Biography

Country swing, western swing, along with classic country, honky tonk, Rockabilly and fun for all ages!
Western swing is alive & well in the mountains of Montana with the energetic music of Open Range & the Swing Stampede.

Youll hear three-part harmony singing on classic songs such as Faded Love, Dusty Skies, Choo Choo Cha Boogie & many more. Using three part instrumental passages, Open Range brings back the big band feel of horn section parts, played with string instruments, which was one of the many musical signatures of the Bob Wills sound. Their music focuses on songs of the 40s & 50s, along with their own originals. Their newest cd, Swingtime in the Rockies has been receiving international airplay, reaching #2 album, and the #7 song on the Sunset Network Western music charts for western swing.

Instrumentation consists of guitars, non-pedal steel guitar, fiddle, keyboard, accordion, bass, and drums.

Band members are: Ric Steinke, Linda Hausler, Dean Anderson, Nancy Padilla, Ron Schimpf, Michael Blessing

AWARDS: WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION WINNERS, HARMONY SINGING AWARD, AND UNITED COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE COUNCIL MOST DANCEABLE AWARD BEST ORIGINAL NEW DANCE TUNE for Blue and Lonesome. WMA top nominee for Best Western Swing band 2006 and 2005. Top nominee for 2005 Best Western Swing Album with WMA and Academy of Western Artists.

Ric and Linda also perform as a duo "Open Range", and Ric is in his 11th year singing for the Roosevelt cookout in Yellowstone, where he also drives stagecoaches.