The Blue Sage Band

Blue Sage is a high energy folk/bluegrass ensemble who's songs reflect
the culture and history of the west.

(click here to go directly to Mike's clawhammer banjo page)

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The music of Blue Sage revolves around the repertoire of folk singer Mike Iverson. Widely regarded as one of the finest clawhammer style banjo players, Mike also plays guitar and mandolin with the band.

Playing bass fiddle with the band is Shauna Iverson whose driving technique powers the Blue Sage sound. Shauna's personality shines through on stage and audiences find her as much fun to watch as to listen to!

Blue Sage features the "twin fiddles" of Rob Ricks and Heather Blaisdell. Rob is an incredibly gifted bluegrass fiddler while Heather draws from the Celtic and American fiddle tradition; the mix of the two styles is pure magic on stage. It's our "twin fiddles" that allow us to occasionally include traditional barn dancing as part of the Blue Sage experience!

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Blue Sage had it's beginning over thirty five years ago when, like many teenagers in the seventies, Mike Iverson first picked up a guitar. To the bewilderment of his friends, Mike also became fascinated with American folk music. At this time he discovered those artists who would most profoundly shape his own music - musicians such as Glen Orlin, Doc Watson, Rosalie Sorrels, Utah Phillips, Bill Staines, Justin Bishop (Horse Sense) and the Deseret String Band.

Coming from western stock, both his mother and step-dad are Wyoming natives, Mike soon found himself gravitating toward the folk music of the west. While still a teen, his music caught the attention of the promoters of the Festival of the American West. He was hired to perform cowboy ballads (and mormon pioneer folk songs) for this festival and continued to perform there annually for the next twenty-five years! The Blue Sage Band is the culmination of all those years and all those songs! Although he enjoyed (still enjoys) playing in various ensembles, Blue Sage best reflects the music that is closest to Mike's heart.

Blue Sage officially came into existence in 1992. Originally a duo, with Ryan Shupe on fiddle, Blue Sage expanded to a trio when Mike's wife, Shauna, joined the band on upright bass. Rob Ricks eventually replaced Ryan on fiddle. Mike and Shauna's daughter, Heather, took over on fiddle when Rob left the band in 2005. Rob moved back to Utah in 2008 and the trio is now performing as a quartet!

Blue Sage has been selected for the prestigious Utah Performing Arts tour for four seasons.

Why the Blue Sage name? The band's name came about when Mike combined his two favorite styles of music to form Blue Sage; "Blue" for bluegrass & folk - "Sage" for cowboy & western music!

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