce Springsteen played the night before on the monster stage behind us (which was estimated at over 120,000 people). Yes, we were on the same bill as Bruce Springsteen.

We had perfect weather and played a 1.5 hr set. The roar of Harleys was felt for 5 great days. The whole city had a blast.

Last year about this time we told you about a concert being organized in Wisconsin for the benefit of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We’ve just received word that October 6, 2007 is the date for the 2nd Annual event.

The venue has changed this year, as the one day event has grown in scope. The benefit will be held in Wehr Hall on the campus of Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI this year. The event has grown to include the sponsorship of The Reiman Foundation and Northwestern Mutual.

The line up has also evolved since last year. Two of the same bands will be performing again this year, with the addition of two other regional bands and one national act. Here’s the line up.

• The James King Band - headlining
• The Liberty Bluegrass Band (including event organizer James Brocksmith on banjo)
• Sawdust Symphony
• Lucky Break
• Jefferson County Bluegrass

James comments on some of the activities surrounding the event this year.

This year’s festival will have plenty of jamming, concessions and silent auction. We are in a larger venue and will have excellent sound provided by Steve Klein. We will be on WTMJ’s (NBC) Morning Blend program September 20 (9-10 AM) talking of the show and performing one or two numbers.

This festival is growing this year and people are bending over backwards to help out and make this a bluegrass success!

For more information about the genesis of this event, be sure to read last year’s post.

Advance tickets are available now at the discounted price of $20 for adults and $10 for students. Visit the event website for more information.

October 26, 2006 at 7PM the Boerner Botanical Gardens in Hales Corners, WI will be home to a concert that is being held to raise money for The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The event features three bands, raffle items, jamming and more. The bands scheduled to perform are:

• The Liberty Bluegrass Band
• Sawdust Symphony
• Above The Town

They are asking for donations at the door of $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Children under 5 are free. Jamming is encouraged. Free parking is provided, and there is a beautiful view of the gardens.

I spoke with James Brocksmith via email about the event and asked him to share with us how he came to organize such an event and what inspired him to do so. Here’s his response.

This benefit came about as a way for a couple of bands to play together in the same venue. As the plan developed, I started to think of a way to get as many people to show as possible. I thought why not just make this a fundraiser for a cause that is very dear to my heart, Juvenile Diabetes. My wife and I have been involved in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for four years since moving from the Raleigh area to Milwaukee due to my job. My wife serves as a committee member for the JDRF annual gala. The JDRF has always been a very fiscally responsible organization with more than 80 cents of every dollar raised going to fund research or educate families stricken with this deadly disease.

My cousin here in the Milwaukee area has a son who at the young age of four nearly died and is still, now at 8, closely watching his numbers four to six times a day and getting his shots daily. I also play music with a young boy where at the age of 17 months was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Today, he has a very specific diet and if not for his careful parents would not be here at now 10 years later.

I soon found the perfect venue, the Boerner Botanical Gardens with seating for 350. I’m receiving a large amount of support from the venue, bluegrass fans, friends and family. We will have three bluegrass bands donating their time, lots of jamming, raffle items (which I am still trying to gather) and a cash bar. I am hoping to raise awareness to Juvenile Diabetes, have a great time all the while raising cash to fund research and educate. All proceeds will go to JDRF. I am still searching for any corporate donors who could offset some cost. But as they say, “The show will go on”.