Flatpickin’ in Paradise

Banjos and beaches, mandolins and margaritas, fiddles and fish fries: some unlikely pairings in a paradise that is more Jimmy Buffet than Bill Monroe. But Mountain Song at Sea’s maiden cruise in February left the typically landlocked bluegrass stomping grounds far behind to bring together acts from across the nation like the Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers and local favorites Betty and the Boy, who will be reunited again April 7 at WOW Hall.

“Are people going to come to this?” Rangers’ mandolin player Mike Guggino remembers asking himself before setting sail. It was a risk that paid off. The highlight for Guggino? A spontaneous jam one evening at sea with bluegrass giants Del McCourry, Chris Thile, Peter Rowan, David Grisman, Tim O’Brien and Guggino himself (look for it on YouTube, it’s worth it).

Post-cruise, the Rangers aren’t cruising even with their recent 2012 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy for Nobody Knows You, having wrapped up recording their 9th studio album at Levon Helm Studios a couple weeks ago; the record will be released in late summer. “There’s some different sounds on this record,” Guggino says. “We use drums on quite a few tracks. It’s a little less traditional in some people’s eyes.”

Betty and the Boy’s Josh Harvey is still basking in the post-Caribbean glow. “It was unbelievable to see all those 8,000 banjos going through customs,” he says, laughing. “Surrounded by so many awesome musicians, it was surreal being on a boat in the Bahamas.” Harvey says it was primetime for bluegrass networking, meeting bands like Front Country, the Henhouse Prowlers and Steep Canyon Rangers lead singer Woody Platt.

Steep Canyon Rangers and Betty and the Boy play 8 pm Sunday, April 7, at WOW Hall; $15 adv., $20 door. — Alex Notman

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!