Performance Sept. 27 at Nicolet College Theater 

The award-winning mountain bluegrass band Trout Steak Revival will return to the Nicolet College stage for a performance Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m.

Based in Colorado, the string band won the 41st Telluride Bluegrass Competition in 2014 and received an Emmy Award for its soundtrack for a Rocky Mountain PBS program.

Band member and Rhinelander native Steve Foltz will perform with the band as part of the Nicolet Live! Concert Series.

The veteran group has played everything from clubs to mountain festivals. With expressive songwriting and heartfelt harmonies, Trout Steak Revival blends the sounds of folk, indie, bluegrass, and roots evoking its own style of Americana and gathering an enthusiastic fan base. Recently named Denver’s Best Bluegrass Band, the group was also nominated as a Momentum Band of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

During a recent interview, Foltz reflected both on the band’s widening success and the ties to northern Wisconsin. As an acoustic band, he said, they seek the best tone from each of their instruments to maximize their sound. He went on to tell a story of shopping for a mandolin while in Nashville.

After trying several different instruments made by national and international mandolin makers, he narrowed his search to two. Foltz was surprised to find the mandolin he chose was made in his hometown.

“One mandolin was an Elkhorn built in Durango, Colorado. The other was a Stanley and I loved the tone. I asked the guy in the shop, ‘where is the Stanley from?’ He said it was from Rhinelander, Wisconsin.” It turns out the mandolin was made by fellow Hodag Chris Stanley.

Its rich tone will be on display at the September concert.

The five-piece band also includes Kenosha native Casey Houlihan on string bass, Bevin Foley on fiddle, Will Koster on dobro and guitar, and Travis McNamara on banjo.  More information about Trout Steak Revival is available at troutsteak.com

Beer, wine, and other refreshments will be available prior to and during the performance. Tickets are $15 and can be ordered online at nicoletlive.com or by calling (715-365-4646.