Sunday, November 26, 2017

December! Big Wes Back!



Only FIVE MORE SHOPPING DAYS until...
Big Wes Turner’s Trio at Cash’s Old Smokey in Monroe! The Trio gets back in the groove with number-one guitar player Gary Hendrickson. Pull up a barstool and sit down in the colorful county seat of Green County, Wisconsin. Saturday, December 1.  8 to 11 pm.

(Psst. If you’re wondering what Big Wes would want for Christmas, we can only recommend that you think small (a card in an envelope would be about the right size), because the Big One’s whereabouts are always hard to pin down and his forwarding addresses are forever flung further afield. The Universal Gift card (aka CASH) works well and we have ways to make sure it gets where it needs to. Trust us.)

Big Wes Turner’s Trio has one more date this month, Saturday, December 30, at Tyranena Brewing Company in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Tom and Rick will be joined by Grammy-winning guitarist Billy Flynn for the eve of New Year’s Eve and an extravaganza of musical fun and games. Have we mentioned the beer? Bring your growler.
7 to 10 pm.

Other stuff in December?



















Wednesday, December 13, The Sparks Band revs up the retro for the early evening eaters, drinkers, enthusiasts of televised sports, music listeners, and DANCERS at Me & Julio (Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg). Enjoy swinging 60s sounds at this revitalized suburban bistro.
6 to 9 pm.

On Friday, December 15, the very same Sparks Band convenes in the cozy confines of Chief’s Bar & Grill on Cottage Grove Road. Great staff, great tap selections, and Buck’s Pizza delivered from right across the road.
From 6:30 to 10 pm.

The next night, Saturday December 16, Big Wes bassist Tom gets down with the authentic Chicago sound of The Cashbox Kings in the friendly confines of the Tyranena tasting room. Chicago Blues and Wisconsin’s BEST beers, make it worth trippin’ out to Lake Mills.
7 to 10 pm.

On Friday, December 23, The Sparks Band rides again at The Hody Bar & Grill in Middleton.
Dancers welcome. 9 pm to late.

And on New Years Eve, come down to The Knuckledown Saloon to kill the old year and ring in the new with Chicago Blues band extraordinaire, The Cashbox Kings.
9 pm to next year.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Name This Post

Waupaca’s chain of lakes is mighty pretty country. (MIGHTY pretty.) And no less so after the lakes start freezing over. The Wheelhouse is where Waupacans go for fine food and drink (including a full on-tap array of Central Waters beers), and deckside checking up on lake conditions. And when winter starts rolling in? Wednesdays with Wags begins. 

First-call drummer Tony Wagner hosts an every-other Wednesday gathering of various Wisconsin musical stars and stalwarts. Show up for the first show of the season, November 8, and find out what happens when you throw together Tony and wizened Big Wes Turner’s bass player Tom McCarty with blues guitar threat Alex Wilson (see pic) and saxophone dynamo Stephen Cooper (of WiFEE and the HUZzBAND). Music from 7:30 to 10 pm.


The following week finds the aforementioned McCarty bass-fiddling around with singer and songwriter Paul Otteson’s “chamber folk ensemble” Faux Fawn. They’ll be on a triple bill with the Nick Brown Duo and Luke Arvid and band at Madison’s own High NoonSaloon. That’s Thursday, November 16. Show starts at 9 pm.

The very next night (on Friday, November 17) Faux Fawn ventures up to Driftless Books in Viroqua to open up for Society of Broken Souls. The slightly scaled back version of the band will barely miss missing bassist Tom who will be stuck back in Madison getting all bluesy with Chicago’s own Cash Box Kings as they raise the roof at The Knuckle Down Saloon. 9 pm to close.

Then, on Wednesday, November 22, The Birddog Blues Band participates in the pre-Thanksgiving customer-appreciation celebration at Tofflers Bar & Grill. Mel Ford on guitar, Tom McCarty on bass, Derek Hendrickson on drums, and (of course) Ken “Birddog” Olufs on the mighty Hohner mouth harps. 8 pm in New Glarus, Wisconsin, Baby!

Not long after the stuffing has settled and the last turkey sandwich has been mayonaissed (sic?), Big Wes Turner’s Trio will be giving thanks that number-one guitar player Gary Hendrickson is back and grooving with the band at Cash’s Old Smokey in Monroe, Wisconsin. That’s Friday, December 1. 8 to 11 pm.
 
Check back soon for the full December calendar of McMusical events.