What is “The Two Plus Who” ?

The Two Plus Who

Bob Tremblay on dobro

Bob Tremblay on Dobro, at the Commercial Tavern

The brain child of Canadian dobro great, Bob Tremblay, The Two Plus Who is a duo consisting of two versatile musicians, Bob himself, along with his good friend Lynn Russwurm. They make up the musical core “Two” who work with a revolving roster of different artists ~ or “whos” ~ performing live music in Southern Ontario.

For a short program in a small venue there might be a single “who,” like their performance in a seniors home when Lynn’s son Lance Russwurm was featured in my YouTube videos. 
(Find them by clicking Two+Who in the menu at the top of the page.)

If it’s a full scale feature act, The Two Plus Who roster can be filled out with three or more guest “whos” ~ as many artists as are needed to fill the bill.

Lynn Russwurm on acoustic guitar

Lynn Russwurm on acoustic guitar at Leisureworld

In addition to the scheduled “whos,” sometimes a visiting musician in the audience will come up on stage to sing or play a song or two.

For these two veteran musicians, the main thing about The Two Plus Who is performing the music they love. This can range from Country through Western Swing to Bluegrass or Rockabilly, depending on the inclinations of their guest performers.

Bob and Lynn were just interviewed for a feature story which will probably appear in this week’s “Woolwich Observer“. When it comes out, I’ll add the link to the sidebar.

As well as their regular monthly gig at the Top End in Neustadt, the boys are planning to put on a series of fall concerts in Elmira.  Watch this space for details.

To book The Two Plus Who contact Bob Tremblay at (519) 569-8128 or Lynn Russwurm at (519) 669-2386

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Concerts: Gerald Davidson and the Country Versatiles

The Country Versatiles drum kit

August 11th, 2013 was the day Gerald Davidson and the Country Versatiles performed in Lynn Russwurm’s 2013 Summer Concert Series on August 11th, 2013.

Gerald Davidson playing guitar

Gerald Davidson, Lead Guitar

Ashley Giles on fiddleAshley Giles, Fiddle

04_Gerry Felker-8285Gerry Felker, Drums

Gord Ogilvie, Bass Guitar

George Webb, Steel GuitarGord Ogilvie, Bass

 

 

 

 

 

George Webb, Steel Guitar

2013 was the third year of Lynn Russwurm’s Sunday Concert Series in Gore Park, Elmira, Ontario.

The crowd sround the Gazebo where the Country Versatiles perform

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Out of Order

Fixed! You can once again reach Lynn at +1-519-669-2386

Telephone_modele_U43-MGR_Lyon-IMG_9923
If you’ve been trying to get Lynn on the telephone recently, don’t fret, the phone company seems to have crossed the wires.

The phone number Lynn has had for more than 40 years isn’t ringing at home, and although he can call out, no one can call in.  Now that the problem has been identified, the phone company is working to fix it.

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Canada Day Weekend

Rhyme ‘N’ Reason will be performing in Elmira’s Gore Park as this week’s entree in Lynn Russwurm’s Summer Concert Series.

And for once, Sunday’s weather forecast couldn’t be better:
A mix of sun and cloud. Low 13. High 25.

Hope to see you there!

Canadian Flag

Happy Canada Day!

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Ephriam Frey & Olde Tyme Country

Ephriam Frey & Olde Tyme Country
The weather forecast is iffy again, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed that any rain will confine itself to the afternoon, leaving clear skies for Ephriam Frey’s Olde Tyme Country show at Gore Park tonight.

Ephriam FreyHere are some photos from Ephraim’s 2011 appearance in Lynn’s Gore Park Concert Series.Ephriam Frey

Lynn Russwurm on Standup BassLynn Russwurm on Standup Bass

Ephriam Frey & Olde Tyme CountryKubie Kubisheski on Banjo

Ephriam FreyEphriam Frey

Ephriam Frey & Olde Tyme CountryLynn and Ernie Bessey

Lynn's daughter Liana in the audienceLynn’s daughter, Alvinston artist Liana Russwurm, was in the audience that night.Lynn poses with a band memberErnie Bessey and Lynn Russwurm

Ephriam Frey & Olde Tyme Country

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Harold MacIntyre Returns Tonight

On Sunday June 16th, 2013, the third concert in Lynn Russwurm’s Summer Concert Series in Elmira’s Gore Park will feature Harold MacIntyre, pictured here in 2012. Harold MacIntyre in 2012

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First Up: Bluegrass Edition

The audience spreads out around the Gazebo where the band performs

Dog in winter coatIn Southern Ontario the wildly fluctating temperatures ranged from 20.5°C to 5.8°C yesterday. Thunderstorms had been and gone, and the cold rain had stopped by the time the first concert of the season began in Elmira’s Gore Park last night.

