Sawtooth Bluegrass Band at United Methodist Sunday

Published 8:30 am Friday, April 9, 2010

The Sawtooth Bluegrass Band will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday in the social hall at Albert Lea United Methodist Church, 702 Highway 69 S. Supper will follow the program.

Bluegrass music brought two sets of brothers, ages 15 through 19, together about three years ago. Between skiing, fishing, playing video games and traveling together, the boys can be found arranging four-part a capella gospel numbers and writing original songs. While older audiences enjoy their music selection, it’s not to say that the guys aren’t hip; they do enjoy covering the occasional ’70s rock era song.

The group took first place in the 2008 Race for a Place Band Contest. Clint Birtzer is the 2009 Minnesota guitar flatpicking champion and Jesse Moravec and Birtzer placed second in 2008 and third in 2009 in the Minnesota duet championships. The band has perfomed in Branson, Mo., for the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival at Silver Dollar City two years in a row and has played on stage with Garrison Keillor.

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The Sawtooth Bluegrass Band is made of the Moravec Brothers from Rochester — Ethan on bass and harmony vocals and Jesse on mandolin and lead vocals — and the Birtzer brothers from Rosemount — Clint on guitar and lead vocals, Luke on fiddle and harmony vocals, and finally Steve Birtzer, the band’s emcee, on banjo.