September 16, 2015 at 2:44 p.m.
Steve Foltz returns home to perform with Trout Steak Revival at Nicolet College
Steve Foltz returns home to perform with Trout Steak Revival at Nicolet College
Foltz and his buddy D.J. Burdick entered the talent show at James Williams Middle School in Rhinelander. The 13-year-olds jammed on a medley of heavy metal cover tunes.
"It was pretty funny," Foltz said, fondly looking back. "We had another friend of ours running on stage to turn a strobe light on and off. We had a great time."
Let's just say his talents have grown considerably since his public musical debut 20 years ago.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, Foltz will again take to the stage in Rhinelander, this time at Nicolet College with the fast-rising Trout Steak Revival, which is gaining national fame for its original bluegrass-inspired mountain music.
"I love the Northwoods and can't wait to get back to home," Foltz said during a phone interview from his current home in Colorado. "Rhinelander was a great place to grow up. I'm very happy and feel very lucky to come back as a professional musician."
Trout Steak's big break came in 2014 when it won top honors at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival, an event the band had played at since 2008 and which commonly attracts dozens of top bluegrass acts from across the country.
"That changed everything for us," said Foltz, a Class of 2000 Rhinelander High School graduate. "It was like climbing up from the bottom of a valley and looking out from the top of a mountain. All of our hard work had paid off."
The new level of national attention inspired the five band members to take on a higher level of commitment and work even harder.
Long known for writing their own original songs, "Telluride motivated us to write even more," he said. "We're also working on our four- and five-part harmony singing to expand our sound. It's important to all of us to always grow and improve as a band."
So what can one expect to experience at a Trout Steak show?
Foltz readily admits he's biased. "I like to think our shows are a great time. We have lots of fun playing and hope that comes through and translates into the audience having a lot of fun as well."
Foltz and the rest of Trout Steak Revival will take to the Nicolet College Theatre stage at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at nicoletlive.com or by calling (715) 365-4646.
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