Look out, here comes BUDS & SHOOTS. You’ll get walloped by their joyful straight-from-the-heart sound,
their soaring interpretations of old-time string band tunes tinged with Vaudevillian novelty, flanked by snappy honky tonk hits, sweet originals, and
four part powerhouse vocals.
Culled from iconic regional and national bands including Ivan Singh, Volo Bogtrotters, Laketown Buskers, Joybird, the beloved BUDS & SHOOTS have appeared mainstage at Chicago's Square Roots Fest, Roscoe Fest, Skokie's Back Lot Bash, Wisconsin's White Oak Folk Fest, Evanston SPACE, Old Town School of Folk Music, and at multiple events, shows and dances throughout the Midwest.
BUDS & SHOOTS are: Barb Silverman “Folk Festival in a Box” on solid rhythm guitar, washboard, bones and feet; Fred Campeau's on-fire fiddle and beyond-sweet dobro; “Folk and Country Buddha" Steve Rosen’s ever-driving banjo; Mary Tabatowski’s precise impeccable mandolin; Ross Plunkett’s daredevil earth-rumbling trumpet; Aaron Smith’s smooth plucked and bowed bass. Collectively these partners have performed on national radio, festival and club stages across the country and as far as Europe and Australia.
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Band Bios
Acclaimed as a “stunning vocalist, master teacher, and folk festival in a box,” Barbara Silverman has performed on national radio, at midwest festivals and concert halls for four decades -- rhythm guitar, vocals, piano, washboard, bones and feet. Her numerous bands The Laketown Buskers, The Teflons, The Schticklers, Silver Rose, Buds and Shoots collectively have appeared on Prairie Home Companion, Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago Symphony Center, Wheatland and Hiawatha, Chicagofest, openers for Emmy Lou Harris, David Bromberg, Odetta, Arlo Guthrie, and on six CD recordings.
On lush and tasteful fiddle, banjo, guitar and slide guitar is Fred Campeau, a high-in-demand regular in regional and national blues and oldtime scenes since the early '70s. A former Marimac recording artist and producer, Fred’s band credits include The Volo Bogtrotters (40+ years), Vox Elders, Midwestern Harvesters, Money Creek Boys, The Polecats and Old T Blue and the J 87's. You may have seen him at Wheatland, Hiawatha, Indiana Fiddlers, Berkeley, Augusta, Focal Point, Mariah – at myriad festivals, concerts, dances, clubs and coffeehouses around the country.
A Chicago-based treasure for over 40 years, sporting banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin, Steve Rosen has sown the seeds of bluegrass, oldtime stringband, and country swing across our land. His passionate singing and widely diverse instrumental skills spill out at countless festivals and workshops, a stalwart at hundreds of dance events scattered nationwide. Add to these a dance troupe tour of France, banjo workshop in Switzerland, recording in Australia, performances in Finland, Italy, Brazil and Ireland. Wow!
Mary Tabatowski’s mandolin playing is clean, honest and full of heart, and sweetly complements her honey pure and natural singing voice. A former student of mando giant Don Stiernberg, she’s been a repeat guest on Charlie Walden’s Big Fiddle Show and is in fast demand for Chicago oldtime dance bands. You may often find her traveling the land to dance and music camps and concerts to revel in her craft.
Aaron Smith has become a member of the thriving scene that surrounds the city’s Old Town School of Folk Music. He is a full-time bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer, a contributor with numerous projects including Jaybird, Growler, Sunnyside Up, and Horseshoe Bender, and has shared the stage with touring acts like The Henhouse Prowlers, Oh Pep!, Tall Heights, Jim Becker, and more.
Ross Plunkett, Buds’ illustrious trumpet player, is the son of Patt and Possum, launching him into worldwide travel. Resident trumpeter at the Church of Saint John Coltrane, Ross has played with Buddy Guy, Mario Abney, Ivan Singh among many others.
