Bear River Concerts

Local Orchardist and General Contractor to Partner w/ Camp for

2009 Bear River Concert Series

Monticello orchardist and general contractor, Douglas Monk, is partnering with Camp Courageous, The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, and the Grant Wood Country Foundation for the Arts, to co-host the “2009 Bear River Concert Series.”

The seven concerts, from May through November, will be held in the rustic Sill Barn on the Camp Courageous property, with the exception of the September concert, “Applejam,” which will be at the Monk’s property. Each concert brings nationally recognized talent to Monticello, Iowa.

The music series began as a dream for Douglas Monk and his wife, Micaela, when they planted their apple orchard in April of 2002.

“Can’t you just picture trees laden with red and yellow apples, families coming out for a day in the country, and live music in the orchard?” Douglas would say to his wife.

But Monk didn’t want to wait five years before the trees bore fruit, so they hosted their first music festival the following September, calling it “Applejam.”

In 2003, due to the weather, they hosted the event in their 100-year-old post-and-beam barn. The venue started with an open mike, followed by a large pot luck, and finished with a professional musician.

Every year, Applejam got a little bigger, a little more polished. Musicians began getting wind of Applejam from as far away as Nashville, Tennessee and England.

In December of 2008, Monk’s wife, Micaela, spotted a notice in the Monticello Express regarding the Jones County Endowment Fund, which stated a grant was available to be used for such things as “recreation, tourism, improving the quality of life and enhancing the economic well-being of Jones County residents.”

Doug and Micaela met with Scott and Michelle Dalziel, two singer-songwriters who had previously performed at Applejam, to discuss applying for the grant. Michelle suggested that rather than envision just one event, why not do a whole series of concerts and name it after the Maquoketa River which flows through this part of the state.

“Did you know the Native Americans called the river ‘the Bear River’ (Maquoketa River) after all the black bear in the area?” she said.

Melissa Stelhorn, a family friend, also at the discussion, suggested it might be mutually advantageous to partner with Camp Courageous on the project, gearing a portion of the proceeds toward the camp.

In January, Doug, Micaela, and Melissa sat down with Charlie Becker Camp Director, to share their idea. Out of this came the “2009 Bear River Concert Series.”

While reservations are not required, they are strongly recommended. Phone: (319) 465-4069. Following are the concert dates and musicians:

May 30th Sill Barn  7:00 PM

Scott and Michelle Dalziel http://www.myspace.com/scottmichelledalziel

Beth Wood http://www.myspace.com/bethwoodmusiccom

June 27th  Sill Barn 7:00PM

Small Potatoes http://www.smallpotatoesmusic.com/

July 18th  Sill Barn 7:00 PM

Gayla Drake Paul http://www.skep.com/gdpaul/

http://www.myspace.com/gayladrakepaul

August 29th  Sill Barn 7:00 PM

GDP3

Sept 12  Monk’s Barn-  Applejam

Start @ 4:30-7  Various local artists

7 PM: Fran Snyder http://fransnyder.com

October 31 Sill Barn 7:00 PM

Joe Jenks http://www.joejencks.com/

November 28^th Sill Barn 7:00 PM

John Smith http://www.johnsmithmusic.com/