The DitchLilies: News

Here's a quick shout out to all the kind folks and businesses who have made a contribution so far.

Hobgoblin Music
West End Liquor
Simple Abundance
Smiling Pelican Bakeshop
Pat Carlson
Gib & Judy Krohn
Hal & Jan Eckhart
Mike & Nan Michaud


We have achieved more than half of our goal so far! We will be running this sponsorship drive until the end of March so if you are interested, please contact us.

Warmest regards,
Lisa & Kari

Happy December from the DitchLilies! As all bands love to report, we've had a very successful, adventurous and full musical Peak Season. We toted our instruments all over the region, from the beloved and timeless historic hotel down the Big River to a windsurfing competition/music festival in far west Minnesota, from La Crosse to Milwaukee, from Iowa to Illinois, playing festivals that celebrate trains, turkeys, ukuleles, to name just a few. Variety is indeed the spice of life. As winter is upon us, we've lined up many appearances at several wonderful closer-to-home venues, some familiar to regional fans, some new, all of which we are very happy to be playing. Please check our calendar for details.

Current projects include our next recording (we are once again working at Cricket Studios with brilliant engineer, Bruce Hecksel!), creating a program of music from around the world celebrating all things wintery and a little holiday-ish (don't expect all of the usual carols....) for next year, and producing a tribute to Woody Guthrie which will feature performances from many regional greats. We're also planning a 'Lily tour that will take us quite a bit farther from the four-state area in which we've gained such a supportive following. Once we have more to tell you about this, please tell your far-flung friends if we're coming to their town!

Have a wonderful and warm holiday season full of love kindness, and stay tuned---
Kari and Lisa,
The DitchLilies

Hello Everyone,

It's been awhile since we've posted our "doings". We took a little time off in December but are now headlong into booking for the 2010 Summer/Fall season as well as playing out and about up and down the Mississipi. We are looking into new venues and new areas. As ever, we would like continue to explore our home state of Wisconsin. We are really hoping to break into Iowa too! What a fine state, seemingly rich with musical opportunity. Some of our favorite people are from Iowa as it turns out. If you have any suggestions, drop us a line. We'd love to play at a venue near you.
We were unable to get into the studio in October after all and so at this point we are postponing concepts for another CD. Hopefully we'll get to it sometime this year.
We have been booked for The Milwaukee Ukulele Festival in September which tickles Kari to no end. Lisa is just beginning to learn some chords and hopes to have a few chops together by September to back up Kari and not make a complete fool of herself! We will of course post all of the details regarding this event when we learn them so keep your peepers peeled.
We have recently signed on to host a Traditional Bluegrass & Old-Time Jam (which is actually more of a showcase) at Shari's Chippewa Club in Durand, WI. We are joined by the lovely and talented Emily Huppert and Kevin Louden. We have done two so far to great success and huge amounts of fun. It is proving to be a great way to meet other pickers in the greater Eau Claire area. Tell all your friends! We all hit the stage from 6pm-10pm every second Sunday of the month.
Well, here is hoping you all had a wonderful holiday season and are having an even better transition into a New Year and New Decade --twenty-ten! Cheers and we sure hope to see you out there somewhere. Stop up and say "hello".

Your friends in music,
Lisa & Kari
The DitchLilies

Hey Everyone,

We have had a stupendous and successful summer of playing shows all around our home state of Wisconsin and some in MN too! We've passed through a lot of beautiful new-to-us places and meet many great new friends and fans. Thanks to all of you who took the time or chance to come out to our performances and/or bought our latest CD "Drifting". Your support is appreciated beyond expression.
We are taking it easy for a little while *starting now* through Sept-Oct. It's back in the studio for us Lilies as of the first week of Oct! We'll keep ya posted about the progress of the project over this winter and maybe even put a few cuts for you all to preview on our site here. We plan to have it out by Spring 2010. And away we go.................
One of our big goals for next year's Festival/outdoor concert season is to branch out into IOWA! woo-hoo! If anyone has any appropriate suggestions, drop us a line at ditchlilies@gmail.com.

Here's hoping you all have a great Autumn. The leaves are already turning here in Maiden Rock and along the river --beautiful.

Cheers,
Lisa and Kari

We are stepping out of the whirlwind of music events for a moment to provide an update. The new cd is here and ready to go, well, anywhere! We ask that anyone interested in purchasing one (or some) contact us at ditchlilies@gmail.com. Soon it will also be available at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, MN and at various shops and galleries in the Lake Pepin area.

The first Maiden Rock Revue multi-media show all about TRAINS was a smashing success. Many many thanks to all who helped make this happen. Plans for the second performance are in the works. Please do stay tuned.

June is jam-packed with all manner of DitchLilies appearances in a variety of locations--a town fest, a few listening room/cafe settings, a historic hotel, the astounding Botanical Gardens in Green Bay, an event featuring the ukulele, a cozy supper club, a winery......something for just about everyone, we think.

We just got word this past Friday that our CD is en route and will be landing on our front doorstep on or before Friday, May 15th. We are beside ourselves with anticipation! Keep your eyes peeled for where and when you can pick up your very own copy of "Drifting".

Cheers,
Lisa and Kari

The house is a fright (!), the garden needs tilling, the seeds are still in their packages, oh dear. We are all consumed with playing, singing, changing strings, instrument tune-ups, planning and booking for the summer. If anyone has any suggestions for great venues regionally, just drop us a line. We'd mightily appreciate the info. We can barely contain our excitement and inspiration.

XO
Kari and Lisa

Finally we are winding down on the new CD project! It has really been one of the best experiences we've collectively had recording. Bruce Hecksel at Cricket Studios is great to work with --FYI. At any rate, we are back to polishing up our train songs for the upcoming Maiden Rock Revue on May 23rd. Emily Huppert is coming over tonight for a rehearsal, recently back from her vacation riding the rails all over the West. Doubly inspiring.
Enjoy the Spring, Everyone and hopefully we'll see some of you train enthusiasts at the Maiden Rock Revue.

Lisa and Kari

Well, so far we have 11 songs in the can. We have only two more to record and then on to mixing. It looks like the CD will be available for sale by the end of May. We are looking towards the end of June for our CD release party.

All of the tracks you hear here on our web site or on our myspace page are rough takes from our recording sessions so far. We sure hope you are enjoying what you are hearing.

Thanks for listening!

Lisa and Kari

Welcome to you all. We are happy to be here on our new web page. Since the sad disbanding of our nearly 5 year run with Meghan Dudle and Liz Draper over this past new year (as ever keep your eyes peeled for these two very talented ladies), we are still hard at work being a musical duo. Currently we are in the recording studio here in Maiden Rock and are very happy to be collaborating with recording engineer Bruce Hecksel at Cricket Studios. We already have 7 songs in the can after two sessions! Our hope is to have this full length CD out and available by early summer. We are planning to call it "Drifting". Stay tuned for details on this as they arise.

We are also currently planning a mini tour to the Eastern Wisconsin area in early June. Check out our calendar dates for more info.

Sign up for our mailing list if you wish to be kept informed and on our monthly notices. Drop us a line, say "Hello". Thanks for all your support. Hope to see you out there!

Lisa and Kari