Three longtime local bluegrass performers have formed a group called the Montezuma Acoustic Trust, committed to preserving local rural acoustic music and their own tunes.
Glenn Smith, most recently a member of the Beesknees, is partnering up with longtime friends Andy Hutchinson and Jack Tallmadge.
The trio plans to play some Smith's original material and traditional bluegrass music at their upcoming show at the Mancos Distillery.
"Andy's like a walking library of songs," Smith said.
Smith, a singer and guitar player, has played with his wife as the duo known as the Beesknees at farmers markets last year and at Escalante Days.
Previously he had played with Hutchinson, a singer and banjo player for about 10 years before taking a seven-year hiatus from performing.
Now the two are pulling in Jack Tallmadge, a bass player, who is known for his Durango-based bluegrass band the Miserabilies.
Smith gained a love for music young. He grew up listening to Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, and his mother brought hymns to the mix.
"I was raised on country music," he said.
Recently, Smith has been spending more time recording music, which was part of the inspiration for the name the Montezuma Acoustic Trust. He has been working on preserving his own material and other local material.
A sample of their music isn't available online currently, you can hear them performing live on KSJD live July 9 at 6:30 p.m.
They also will perform July 12 at 8 p.m. at the Mancos Valley Distillery. Doors open at 6 p.m.
mshinn@cortezjournal.com