It was winter coat weather for the audience attending the first of Lynn Russwurm’s Sunday Concert series. Owen Sound’s Bluegrass Edition put on a great show in spite of the weather, kicking off what looks to be another great Country & Bluegrass series.

Dan Campbell on banjo

Bluegrass Edition: Dan Campbell on Banjo

Guest Lynn Russwurm

Guest Lynn Russwurm

Guest Jill Welsh

Guest Jill Welsh

Bluegrass Edition: Lead Vocals and Guitar by Jeff Plager

Bluegrass Edition: Lead Vocals and Guitar by Jeff Plager

Jill Welsh on Mandolin

Jill Welsh on Mandolin

Stand up bass by Pete Harrison

Bluegrass Edition: Pete Harrison on Stand up Bass

Jeff Plager & Al Widmeyer

Jeff Plager & Al Widmeyer

Dan Campbell & Pete Harrison

Dan Campbell & Pete Harrison

Al Widmeyer playing his Grand Ol Opry guitar at the Gore Park Gazebo

Bluegrass Edition: Al Widmeyer sang and played Guitar… Dobro… and fiddle…

Dan Campbell

Dan Campbell


P.S. Check out the Dan Campbell and Bluegrass Edition Facebook Page!


Image Credits:
Photos by laurelrusswurm licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
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Lynn Russwurm in the Woolwich Observer

There’s a full-page write-up on Lynn Russwurm in this week’s Woolwich Observer:

Country’s musical roots on display for all to hear throughout the summer

by Will Sloan
May 24, 2013

Lynn Russwurm in his office

Lynn Russwurm in his office

Lynn Russwurm plays guitar

Lynn Russwurm plays guitar

Lynn Russwurm in his office

Lynn Russwurm’s office is packed with records and CDs

Lynn Russwurm plays guitar

Lynn Russwurm at work

Lynn Russwurm and his record collection

Lynn Russwurm and some of his record collection

[…] as Lynn Russwurm prepares for another year of his Elmira Showcase Concert series, he entertains the question: “why country and bluegrass?”

“I’ve been in country all my life – I’ve been performing for all my life,” says Russwurm in his Floradale home, a place bursting with CDs, LPs, books, and assorted knickknacks from the past century of popular culture. “Bluegrass is part of country music. Originally there wasn’t a distinction.”

He continues, “It’s an honest music, and bluegrass musicians are some of the greatest musicians who don’t have any training, but they’ve got natural skill. It’s a natural kind of a music – very basic, and complex, too.”

Now in his eighties, Russwurm still recalls falling in love with the sound. “My dad had a pile of 78s and a record player, and I’d play them, and I loved those records.”
[…]
“A lot of the dealers look at what’s coming out of Nashville as garbage. The old music is the music, as far as us old-timers are concerned.”

The Woolwich Observer is sponsoring Lynn’s Summer Showcase Concerts, taking place every Sunday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the bandstand of Elmira’s Gore Park (map)

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Two Plus Who

Lynn and Bob Tremblay have been having so much fun playing a variety of venues in southern Ontario as “The Two Plus Who” that they’ve decided to hang out their own shingle.

The “who” changes from gig to gig, depending on availability, and this time the featured “who” is Lance Russwurm. I managed to record some of the songs the trio performed this week at Leisureworld, and I’ll try to post them to YouTube one per night over the next little while.

This is Merle Haggard’s “Workin’ Man Blues” performed by The Two Plus Who featuring Lance Russwurm.


P.S.
I will be adding more videos over the next few days on the new 2+Who page
(accessible from anywhere in this blog ~ just click the 2+Who tab in the above menu bar)

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Showcase Concert Dates 2013

Phair1_3269The 2013 Showcase Concert lineup has been announced!

Every summer Sunday in Elmira’s Gore Park (map) there’ll be a concert from 7:00pm to 9:00pm hosted by Lynn Russwurm.


2 June: Bluegrass Edition

9 June: Grassland

16 June: Harold MacIntyre

23 June: Ephriam Frey & Olde Tyme Country

30 June: Rhyme ‘N’ Reason

7 July: Randy Morrison & Flatt River

14 July: Rural Appetite

21 July: The Two Plus Who

28 July: Rescue Junction

4 August: Muir Family

11 August: Gerald Davidson & The Country Versatiles

18 August: U-Turn

25 August: Paul Weber

1 September: Grass Tax

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