All about Big Bluestem
Big Bluestem is a six-member acoustic ensemble featuring Kathleen Everingham on fiddle, Jose Agusti on guitar, Randy Cordle on banjo, Rebecca Grosser on guitar, Drew Phillips on mandolin and Todd Kinney on bass.
Our newest member, Randy Cordle, has played in various bands for his entire time in CU. He recently fell in with Big Bluestem after hearing us perform locally and following up on the fortuitous vacancy left when Tom Devello found it necessary to relocate. Randy can also be heard pickin’ on the mando and is a talented composer of tunes and songs – some of which have already been incorporated into the BBSB repertoire.
BBSB performs an eclectic mix of fiddle tunes, old-time string band music, bluegrass and historic tunes, with an occasional sprinkling of swing and the blues.
Upcoming Performances
Prairie Breezes Concert Series
Wednesday, September 8
6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
The Urbana Free Library
Urbana, Illinois
Cherry Jam Concert Series
Wednesday, September 15
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Urbana Free Library
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana Country Dancers
Friday, November 19
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Urbana, Illinois
Want to be notified about upcoming gigs? Send a request to be added to our email list to bigbluestem@bigbluestemstringband.com.
Available now! Under the Prairie Moon
The disc features 15 tunes from the band’s eclectic repertoire. Be sure to pick one up at our next show!
Why “Big Bluestem”?
Our name pays homage to our prairie heritage. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) once dominated the tall-grass prairies of North America, forming rippling waves of amber taller than a man on horseback from the Rocky Mountains to the eastern forests. The prairies are largely gone, but big bluestem is still an important forage grass in parts of the Mississippi valley and a dominant component in prairie hay. The “King of Grasses” produces better quality and greater amounts of forage than any other native American prairie grass. Cows and bison love it. Big bluestem is the official Illinois prairie grass.
Booking Information
Contact Kathleen Everingham at 217/384-0903, or any other band member, to book Big Bluestem for your next event. You can email us at bigbluestem@bigbluestemstringband.com.
Last update: 06/15/10
Sail Away Ladies: Play Now | Play in Popup Goin' to the West: Play Now | Play in Popup Iron Road/Ellanoy: Play Now | Play in Popup Meet Me in the Moonlight: Play Now | Play in Popup East Tennessee Blues/Cotton Mill Girls: Play Now | Play in Popup Gumtree Canoe: Play Now | Play in Popup Been All Around this World/Hangman's Reel: Play Now | Play in Popup