Donna Ulisse Wraps It Up From Russia With Love!

Donna writes:

Dobroyea utro…..I know I slaughtered the spelling because it’s in Russian and they have a whole different alphabet but it says “good morning” and that will have to do for now because that’s the only greeting I know in Russian and I wanted to open up with some kind of howdy.


The Poor Mountain Boys and I have been far away since last I wrote. It was the most wonderful experience, one that I will not likely get over in my lifetime. Talk about your positive energy….whew!

Bluegrass Ambassadors to Russia – Donna Ulisse and The Poor Mountain Boys!

Bluegrass singer songwriter Donna Ulisse is taking her music and band The Poor Mountain Boys on their first international trip as they departed for Russia on Sunday, July 10, 2011 for four bluegrass festival dates in a country where bluegrass is seldom heard.

Ulisse and her band will be playing the Second Annual Russian Bluegrass Festival at the Kremlin in the city of Vologda on July 12th and in the folk village of Semenkovo on July 13th.

They will then travel to the city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals Region to perform in The Literature Quarters and Historic Square for two festival dates on the 15th and 16th for the first introduction of bluegrass to locals ever in this region.

Donna Ulisse to Tour Russia!

We heard from Donna Ulisse that her band has been invited to go to Russia.

Donna Says:

The tour season for us is fast approaching and we've been adding some really interesting and exciting shows to my schedule. One that I can hardly wait to tell you about is...banjo roll please...we are going to RUSSIA! That's right, the country! We have been invited by the U.S-Russia Bi-Lateral Presidential Commission to perform at the second bluegrass festival in Russia. We will do two days of shows in Vologda and two days in Yekaterinburg as "bluegrass ambassadors" from the United States along with some of the fine Russian bluegrass bands. Here is a copy of the Bluegrass Bugle from the Bi-Lateral Commission that gives you an idea of what our trip will be like. We'll take lots of pictures and try to post on Facebook while we are there. 

Last year Pete and Joan Wernick were the headlining act at the first bluegrass festival in Russia.  Click here to read about their visit last year. 

SEE OTHER VIDEOS FROM THIS FESTIVAL
Pete & Joan Wernick (Dr. & Nurse Banjo) - Spring Break
Pete & Joan Wernick (Dr. & Nurse Banjo) - Leaving Town
Pete Wernick (Dr. Banjo) & Justin Hoffenberg - Fire on the Mountain

Read The Bluegrass Bugle! (PDF - 3.81 MB)