The Blue Sage Trio

The Blue Sage Trio is a high energy acoustic folk trio specializing in
cowboy / western music, bluegrass, and the folk songs of the west.

(click here to go directly to Mike's clawhammer banjo page)

(click here for Mike's new Christmas book for clawhammer banjo!)

The heart and soul of Blue Sage lies within the repertoire of well known folk singer Mike Iverson. Regarded as one of the finest clawhammer style banjo players, Mike also plays guitar, mandolin, and harmonica with the trio.

Playing bass fiddle with the band is Shauna Iverson, a strong player whose driving technique powers the Blue Sage sound. Shauna's personality shines through on stage and audiences find her as much fun to watch as to listen to!

The newest addition the trio is Mike and Shauna's daughter Heather. Heather Iverson is an exciting violinist who specializes in the traditional fiddle music of America and the British Isles. With Heather in the band, we now have the ability to include traditional barn dancing as part of our programs!

Blue Sage had it's beginning over thirty five years ago when, like many teenagers in the seventies, Mike Iverson picked up a guitar and began to learn the songs of his favorite artists. He was soon playing material by such artists as John Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor and the Eagles. To the bewilderment of his friends, Mike also became fascinated with American folk music. At this time he discovered those artists who would most profoundly shape his own music: musicians such as Glen Orlin, Doc Watson, Rosalie Sorrels, Utah Phillips, Bill Staines, Justin Bishop (Horse Sense) and the Deseret String Band. Although Mike thinks of himself as a folk singer, this musical journey also led him to the instrument he is most associated with: the clawhammer style of banjo.

Coming from western stock (both his mother and step father are Wyoming natives), Mike found himself gravitating toward the folk music of the west. While still a teen, he was asked to perform cowboy and Mormon pioneer folk songs at the Festival of the American West. As a testament to how much western folk music means to him, Mike just celebrated his twenty fifth year performing at that festival. The Blue Sage Trio is the culmination of all those years and all those songs! Although he enjoyed (still enjoys) playing in many ensembles, Blue Sage best reflects the music that is closest to Mike's heart.

Blue Sage officially came into existence in 1992. Originally a duo, with Ryan Shupe on fiddle, Blue Sage expanded to a trio when Mike's wife, Shauna, joined the band on upright bass. Rob Ricks eventually replaced Ryan on fiddle. Mike and Shauna's daughter, Heather, took over on fiddle when Rob left the band in 2005.

Blue Sage has been selected for the prestigious Utah Performing Arts tour four times and is currently on their roster for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

Why the Blue Sage name? The band's name came about when Mike combined his two favorite styles of music to form Blue Sage; "Blue" for bluegrass & folk - "Sage" for cowboy & western music!