September 2012

Hey All!

Blues On The Chippewa was a truly great event and huge success. While there is always room for improvement this year’s three night format worked out pretty great! I think the performers had the best time of all! Almost all that I heard and talked to said that they thought this was a really cool festival. They couldn’t believe that admission was essentially free! Many of them were playing the blues fest circuit and almost everywhere the admission is at least $30/day!  We sure have some good things goin on here in the Chippewa Valley, and many are still flying under the radar! Blues On The Chippewa is definitely getting known better outside of here. People are traveling from not just Eau Claire, but all over Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. That’s just some of the folks I met.

By the time this issue hits your local tavern, Tuesday Night Blues will be closing it’s 4th season with Left Wing Bourbon on Aug. 28th. It has been a great year. Though a little warm at times it hasn’t kept the crowds from averaging in the 5-600 people area, and not a rain out all year so far. The TNB fan base is growing all the time and the support and response has been great. I was just commenting to some of the other volunteers the other night how great it feels to have the bands saying what an awesome event we have and thanks so much for including them. Every performer this year has expressed this to us! It really makes all the effort worth while. So I just want to say to all of you that come to Tuesday Night Blues, whether it’s occasionally or every Tuesday, THANK YOU ALL!!! Without you and your positive feedback we wouldn’t be there.

Don’t miss Left Wing Bourbon on August 28th. I know they will give us a performance that will make us all hope the Tuesday after Memorial day comes around again pretty quick.

There are some good things happening real soon.

Sept 2nd, Labor Day Sunday

Pete Neumann & The Real Deal - playing at the Minnesota State Fair 2-6 p.m.

Steve Meyer & True Heat -  Rising Sun Farm in River Falls from 2-5 p.m.

The Blues Jam at Shari’s Chippewa Club in Durand starts at 6 p.m.

Sept 3rd, Labor Day

Pete Neumann & The Real Deal  -  Brady’s Brew House, New Richmond 4-6 p.m.

Sept 15th

Steve Meyer & True Heat -  JJ’s in Hammond  8:30 – midnight

Sept 22nd   This looks really good!

Gypsy Road Saloon is sponsoring the 2nd annual Wilson Fall Music Festival! Satuday September 22, 2012. One Stage, One Day, One Ticket! Eau Claire's own James Solberg featuring Hoopsnakes guitarist Charlie Bingham! Twin Cities Favorite Lamont Cranston with special guest Bruce McCabe! Left Wing Burbon from Durand, WI and Bob Bingham Delta Blues Acoustic! Show starts at 3:00pm. This is a outdoor event with Free Parking, Vendors, Limited Camping, Food and Much More! Advance tickets are $15.00. $20.00 at the door. You may purchase tickets at www.ticketwork.com or call 715-772-4776. Our Website is www.gypsyroadsoon.com. 

Check the Chippewa Valley Blues Society website www.chippewavalleyblues.com/ and/or the Tuesday Night Blues Facebook page www.facebook.com/tnblues for more info. Tune in to WHYS 96.3 Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. for Snapshot’s blues show.

Thanks for lending me an ear! We’ll be seein’ ya around.

August 2012

I really hate writing these wrap ups! It means we are at the end of another season. Hard to believe we have completed four seasons now, of what was originally titled Tuesday Night Blues On The River At Owen Park, but has become more simply Tuesday Night Blues. That amounts to 57 concerts.

We hope the product quality has met your expectations. We believe the format of one band per night gives both the performers and our crowd a better opportunity to enjoy Tuesday Night Blues. If you have any suggestions on what we can do to improve please go to ChippewaValleyBlues.com the Tuesday Night Blues at Owen Park Facebook page to share your ideas with us. Be sure to check out the website to get updates on where your favorite bands are playing, and let them know you saw it at ChippewaValleyBlues.com. Let us know who you definitely want back on the schedule.

Though a little warm at times this year it didn’t keep the crowds from averaging in the 5-600 people area, and not a rain out all year so far, as of this writing. The TNB fan base is growing all the time and the support and response has been great. I was just commenting to some of the other volunteers the other night how great it feels to have the bands saying what an awesome event we have and thanks so much for including them. Every performer this year has expressed this to us! It really makes all the effort worth while.

I think a lot of people, young and old have little understanding of what the blues is. If you are reading this (I’m preaching to the choir), I know you realize that blues is the foundation of most modern music formats and we see that in the performances here. Blues is the basic, but it is incorporated into the rock, funk, jazz, reggae, rap and even country that is eveident in each bands repertoire. Some folks get this right off the bat, many as they and their musical tastes mature, some never get it. I have heard Tuesday Night Blues called “jazz at Owen Park”, and stopped myself from correcting that reference as it was in the context of they were glad to have become aware and were attending with some regularity. The most important part of that is it’s good and I want to hear more of it! I like that. It’s what keeps me working to bring it here.

There will be changes to Owen Park soon. The city and local companies will be removing trees and reclaiming some contaminated soil. I have heard that they are also going to do some brush removal so the Chippewa River is going to be visisble and accessible. From what I have read, the reclamation area is going to be north of the bandshell around the gazebo area and  playground. We don’t believe it should affect our ability to continue Tuesday Night Blues.

Your generosity in giving has helped us to overcome a lack of sponsorships and continue bringing Tuesday Night Blues to you. In addition, we were able to contribute $210 to Feed My People and about $700 to Blues On The Chippewa to help them bring us a wonderful music festival.

