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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.