Tradition excellence

PEQUOT LAKES - After nearly four years, the Lonesome Tradition bluegrass band is making its way back to Pequot Lakes.

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The band will perform a reunion concert at 7 p.m. June 6 at the Trailside Center in Pequot Lakes and will feature new songs as well as many of their most-requested tunes.

Lonesome Tradition is a traditional bluegrass group made up of two families from the Brainerd/Nisswa area - the Roggenkamps and the Shaffers. They began in 2000 and soon were playing at bluegrass festivals and concerts throughout Minnesota, surrounding states and Canada.

After five years of performing and recording two CDs together, they decided to take a break from playing regularly, but remained friends and still jammed together on occasion. After kicking around the idea, the group decided to perform a few reunion shows in 2009.

The Lonesome Tradition bluegrass band will perform a reunion concert at 7 p.m. June 6 at the Trailside Center in Pequot Lakes.

Members include Tim Roggenkamp, banjo; Cindy Roggenkamp, bass; Bill Shaffer, lead guitar; Lacie (Shaffer) Philippi, mandolin and fiddle; and Sherm Shaffer, rhythm guitar.

Tim and Cindy Roggenkamp are members of the Minnesota Rock and Country Hall of Fame and also perform and record as a country and bluegrass duo. They recently released a CD entitled "Country and Bluegrass Favorites" and are currently working on an all-gospel project.

The Shaffers also perform as a family band - the North Forty. Bill Shaffer is admired throughout Minnesota for his flatpicking skills and has written and recorded several of his own songs.

Tickets for the concert are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Teens get in for half price and children 12 and younger get in free with a paying adult. Tickets are available at Lakes Music in Pequot Lakes and Coco Moon in Brainerd.

The Trailside Center is just south of Pequot Lakes on Old Highway 371, adjacent to Pequot Lakes Baptist Church. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

For further information, call (218) 568-7366.