October 19, 2023

Best Place Bluegrass is a quartet of veteran instrumentalists & singers from the Milwaukee
area who formed playing regular Summer shows in the historic Pabst Brewery’s Best Place
courtyard. They perform traditional songs & instrumentals from the likes of Bill Monroe, Flatt &
Scruggs and the Stanley Bros as well newer material from John Prine, Tom Paxton and the
Grateful Dead—daring to include a bluegrass version of a Monkees song in the latter repertoire. Led by Dobro player Peter Roller, they perform his original instrumentals as well as lively tunes featuring Mark Vitkus on mandolin & guitar, Max Winkels’ 5-string banjo and big Don Moore on upright bass.

Colin O’Brien’s music is informed by the past and speaks to the present.  A playful performer, Colin delights his audiences with fiery melodies, groovy rhythms, soulful lyrics, fancy footwork and old time hat tricks. His banjo, fiddle and guitar playing, percussive dancing, and lyrics all express an earnest regard for the traditional, natural and true.

“Colin O’Brien is a great entertainer.” –Tim O’Brien

O’Brien is a nationally touring independent performer based in Nashville. He has shared bills with artists such as The Infamous String Dusters, Great American Taxi, Trampled By Turtles, Tim O’Brien, Del McCoury, Steve Martin, Sam Bush, Darol Anger and Peter Rowan. Colin has performed at innumerable venues and festivals throughout the United States such as Rocky Grass, (2012, 2013) The John Hartford Memorial Festival (2011,2012,2013), The Jackpine Jamboree (2006-2013), Swamp N Grass (2006,2007,2008), Swallow Hill, Summerfest (2000,2001,2002,2008,2010,2013), Crested Butte Arts Festival, Boats and Bluegrass (2009,2010,2011), Noreast’r Festival, Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, The Station Inn, The Sioux River Folk Festival, The Ark and dozens more.

Colin loves to engage his audience, young and old alike, and may at any time leave the stage to dance and sing among them; his voice, fiddle and feet all still resounding loud and clear through the stage speakers.

Doors at 6:30, music at 7:30, $10