Today we’d like to introduce you to Evonne (Boom) Bilotta-Burke.
Hi Evonne (Boom), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (MBOTMA) does two hotel takeovers each year in Plymouth MN, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. That Fall of 2022, the 6 of us were all involved in a number of events where our paths crossed in significant ways. The two big ones were the Band Scramble, and the other was the Songwriting Workshop. I had the privilege of leading an ad hoc band, “This Side of Blue – That Side of Grass ” and in that grouping were band members Jeanne and Johnna. The coordinator of the event was band member Adelle. Then in the 3-day songwriting workshop, I met Beth and Julie. We started slowly with just an email from Jeanne and a text soon after to Johnna. We spent that first year working on harmonies, singing for backyard BBQs and working up songs and by June the following year, we played for the MBOTMA Kick Off Weekend Ranch House Live Stage. We knew 8 songs, so we played 8 songs, and Julie joined us on bass. We kept at it and added Beth and Adelle soon after to bring our total to 6 and round out our sound both instrumentally and vocally. We worked hard to give the band a strong foundation to grow slowly and solidly from and the bonds we forged that first weekend. We have a great time performing together and I grin incessantly on stage. It’s a little unnerving. 🙂
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Every band has growing pains but for the most part we’ve really worked to honor the music and that helps us center the needs on the sound and the band. I think the biggest lessons have come from studio recording work, hearing the lows, mids, highs, and harmonies to help us move forward and continue growing. Each time, we hear new songs someone will say “Oh this needs banjo, or a mando solo” and we experiment from there to arrange the music. We’re trying to bring the songs to life with our own flavor while still honoring the history of the music and style. We aren’t trying to sound like anyone, just whatever we bring to the table and that helps us move forward. If we stumble and have bad days or moments, then we come back together and work through it. I respect these women, the talents that they choose to share, and all the amazing moments we create together. It’s always my intention to honor their time by doing what I can to promote us and maybe challenge us with projects, goals, and ideas. Besides our already star studded line up, we have amazing “honorary RDB members” and sound crew who are incredible support. Just their presence helps us be better and adds a layer of growth to what we’re doing. If we have a sticking point, then we find a way through it and grow. I think that’s all a band can ask for. Our happy place is singing and playing together on any size stage. Let us go, and we start to smile immediately. But our challenge is finding peace at sound check. We will be working from here forward to find some joy in that.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are an all women band. I think the state of MN is up to 5 maybe 6 all women bands ranging from duos to 6 member groups. That’s a powerful thing to be part of and represent. Plus, we are likely the oldest musicians among the groups, as we found each other and came to this calling later in life. We’ve all been part of other bands in the past with some band mates having played for over 50 years in some capacity, (Valleyfair, family bands, polka bands, orchestras, etc.) We are well into our “we like naps”, and early bedtimes, so you might hear “how LATE are we playing?” uttered when we book a gig. Knowing that means we are very intentional about how we navigate the music business, who we play with, and where we place our heartbeats.
We are all songwriters in the band. I am probably the most prolific and most likely to bring new songs to the group to be heard and judged. But once we set our sights on performing an original, each member works to arrange it and bring it to life. It is a beautiful thing to hear a song take shape and find a balance with the group. I’m always in awe of the process.
How do you think about happiness?
We hear stories from fans. And those stories are about connection. Each one is a ding dang gift!
A little girl heard one of our songs (Railroad Soldier) this summer and we got an email from her Grandma a short while later. She said they take nightly family walks, and as they walk, they sing. When it was her granddaughter’s turn, they expected her to sing a nursery rhyme. Instead she sang Railroad Soldier, one of our originals, and it floored her family. She couldn’t have heard it more than twice at the festival, but that song made a difference in her life. As a songwriter I love hearing how people connect to the music and what it means to them. That’s really all you can ask for. Needless to say, she is a fan, and it was a humbling experience.
That song also connects us to others in some pretty amazing ways. We hear stories from audience members who were train hoppers in their youth. They share their memories after hearing it. They are thrilling to hear and it’s a gift to share in that experience with them.
It also makes me happy that this band knows WHY we do what we do. I think that’s important if any band wants to last and make each show worthwhile. Being together on the stage is equal parts joy, mixed with equal parts fear, and it doesn’t matter how long we do this. That barrier can come at any one of us on any given day. Likewise, when we have an off day, but we find a way to get the job done is also really big. Digging deep to honor those that have taken the stage with you so at the end you can all enjoy the moment. Pretty special.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rosiedazebandmusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/therosiedazeband/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DHAdBFucY/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@TheRosieDazeBand-3949b
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19ZpR88dd6NYplbnUBw2nz