Thanks to all of our sponsors, Ken, Dave & Brendan at Coldwell Banker Realty, Mark at Bearpaw Design & Construction, Fairmont Minerals, Vinopal Title, Mike at Speed Of Sound, Kevin Dettmann Carpentry & painting, Mike Kitzman of Associated Bank and Bill at Foster’s Cheese Haus for sponsoring and urge you to use their services when the need or desire arises. Most have links at the website under the sponsor tab. I will add Danno at DMI Sound to that list as, without all he does, Tuesday Night Blues would not be what it is. If interested check sponsor opportunities at TuesdayNightBlues.com.

Thanks to our vendors who help us make such a festive atmosphere every Tuesday Night. Paul & Pam and kids of 9 Degrees Ice Cream; Joel, Nicky & Jo Echo Mi at The Weeney Wagon; Aubrey Hogan & his Summer Snow; Dan & the gang from Dickies Barbecue; Infinitea; and Juanita with all her beautiful creations and additional help behind the scenes.

We are always looking for help and want to let everyone know there are volunteer opportunities, whether it is putting up a couple posters at your grocery and convenience store, or favorite coffee house or just passing out Bluesletters on Tuesday, it all helps.

We, Mary, Debbie, Dean & Cody at the CVBS tent, Don & Buck at the membership table, Santiago as well as Mark (Pres.), Dan, & E.J. with the Bluesletters, Danno, John & I want to express our heartfelt appreciation for all of YOU for being here, for being so loyal and steadfast in attendance and support of all that is Tuesday Night Blues. YOU make this happen! Thank YOU! THANK YOU ALL!!! Without you and your positive feedback we wouldn’t be here.

See ya next year!

May 2012

Have you heard? The Tuesday Night Blues summer schedule is out! Go to ChippewaValleyBlues.com to get the full listing. The Sue Orfield Band will be opening up the 2012 season on May 29th. If you haven’t figured it out, that is the Tuesday after Memorial Day. I’ve heard a rumor that SOB may have a special guest, but then, maybe not, you never can tell. Either way Sue will be wailing that tenor sax like only she can. There’s no doubt why she was named Best Horn by the Washington (state) Blues Society six times in eight years before she moved back to Wisconsin. With one of the tightest bands around, including Mike Schlenker, Randy Sinz & Dave Schrader, these guys & Sue always draw a crowd.

That’s just for openers! Thirteen more Tuesday’s until Labor Day, and every one of them has a great band playing at Tuesday Night Blues on The River at Owen Park in Eau Claire. Music always starts at 6:30. Our food and other vendors will be back so you can get a bite or a beverage at very reasonable prices while catching some superb music under the trees in the summer in the park.

The 2012 schedule for Tuesday Night Blues is complete and we're hoping to see MANY new faces this year and the friendly confines of Owen Park.

May 29 -- The Sue Orfield Band
June 5 -- The Revolvers
June 12 -- Howard 'Guitar' Luedtke & Blue Max
June 19 -- Rhythm Posse
June 26 -- Code Blue
July 3 -- Mojo Lemon
July 10 -- Pete Neuman
July 17 -- The Jones Tones
July 24 -- Steve Meyer with True Heat Band (Ben Harder & Bill Weiss)
July 31 -- Ross William Perry
August 7 -- Charlie Parr
August 14 -- The Pumps
August 21 -- Deep Water Reunion
August 28 -- Left Wing Bourbon

In case of inclement weather, our shows will be at House of Rock, 422 Water Street

Some of your annual favorites are back again, including those perennial contenders for Best Blues Band (Volume One poll), MOJO Lemon, Howard Luedtke w/Blue Max, and Left Wing Bourbon. Code Blue, Pete Neuman & The Real Deal, Code Blue, and The Jones Tones are all back again. Ross William Perry will be returning for a second appearance and a new version of The Pumps will be returning after some time off. That hardworking blues show band Deepwater Reunion will make the trek from all over Wisconsin again.

Charlie Parr will be making his first appearance at TNB this year, bringing his unique guitar and vocal stylings from Lake Superior. If you went down to the House Of Rock last Thanksgiving to catch the Tribute to The Band’s Last Waltz you got a chance to see some awesome musical performances by many of the members of the above mentioned bands. Two new bands that will be performing at Tuesday Night Blues are direct spinoffs from this great production. The guys who portrayed 4 of the 5 members of The Band will be performing as the Rhythm Posse! They will be featuring some special guests as well. The 5th of that core group, along with the musicians that portrayed Eric Clapton & Bob Dylan have formed another talented group currently known as Revolver. These guys can allo really kick out some jams!

We are really excited by this schedule. It is a difficult thing to put together and more than a couple performers are disappointed they aren’t on it. We had over 36 bands/performers request to be on the schedule, and there are only 14 Tuesdays between Memorial and Labor Day. We had requests from all over Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and even Louisiana, New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina. A far cry from when we started this up and were looking for bands to perform. We, here in the Chippewa Valley, are blessed with so many talented musicians, it’s incredible.

For more details and info on other musical happenings around the area go to ChippewaValleyBlues.com and check out the calendar on the home page. If you want us to list your band send us the info at “contact the webmaster. We will decide if it is appropriate for our site.

Catch Snapshot’s blues show every Sunday morning from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. on WHYS local community radio 96.3. If you can’t dial it in, you can stream it on the web at www.whysradio.org

Well, that’s about it for now, thanks for lending me an ear! See ya around!