Get ready for Mardi Gras with Tom Rigney and Flambeau at Miners Foundry Feb. 8

Nevada City, CA –  Just in time for Mardi Gras, one of the world’s premier roots music fiddle players and his band, Tom Rigney and Flambeau will bring their blend of Cajun two-steps, low-down blues, boogie woogie and funky New Orleans grooves to Nevada City.

The Miners Foundry Cultural Center is pleased to present Tom Rigney and Flambeau on Thursday, February 8. Local favorites, Old Soles will provide pre-show entertainment in the bar beginning at 6:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

“The band is sounding better than ever and we’re looking forward to a great celebration,” said Tom Rigney. 

Known for Rigney’s fiery, virtuoso fiddling and charismatic stage presence, Flambeau has forged a unique sound that blends American Roots styles into something original – deep musicality and spectacular soloing – that will get people moving on the dance floor. Rigney joins musicians Marc Brinitzer and Anthony Paule on electric guitar, boogie queen Caroline Dahl on piano, Sam Rocha on bass and Brent Rapone on drums.

Rigney composes much of the band’s repertoire of original music with a few classics from the Cajun/ New Orleans songbook mixed in. Listen closely for a trace of Rigney’s Irish roots, or echoes of Eastern Europe in his rich musical gumbo.

Tom Rigney and Flambeau are no stranger to Nevada City. The Feb. 8 show will be a return to The Foundry after the success of last year’s popular Mardi Gras gig. In the 1980s, Rigney also played in the streets of Nevada City for the Mardi Gras parade with his former band, The Sundogs.

“I’ve always liked your town. We did a Mardi Gras show just about a year ago at the Miners Foundry. It was a great party,” said Rigney.

After graduating from Harvard with a fine arts degree, Rigney discovered the violin and his life was knocked in a completely different direction. He hasn’t gone back. For almost 50 years, he’s been part of the San Francisco Bay Area roots music scene and he and the band is a regular sought-after staple of the Northern California festival circuit.

Rigney first rose to prominence as the leader/ fiddler of the Bluegrass/ Western Swing band, Back in the Saddle. He won a Bammie award in 1981 for the band’s debut recording. He also wrote their hit song, “Time and Again.”

Rigney’s love of South Louisiana dance music (Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans second line) first came together after touring the world with Queen Ida’s Bon Temps Zydeco Band in 1983.

“Being out on the road with Ida changed my whole musical focus. Once I became aware of South Louisiana music it really stuck with me,” he recalls. That time influenced his later band, The Sundogs.

“It’s the rhythmic vitality of South Louisiana that appealed to me and clearly audiences love those grooves for dancing and listening.”

After 15 years leading The Sundogs, Tom Rigney and Flambeau came together in 2000. That Southern Louisiana spirit continues to influence today’s music. Tom Rigney and Flambeau’s energetic live show features tight ensemble playing, deeply infectious grooves and rich soloing known to connect with audiences and pull them in.  This will have mixed seating with plenty of room to dance!

Old Soles

Old Soles is the gold country duo of Masha and Geff Crawford. With deep roots in both Appalachian and Irish music, the husband-and-wife duo creates old time music that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Keeping it fun and light with traditional fiddle tunes and haunting, lyrical ballads, they’ve been known to sprinkle in selections from Bessie Smith, Kate Wolf, John Prine, the Grateful Dead and even Groucho Marx.

Learn more about upcoming events at:  www.minersfoundry.org.

Questions? Please contact the Miners Foundry Box Office at info@minersfoundry.org .

The Miners Foundry Cultural Center is a living historic treasure serving Nevada County as a cultural art and community events center producing 400 events annually. More than a venue, the nonprofit’s mission is to preserve, enhance and utilize the historic Miners Foundry for cultural, educational and social activities in Nevada County. It is a symbol of California’s rich historical heritage, providing an educational and social bridge from our past to the present and future. Membership supports ongoing events at Miners Foundry such as these and many others.