Blending flavors of bluegrass, folk, blues, Tex-Mex, Old Time music and classic country, the trio Steel Betty hits the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall stage this Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The Steel Betty crew is all about representing their homeland, the crossroads of what make Austin, TX the engine driving traditional music in America.
“Steel Betty, the hip, virtuosic trio, embraces Austin’s eclectic culture and brings this lively music out of Texas for the rest of the country to experience, capturing the sounds and harmonies of Austin like no other ensemble,” according to the band’s website.
The band has something to offer for everyone, in UW Presents Director Philip Moline’s view.
“I think they’re a group that will appeal to a mix of UW faculty, staff, and students, as well as community members from Laramie and the surrounding area,” Moline said. “Their musical style will be familiar to people, yet coming from Austin, TX there is going to be a slightly different regional sound.”
The multi-instrumentalists members of the trio consisting of David McDonald (guitar, vocals), Maddy Froncek (banjo, upright bass, vocals) and Micah Motenko (mandolin, piano, vocals) inspire each other as well for their music.
“Everyone in the band has a lot of respect one another’s song writing strengths and I think we all influence each other through the songs we write,” McDonald said. “For outside influences, I am definitely inspired by traditional bluegrass and folk music of the Stanley Brothers and the Carter Family. Maddy leans a bit more on folks like Gillian Welch for songwriting inspiration, and Micah more towards soul acts like Jamie Cullum and the California Honeydrops.”
The sounds of Bill Monroe “the father of bluegrass music,” the Stanley Brothers, spirituals, the Conjunto tradition and more is the vibe the two-year-old group puts off during a performance.
The audience can expect “laughs, grins, musica en espanol, stage stomping, soul piano, happy go lucky bluegrass, sounds of nature, and waves of nostalgia simpler times,” McDonald said. “We try to take risks in our shows and to make ourselves vulnerable because we think that is a unique and powerful way connect with our audience.”
The crew is currently working on an album that will be half original songs and half traditional music. All the members write their own songs and have around an hour of original music.
Outside of performing on-stage, the crew often organizes workshops for aspiring musicians and students. The trio has an interactive program for schools that introduces children to the great depth and variety of music from their homeland.
“Our aim is to leave our audience with renewed belief in themselves and living reminder that life is wonderful. Give us the gift of giving and come check out our show!” McDonald said.
Steel Betty is brought to Laramie by UW Presents. The tickets are $12 for faculty, staff and seniors, $15 for the general public and $10 for students, and are available at the BCPA Box Office.
