Prairie Lights at Make Music Platteville
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Prairie Lights String Band is excited to be playing again this year at Make Music Platteville, an annual one-day, worldwide, free day of music held on the summer solstice!
We'll play Sunday, June 21, 3-5pm, at First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Platteville (80 Market St).
For a full line-up of music that day, visit https://www.makemusicday.org/platteville/
🎶 About the Band 🎶
Prairie Lights String Band is an acoustic trio offering unique takes on bluegrass, folk, Americana, country, and blues music. An intergenerational group in both membership and song selection, they perform a variety of arrangements spanning American roots to contemporary music.
Members include Bruce Schmidt (guitar, mandolin, banjo, & vocals), Paul Schumacher (banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, & vocals), and Alyssa Zasada (cello, guitar, & vocals). The trio came together in late 2021 as the pandemic was slowing and in response to pent-up demand for live music by both musicians and audiences, and they’ve become known for their multi-instrumental talent, enticing harmonies, and original arrangements.
Prairie Lights performances include many genres from gentle love songs and ballads to topical songs and high-energy bluegrass, covering artists such as Bill Monroe, Joan Baez, The Steeldrivers, The Grateful Dead, Pete Seeger, The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth Moody, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, John Prine, Crooked Still, Townes Van Zandt, Robert Johnson, Jason Isbell, The Carter Family, Sarah Jarosz and many others, including much-loved traditional songs whose authorship has been lost to time.
With various instrumental arrangements (from three guitars to a mandolin/banjo/cello mix, and many combinations in between), and a diverse selection of both new and traditional music, audiences are sure to find something to love with the Prairie Lights String Band.
🎶 Bios 🎶
🎸 Bruce Schmidt of Platteville, WI, represents the Boomer generation; he is self-taught on his chosen instruments, after starting with guitar in high school as part of the evolving ‘60’s folk and bluegrass revival. His love of traditional songs led to a continuing exploration of roots music through the Lomax/Smithsonian collection and listening to a variety of folk, bluegrass, old-time, classic country, and country blues artists. Over time, he has performed solo and with other musicians in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and California in coffeehouses, charity events, small clubs, and peace/organizing rallies. He is known for his captivating guitar work, John Prine voice, and extensive mental catalog of songs, often being referred to as a human jukebox. Bruce’s greatest passion is an appreciation of music’s reflection of American history and the stories of its people.
🪕 Paul Schumacher of Peosta, IA, is a Gen X’er who grew up listening to bluegrass and country music with his family. He not only taught himself to play guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and bass, but also taught each of his four children to play one of the instruments. Together, they formed the Schumacher Family Band and for several years performed frequently at local events, fundraisers, coffeehouses, and festivals in the tri-state (Iowa/Wisconsin/Illinois) area. As the kids grew up and moved on, Paul reconnected with Bruce to join the newly created Prairie Lights String Band. Paul’s creative approach to each instrument brings dynamic energy to the songs, and his innate love of music shines through in his multi-instrumental talent and on-stage wit.
🎤 Alyssa Zasada of Mineral Point, WI, is a Millennial whose musical background was formed on classical cello in school and community orchestras, string quartets, and cello groups in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Alabama. She was drawn to the guitar’s ability to form community through song around the campfire and in acoustic groups, and began taking lessons with Bruce at the beginning of the pandemic. He introduced her to the world of bluegrass on both instruments, and she is now among an avant-garde of cello players in this genre, lending richness, depth and creative arrangements using both pizzicato (plucking) and arco (bowing) techniques. She brings much joy through her radiant smile and clear, evocative voice, singing with both tenderness and power. Alyssa was instrumental in forming Prairie Lights String Band, and it has brought to life one of her greatest joys—bringing people together through music.
📝 To join our emailing list, contact [email protected]
We'll play Sunday, June 21, 3-5pm, at First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Platteville (80 Market St).
For a full line-up of music that day, visit https://www.makemusicday.org/platteville/
🎶 About the Band 🎶
Prairie Lights String Band is an acoustic trio offering unique takes on bluegrass, folk, Americana, country, and blues music. An intergenerational group in both membership and song selection, they perform a variety of arrangements spanning American roots to contemporary music.
Members include Bruce Schmidt (guitar, mandolin, banjo, & vocals), Paul Schumacher (banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, & vocals), and Alyssa Zasada (cello, guitar, & vocals). The trio came together in late 2021 as the pandemic was slowing and in response to pent-up demand for live music by both musicians and audiences, and they’ve become known for their multi-instrumental talent, enticing harmonies, and original arrangements.
Prairie Lights performances include many genres from gentle love songs and ballads to topical songs and high-energy bluegrass, covering artists such as Bill Monroe, Joan Baez, The Steeldrivers, The Grateful Dead, Pete Seeger, The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth Moody, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Doc Watson, John Prine, Crooked Still, Townes Van Zandt, Robert Johnson, Jason Isbell, The Carter Family, Sarah Jarosz and many others, including much-loved traditional songs whose authorship has been lost to time.
With various instrumental arrangements (from three guitars to a mandolin/banjo/cello mix, and many combinations in between), and a diverse selection of both new and traditional music, audiences are sure to find something to love with the Prairie Lights String Band.
🎶 Bios 🎶
🎸 Bruce Schmidt of Platteville, WI, represents the Boomer generation; he is self-taught on his chosen instruments, after starting with guitar in high school as part of the evolving ‘60’s folk and bluegrass revival. His love of traditional songs led to a continuing exploration of roots music through the Lomax/Smithsonian collection and listening to a variety of folk, bluegrass, old-time, classic country, and country blues artists. Over time, he has performed solo and with other musicians in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and California in coffeehouses, charity events, small clubs, and peace/organizing rallies. He is known for his captivating guitar work, John Prine voice, and extensive mental catalog of songs, often being referred to as a human jukebox. Bruce’s greatest passion is an appreciation of music’s reflection of American history and the stories of its people.
🪕 Paul Schumacher of Peosta, IA, is a Gen X’er who grew up listening to bluegrass and country music with his family. He not only taught himself to play guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and bass, but also taught each of his four children to play one of the instruments. Together, they formed the Schumacher Family Band and for several years performed frequently at local events, fundraisers, coffeehouses, and festivals in the tri-state (Iowa/Wisconsin/Illinois) area. As the kids grew up and moved on, Paul reconnected with Bruce to join the newly created Prairie Lights String Band. Paul’s creative approach to each instrument brings dynamic energy to the songs, and his innate love of music shines through in his multi-instrumental talent and on-stage wit.
🎤 Alyssa Zasada of Mineral Point, WI, is a Millennial whose musical background was formed on classical cello in school and community orchestras, string quartets, and cello groups in Wisconsin, Georgia, and Alabama. She was drawn to the guitar’s ability to form community through song around the campfire and in acoustic groups, and began taking lessons with Bruce at the beginning of the pandemic. He introduced her to the world of bluegrass on both instruments, and she is now among an avant-garde of cello players in this genre, lending richness, depth and creative arrangements using both pizzicato (plucking) and arco (bowing) techniques. She brings much joy through her radiant smile and clear, evocative voice, singing with both tenderness and power. Alyssa was instrumental in forming Prairie Lights String Band, and it has brought to life one of her greatest joys—bringing people together through music.
📝 To join our emailing list, contact [email protected]
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Where is it happening?
First Congregational UCC, Platteville, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherPrairie Lights String Band
