Wilders In Concert

All the way from Kansas City, MO comes the most honky-tonkenest country band in the states, for one last go-around in one of their favorite places! The Wilders are made up of four fiery and wildly inventive musicians. Ike Sheldon handles lead vocals, guitar, and is the Master of Ceremonies; Betse Ellis exhilarates audiences with her bow-hair-destroying fiddle work; Nate Gawron simultaneously drives and grounds the group on bass; and Phil Wade adds the flavor by swapping between dobro, mandolin, and banjo. It's not uncommon for a listener to mistakenly assume there's a fifth member of the band on drums; The Wilders call this phenomenon the "Phantom Drummer," a testament to the rhythmic energy and hard-driving beat of this four-piece string band.
The Wilders have played to audiences across the US and beyond, leaving delighted and exhausted crowds in their wake. In 2006, The Wilders were selected to perform at the Famous Spiegeltent at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they were honored with the Herald Angel Award; additionally, they've made appearances at Merlefest, Wintergrass, Rockygrass, and Telluride festivals. In the summer of 2002, the band was featured with singer/songwriter Iris DeMent on Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" and a few years later performed live at the Kennedy Center. Their radio and television appearances range from National Public Radio's Weekend Morning Edition, to appearances on the PBS syndicated show "Song of the Mountains," and music specials on BBC television.