The story of Burnt Toast & Jam began more than 20 years ago as a group of friends gathered to play music at campfires, in garages and living rooms, on the banks of the Red River and among the tall pines of Northeast Wisconsin. Improvisational jam sessions inspired the creation of “Dewgrass” a genre of music coined by guitar player Tim Balke's daughter Maggie Rayne. As the group's jam sessions evolved, so did the band.

So what is Dewgrass? It’s all those sparkles on the grass when you roll over next to a campfire on a sunny summer morning after dancing at a bluegrass festival all night. It’s the wetness on your feet as you walk to the river and the dampness on your clothes as you throw them to the ground before you dive in. Dewgrass is all of the above complimented with a unique mix of bluegrass, acoustic, newgrass, R&B, folk, jam music and other influences.

Dewgrass is the uncommon sound of band members Kurby Hoffman (banjo/vocals), Tim Balke (guitar/vocals), Pat Rades (guitar/dobro/vocals), and Tod Pubanz (bass/vocals). Each band member provides their own individual influences that create an atmosphere of spontaneous composition on stage.  Burnt Toast & Jam continues to satisfy audiences with this remarkable musical stew at many venues across Wisconsin including several bluegrass festivals.

In 1995 they released their first self titled CD, Burnt Toast and Jam. The CD is rich in musical variety and demonstrates the bands lyrical talent and their ability to inspire the imagination of a large, loyal following of fans. Their second CD "Dewgrass" was released in 1999 and showcases the bands command of their spirited musical form.  2005 saw the emergence of their third CD "Lost in the Woods." The recordings are only a prelude to an energetic and entertaining live performance where audiences never hear the same set twice.

See you at the next show!

Along with a multitude of original material, BT&J has covered these artists over the years: John Hartford, Bob Dylan, Grateful Dead, Loudon Wainwright III, Doc Watson, New Grass Revival, John Prine, Tim O'Brien, Hot Rize, Jimmy Buffett, the Fiction Brothers, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jimmy Cliff, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Cowboy, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, the Cox Family, Jerry Garcia Band, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Jonathan Edwards, Trixie Smith, Old & In The Way, Bruce Cockburn, Dan Fogelberg, John Gorka, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Laurie Lewis, Salamander Crossing, Blue Rodeo, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Lyle Lovett, Steven Fromholz, Dave Habeck, Townes Van Zandt, Rolling Stones, Artie Traum, Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks, Johnny Nash, John Stewart, Nanci Griffith, Phish, Nickel Creek, Willis Alan Ramsey, Rolling Stones, Josh Graves, Johnny Cash, Jon Randall, Willie Nelson, Piper Road Spring Band, Jack Johnson, Sam Bush, Jimmy Martin ....

Burnt Toast & Jam is...

Timothy M. Balke
acoustic & electric guitars

Kurby Hoffman
banjo

Patrick Rades
lap steel, Dobro, acoustic & electric guitars

Tod Pubanz
bass

Sarah Ludeman
rockin' box with spurs