Prairie Lights String Band

Join Prairie Lights String Band for an afternoon of music in the stained glass sanctuary at Merrimac & Main! Help support local live music and the new community center with a suggested donation of $10

Merrimac & Main, 115 W. Merrimac Street, Dodgeville, WI

About the Band

Prairie Lights String Band is an acoustic trio, mostly based in Mineral Point, 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.

To join our emailing list, contact PrairieLightsStringBand@gmail.com

REGISTRATION OPTIONAL. This allows us to send you reminders about the event!