Uncategorized
On the road with Norman Baker
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersA folk artist reflects on his travels
By Michael Somerby EBS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
BOZEMAN – In a country nearly 3,000 miles wide, 1,500 miles long and home to population with a voracious appetite for music, traveling by road isn’t just commonplace for musicians in the U.S.—it’s a rite of passage. Seattle-native Norman Baker is in the midst of such a voyage, and he’s relishing it.
“This is the longest solo tour I’ve ever done, with 32 shows, in seven states, over 5.5 weeks,” said Baker, who performed at The Rialto’s Burn Box venue in Bozeman on May 18, entrancing the crowd with master acoustic guitar work and vocals to match. “Commuting and long tours aren’t for everyone, but I love it. It’s a chance to see the country and connect with people over my art.”
Baker was baptized in music from a young age, playing trumpet and trombone in a school band, drums and bass in a jazz band, forming a rap group with friends, learning guitar licks from his father and bluegrass structure and sound from his mother, who plays the fiddle and mandolin. He soaked up musical influence like a sponge, taking scale lessons from his uncle and power chord riffs from a heavy metal-obsessed friend. And soon, he was writing music.
“I’d write anything from grungy power chord songs, to sensitive teenage boy songs,” Baker said.
Baker jokes his focus on music truly solidified when he became outsized on the football field.
“I played football, basketball and baseball,” Baker said. “I was the quarterback in middle school, and I was a stud. But then everyone started getting really big, and I was no longer a stud.”
Now the musician plays mostly with a band he serves as frontman for, Norman Baker & The Backroads, but also plays solo, straddling the Americana, country, rock ‘n’ roll, folk and bluegrass genres in both ventures.
Flipping between a solo act and being a member of a band, his team, comes with unique challenges and approaches to performance. There are pros and cons to both, Baker says.
“I like being up there by myself, to have the freedom to improvise a bit more, to lengthen out the songs, and when you’re with a full band you’ve got to stick with the program,” Baker said. “But there’s nothing like the feeling of playing with other people and making something together.”
Baker feels the connections he forges on the road make all the long hauls and lonely moments meaningful.
“I was just thinking about this last night, hauling a bunch of gear into the hotel, how much work you put in every night and how much of a struggle it is,” Baker said. “Some days are rough and long, and I ask myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ Then I play the show, and all the people I meet and connect with after the show, saying super nice things about the songs, makes it all worthwhile.”
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716