"An ensemble that was singing about God, death and constant sorrow long before the Coen Brothers told George Clooney to dab on the pomade..." The Kansas City Star, 2002

The Wilders play tunes from the golden age of country music. For the best of 1920's string band music, 1930's country, and 1940's honky-tonk, The Wilders are hard to beat. For the past several years, these four dynamic musicians have entertained audiences with vintage country classics as well as seldom-heard gems. From honky-tonks to festivals and everywhere in between, fans throughout the Midwest enjoy the charismatic singing of Ike Sheldon; award winning fiddling of Betse Ellis; Phil Wade's versatility on dobro, banjo, & mandolin; and Nate Gawron's strong rhythm on string bass.

Like other string bands of the 1990's, The Wilders play early Country music with a passion and energy that blows the dust off these wonderful old tunes and reminds us how exciting this music can be. You'll hear the songs of Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, and Hank Williams side-by-side with old time fiddle tunes and string band songs from early radio days -- when you see how much fun this band has, you're bound to grin (maybe even hop up and start dancing)!

"The Wilders serve up musical excellence while providing an exciting contrast to other acts on the bill. A show promoter's dream, a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Event attendees are gleefully surprised to find they love The Wilders' brand of traditional string band music. High-energy Americana, a difficult act to follow!"
D.A. Callaway, Silver Dollar City, 2002

The Wilders have brought their music to events such as the Walnut Valley Festival (Winfield, Kansas), The Great American Music Festival at Silver Dollar City, Santa Fe Trails Bluegrass Festival, Clay County Fair (Spencer, Iowa), Kansas City Spirit Fest, Nashville's Bluegrass Inn, Frazier Farm Tickfest, and many others. They were invited to perform at the 1999 National Old-Time Music Festival (Avoca, Iowa) after winning third place in their 1998 band competition (at the same festival, Ike Sheldon placed in the Jimmie Rogers Yodeling Championship). Also in 1998, Betse Ellis' old time fiddling earned her the Kansas State Fiddling Championship, Mid-America Old Time Fiddling Championship, and finalist standing in the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddling Championship. And, as artists on Kansas City's Rural Grit record label, they are a key part of KC's growing vintage country-influenced music scene. But that's not why you should see The Wilders. See them because you love Country Music as much as they do!

For more information:
Betse Ellis, 1117 W. 40th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
816-753-1211 bewilder@kc.net

RECORDINGS:
Live at Vandivort Theater
CD, 2001
Lissenup!
CD/cassette, 2001
The Wilders
CD/cassette, 2000
Cornbread, Molasses, & Sassafras Tea
CD/cassette, 1999
On the Cob
cassette, 1998

AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS:
The Wilders were nominated for two SPBGMA awards in 2002.
Betse Ellis placed third in the Kansas State Fiddling Championship in
2001.
Phil Wade won the National Frailing Banjo Championship in 2000.
Nate Gawron won Avoca's Doghouse Bass Championship in 2000.
Betse Ellis won the Kansas State Fiddling Championship in 1998.
Betse Ellis won the Mid-America Old Time Fiddling Championship in 1998.
Betse Ellis placed in the top 5 of the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddling Championship in 1998.
Ike Sheldon placed 4th in the National Jimmie Rodgers Yodeling Championship (Avoca, Iowa) in 1998.
The Wilders placed 3rd in the National Old Time Band Championship (Avoca, Iowa) in 1998.

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