Catching Up

Time marches on, they say, and with a good drummer, the passage is a pleasure. Words to live by, say I. 

But, try as we may to stay in step as the world turns, we’re only human. Everybody misses a cue now and then. Right? (Mea culpa.)

For example, take ye old McMusical Calendar. New gigs to report and one or two that somehow escaped our earlier attentions. Thus we make amends directly. (Pictured: The 602.)

McMusical Calendar

Saturday, May 28
Birddog Blues Band at Tofflers Pub & Grill, 200 5^th Ave. in New Glarus, WI. Ken “Birddog” Olufs, Mel Ford, Derek Hendrickson, and Tom McCarty. In the back yard from 8 to 11 pm.

Saturday, June 4
Birddog Blues Band at Full Mile Beer Co. & Kitchen, 132 Market St. in Sun Prairie, WI. Beer? Check. Food? Check. Blues? Double-check. What more could you want? 7 to 10 pm

Sunday, June 5
Mel Ford & the Fairlane* Tofflers Pub & Grill, 200 5^th Ave. in New Glarus, WI. Afternoon on the deck. 2:30 to 5 pm.
*(Mel Ford & the Who? Suffice it say that back in the day, ‘round about Y2K, guitar wiz Mel Ford carried around a quartet of sidemen cleverly monikered “The Fairlanes,” bringing Bluesmuzik to the bars, bistros and beer tents of the Midwest. That was then. These days the estimable Mr. Ford pops up on occasion with the last 25 percent of the Fairlanes, bassist Tom McCarty (aka Feral Lane). Hey. They sing. They play. They’re good enough and, gosh-darn-it!, people like ‘em.)

Thursday, June 9
The Sparks Band play hits from the 60s (and immediately adjacent decades) at Vintage Brewing in Sauk City. On the deck (weather permitting) and early (7ish to 9ish). Eat, drink, and watch the Wisconsin river flow.

Thursday, June 16
Birddog Blues Band plays Blues at the Cottage Grove Firemen’s Festival in Cottage Grove, WI. Ken ‘Birddog’ Olufs, Mel Ford, Derek Hendrickson, and Tom McCarty. What time? Ask a fireman.

Friday, June 24
Birddog Blues Band at Tofflers Pub & Grill New Glarus, WI. Evening in the backyard (weather permitting). Ken ‘Birddog’ Olufs, Mel Ford, Derek Hendrickson, and Tom McCarty. 7 to 10

Saturday, June 25
The Sparks Band opens up for WAMI winners Bella Cain at Celebrate Waupun at Tanner Park in Waupun (WI). 4:45 to 6:45 (or so)

Friday, July 1
Birddog Blues Band at Wisconsin Brewing, at 1079 American Parkway, Verona WI. Spacious indoor and outdoor spaces for roaming around or imbibing brews. 6 to 9 pm

Saturday, July 2
Birddog Blues Band at Club LaMark, Madison, WI.

Thursday, July 7
Birddog Blues Band at Lone Girl Brewery, Waunakee, WI. 7 to 9

Friday, July 29
Birddog Blues Band at Tyranena Brewing, Lake Mills, WI. 6 to 9 pm

Saturday, August 6
Birddog Blues Band at Tofflers 8 to 11 pm

Saturday, August 16
Birddog Blues Band among a stellar line-up at the Waukesha Rotary Blues Fest held in Hartland, WI.

Friday, August 19
Birddog Blues Band warms up the stage for some band called The Jimmys at the Mineral Point Blues and Roots Fest. Enjoy the surroundings at “Orchard Lawn” and the grounds of The Gundry House at Church and Pine in historic, picturesque Mineral Point.

Thursday, August 25
Birddog Blues Band at Lone Girl Brewery, Waunakee, WI. 6 to 9 pm

Friday, September 2
Birddog Blues Band at Wisconsin Brewing, 1079 American Parkway, Verona. Spacious spaces for roaming around or imbibing brews. 6 to 9 pm

Check back often and frequently for more updates.