With countless performances under their belts and an extensive catalog of acclaimed recordings, the Plowboys reputation as top-notch entertainers is built on soulful lead singing, spot-on harmonies, fiery picking and a stage show full of energy, variety and humor. More...
Fire in the Sugarhouse (2008)
Original songs about Vermont, New England and more, along with great tunes from some of our favorite songwriters.
Title track: Need FlashPlayer
From Al Davis, Times Argus/Rutland Herald Songwriter of the Year
Sun Off Snow (2011)
"...tuneful, authentic, endearing narrative exudes a rare timelessness ... quirky character(s) rich with northern humor."
Sample: Death Come Down to Danville: Need FlashPlayer
Willy Lindner's new album
Life, Still, With Mandolin (2011)
"a truly beautiful record that cuts to the core of what it means to be in the company of people you love."
Sample: Breakfast: Need FlashPlayer
News from Dan:
Also: See the latest Newsletter or the Guest Book
11/25/2011
Willy's song Blue Ball (Path of Peace) is on YouTube, complete with a slideshow of stirring images. You can access it through a link on the home page of The Sky Blue Boys' website, skyblueboys.com. It's from Willy's wonderful new album Life, Still, With Mandolin. That CD, along with Plowboy guitarist Al Davis' excellent new release, Sun Off Snow, may be ordered for a special holiday price (two CDs for just $30, postpaid), via the Ordering page under the Music tab. Time to stock up on some terrific music for the holidays.
11/19/2011
Hi Folks. Whether winter ever arrives or not, the calendar tells us the end of the year is fast approaching, and that means Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys are gearing up for a big First Night celebration. We'll be playing Burlington at 4 and 5 PM and St. Johnsbury at 10 and 11. Make plans to help us put 2011 in the rearview. Now there's a cause for celebration!
BD
9/7/2011
As you know, our home state of Vermont was hit hard by flooding related to Tropical Storm Irene. Homes, farms and businesses have been destroyed, people left homeless and in great need of the basics of life. Banjo Dan and the the Mid-nite Plowboys will appear in a special fundraising concert THIS SATURDAY, Sept 10 in Montpelier. For details and information on how you can help please see our most recent newsletter under the "About Us" tab. Thank you.
7/17/2011
Hey, everybody, we've got not one but TWO new CDs! The two guys who founded Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys with me way back in 1972 have both, finally, released "solo" albums. Willy and Al are terrific songwriters, and each has assembled some of his finest material, old and new, brought together a cast of top Vermont musicians (including of course the Plowboys) and come up with some great music. Trust me, you don't want to miss these new releases.
5/15/2011
OK, I admit it, I'm not a dedicated blogger. But I do want to be sure all visitors to this website are aware that both Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys and The Sky Blue Boys (Banjo Dan and Willy Lindner) are in high gear for the summer, with lots of good shows coming up all around the Northeast. Please check the Newsletter posted on this site (under the "About" tab), and by all means please subscribe by sending me your email address. We'd love to keep you up to date with info on all the personal appearances, AND, we'll be sending announcements soon about some pretty remarkable new CD releases.
1/1/2011
Happy New Year to all our friends and fans, and thanks again for keeping in touch, coming to our shows and buying our CDs. As I said in our last newsletter, we wouldn't still be here, 38 years after our first gig, if it wasn't for you.
We certainly appreciate all the holiday-season CD orders we filled over the past few weeks. The holiday special pricing is over for our recent releases, but we've decided to permanently lower the price for all reissues. Henceforth all 9 of these recordings -- and remember, several have added bonus tracks -- will be just $13, postpaid, and two for $25. That's everything from "Snowfall" to "Some Rust...Runs Good." We're talking vintage Plowboys -- the music that boosted us to the lofty heights among New England's top acoustic bands. Thanks again, and we hope to see you soon.
12/3/2010
Be sure to check out our holiday newsletter, under the "About Us" tab. With the addition of the final two "missing" albums, the entire Banjo Dan catalog (all 14 releases) is now available on CD. And for the remainder of 2010 we're offering special holiday pricing and package deals. Time to stock up!
11/11/2010
Due to circumstances beyond our control, The Sky Blue Boys have had to cancel their November 12 concert at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs. Willy and I send our regrets to our New York friends and hope to see you sometime soon.
10/28/2010
Hello friends and fans. Have you seen the latest Banjo Dan Newsletter? If you missed it, we just announced a new double CD from The New Bremen Town Musicians, a group consisting of Banjo Dan and brother Willy, along with their wives Jaye and Nancy, daughter Deanna and bass-playing buddy Matt McGibney. The "Bremens" were known especially for the wonderful vocal blend of the women, and a broad repertoire featuring gospel, folk and international songs of all kinds. The group disbanded nearly 10 years ago, but we recently discovered some great concert tapes and have put together two dozen of the best selections in this retrospective release. If you've enjoyed the Plowboys and Sky Blue Boys music over the years, and love good singing, you don't want to miss this new release, "When Time Was Young." Check it out at www.skyblueboys.com.
4/25/2010
Remember, you can download some of our CDs at CDBaby, either the whole album or individual tunes. Go to cdbaby.com/cd/banjodan.
4/13/2010
Hey, did you see that feature on Banjo Dan in the Times-Argus? Check it out by hitting this link: Vermont's dean of bluegrass
4/6/2010
Spring has sprung and the Plowboys are looking forward to a great summer playing all around the Northeast. Be sure to check our schedule for an upcoming concert near you, and let us keep you right up to date on live performances, recordings and band news by signing up for our Newsletter.
1/2/2010
Happy New Year. Great to see so many old friends and fans at the two Banjo Dan First Night gigs in Burlington and St. Johnsbury. And great to hear from so many of you during our holiday CD sale. Prices are back to normal on the CDs now, but still a pretty good deal. And we have nearly the whole catalog available on CD now.
Be sure to check out The Sky Blue Boys' winter schedule -- you can click on the Sky site at the top right of this home page. We're playing some good venues in VT, MA and CT this month, and also in Feb. Hope to see you soon.
12/7/2009
Happy Holidays! Be sure to see our most recent Newsletter for special holiday deals on all our CDs. And come see the Plowboys on New Year's eve in Burlington or St. Johnsbury VT and The Sky Blue Boys in VT, MA or CT in Jan or Feb.
10/18/2009
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO! See those red letters right below this box? All you have to do is click on "See the Video Sampler" and it'll pop up and start playing. And if you have a good computer and fast broadband you can click again and see a full-screen version. This is indeed a sampler, not a full-show video. It's designed as a little intro for those who have not seen the band in action, but we think our friends and fans will get a kick out of it too. Let us know what you think by posting a note in our Guestbook (under the Contact tab).
8/24/2009
Last night Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys played a terrific outdoor concert pavilion in Westfield, MA called Stanley Park. Judging from the emails coming in I guess the folks down there liked us pretty well. Here's a sample message from Blondie: Fabulous music...haven't heard seen such a terrific show in years!! Your pickin strummin fiddlin and singin stole my heart away... Thank you!
7/27/2009
Just got back from a 3-day, 4-gig whirlwind tour of Maine, where we played to some fine audiences. Here's an excerpt from a review by Kimmy Sophia Brown in a neat online mag with a great name -- Significato: "Landing on the stage in a flurry of whiskers and instruments (they) commenced to ignite the audience with an evening of tight-tight-tight harmonies and fearsome pickin'... Two marks of great musicianship are how easy they make it look and how much fun they share with the audience." For the full review, check out the Significato website.
7/5/2009
"Their ability to play music is a God-given gift and their heartfelt creations are a gift to Vermont." Thus spake Doug Leland in a recent online "Monday Message." Thanks, Doug. For a link to the full text of that message, entitled "Willy's Lament" after one of our original songs, please check out the latest Banjo Dan Newsletter, which also announces the re-release of "Sleepin' Under the Bridge," along with a schedule of upcoming concerts.
4/21/2009
Here's a sample message from a friend/fan who attended our recent concert at the Latchis Theatre: "Hi guys: What a wonderful gift to Brattleboro last night. Thank you. We are a bunch of music lovers--and this was EXCEPTIONAL pickin and playin and singin and joshin! Hope you come back soon."
Thanks, Judy! And to all our friends in northern Vermont and Quebec, we're looking forward to seeing you at the Enosburg Opera House on May 9 for the final stop on our "Fire in the Sugarhouse" tour. We're cookin' -- no, we're boilin'!
12/3/2008
Here's my favorite quote so far from a fan: "Leo Tolstoy is my favorite author, and Banjo Dan is my favorite band. Thank god one of them is still making masterpieces, otherwise what more reason to keep on livin?" Keep 'em comin', friends.
11/5/2008
Welcome to the all-new Banjo Dan and the Mid-nite Plowboys website. Please cruise around to your heart's content. Enjoy the tunes, admire the pix, check the links, and by all means let us know what you think. Send an email to banjodan@pshift.com -- we may even quote you.
And please come back from time to time and check this blog for Banjo Dan's news and views.
