There is so much music and other activities in which to partake at the 27th annual Hudson Hot Air Affair, which has as its theme Paint the Sky, there is no way you’ll be painted into a corner when deciding what to do.
The longtime ballooning extravaganza running from Feb. 5-7 also is sponsoring the Taste of Hot Air Affair as a fundraiser. It features a sampling of food and drink, appetizers and desserts. The charitable event will include music by Boondoggle, members of which come from the Roberts area. The five-member country, rock and blues band covers songs from more than 50 years.
The tasting event is set for Saturday from 7:30-10 p.m. in the Chateau Room of the Hudson House Grand Hotel, 1616 Crestview Drive. Proceeds from the Taste, in its fourth year, will go to the Hudson High School Mental Health Program.
Pre-sale tickets can be purchased for $20 (or $25 at the door) at event sponsors Hudson WESTconsin Credit Union, the Hudson House, or Linda White Family Hair Care.
Also as part of the Hot Air Affair, Urban Olive and Vine will again feature a pair of very different bands. Jazz Savvy takes the stage on Friday and the duo of Kiersty and Nathan Santos on Saturday. Both start at 7 p.m.
The Negret winery in downtown Hudson will have a duo of brothers, Matt and Max, playing on Friday and Saturday nights. In sessions at Negret, Matt plays a toned down style that allows people to converse or even read a book, and not be hampered by a loud guitar.
There is deejay dance music downtown at Dick’s Bar and Grill on Friday and Saturday starting at about 10 p.m., which gives a chance to mingle with the pilots, especially after the adjacent Torchlight Parade and following fireworks starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Also, there is karaoke in an intimate setting at the bar at the Plaza Lounge/Hudson Bowling Center on both nights, a venue not far from the Moonglow or Field of Fire that is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Other noteworthy Hot Air Affair events are balloon launches at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and at 3 p.m. on Saturday, all weather permitting, and smoosh boarding at 1 p.m. Saturday. All are at the Rock Elementary School grounds.
The Hot Air Affair has as its corporate sponsor the WESTconsin Credit Union.
Visit www.hudsonhotairaffair.com for more information.
Urban Olive and Garden has some “warmup” gigs for the Hot Air Affair this weekend:
– Yes, some great jazz comes straight outta Iowa. Get your groove on, it’s suggested, as the Bierma duo from there say they will provide lively jazz played from the heart, featuring Nancy on piano and Jim on bass. They are on Friday, Jan. 29, at Urban Olive and Vine.
Nancy Anderson-Bierma is a jazz pianist in Minneapolis. She has played piano since age four and has a degree in music from Drake University in Iowa. Since 1980, she has played professionally with her own jazz groups, as a soloist, and with jazz fusion, R&B and pop bands. She’s performed extensively in the Midwest and made her mark behind the piano. Living in Des Moines, Iowa, for many years, Nancy was a well known jazz musician and organizer of jazz events.
Jim Bierma played with the Irene Myles Trio at the Hotel Savery in Des Moines for 18 years. Some of the musicians that sat in with that trio included Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, New Kids on the Block, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Stewart and Johnny Mathis. Musicians that he plays with in the Twin Cities include Debbie Duncan, Phil Aaron, Charmin Michelle, Ron Lee, Phil Hey, Tom Pletscher and Dennis Spears.
– With a name like Classico Brazil, you know what you are getting. They play at Urban Olive and Vine, with Tony Hauser, Hans Friese and Tim O’Keefe performing Brazilian jazz to kick off your weekend, their online bio suggests, even though in this case, they take the stage on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Classico Brazil performs classics from the vast Brazilian repertoire in a traditional format, typical of the bossa nova and choros era in 1930-1970 in Rio de Janeiro, using guitar and flute, sax and percussion. Such music originates from Baden Powel, Jobim, Pixinguinha, Ernesto Nazareth, Jacob do Bandolim, Tony Hauser, Ary Barroso and Egberto Gismonti.
What follows are two other entertainment choices for this weekend:
– The country, pop and light rock band Still Runnin’ posted 18 new photos on their website, all of them taken at a gig at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Dec. 12, 2015. The shots show plenty of audience members — you might even recognize yourself — but the photo gallery also is pertinent considering lead singer Jenna Reed’s various shades of red-hot auburn hair. There’s a chance for more of this when Still Runnin’ again hits the stage at The Willow on Saturday evening, Jan. 30. The band’s play list has a lot of country, but also ranges deep into the vault to cover groups like Thompson Square.
– Kozy Korner patrons may or may not choose to be left out in the cold (while gaming, or warming up indoors) this weekend, depending on the timing of when their contests come up, as they can compete in an outdoor bean bag tossing tournament.
Saturday afternoon is the third annual Frosty Bags tourney, hosted by Kozy Korner Pub and Restaurant in North Hudson, which also offers hot food when you come in from the outdoor elements. Also set to warm your innards, between games ot tosses, are samplings of a new local liquor, Demon Rum.
The area available for playing is the size of many outdoor ice rinks. However, the south wall of Kozy is right at the sidelines, so it shouldn’t take much time out in the cold to venture over and have some pizza or rum to stay warm. Or debate the merit of gloves vs. no gloves while playing, like an NFL athlete, over some of the beer offered for free. But none of this should put a chill on your competitiveness.
Mild temperatures, in the 30s, are forecast, but there is a chance of precipitation, so you might want to duck inside on occasion for that pizza and beer.
The event, which starts at 1 p.m., is a fundraiser for St. Croix Valley Rotaract. Two-person teams will compete for a guaranteed first-place prize of $200. Entry fee is $20 per person, and the event is only open to those 21 and over with proper identification.
Contact Alicia Schneider for more information at (715) 338-3664, or at alicia@logomos.com.

The Bungalow Inn in Lakeland always kicks off the new year with a series of singing contests dubbed Bungalow Idol, which continue to pick up steam and resume on Friday with the second to last qualifying night, even though the TV show after which it is patterned is having its swan song.
Although it has not been around quite as long as the American Idol series, which is celebrating its final season, Bungalow Idol still can boast a run of several years. With apologies to Jethro Tull, it still hasn’t bungled it in what can be the jungle of karaoke competitions. The train keeps rolling …
Over all that time, there have been scores of musical styles represented, and some of the singers are good enough that they could probably front a band, but they don’t want the hassle of touring. One commentator noted that participation levels were high and that the singers who did best, as numbers were pared down by judges, were those who chose numbers that were more current — though those covering Sinatra always stand out for their quality.
Some of those singers who are longtime karaoke stalwarts have tried for the coveted crown at The Bungalow multiple times, and they say really look forward to the annual January and February event, and talk about it between songs at other karaoke venues when the previous fall rolls around.
This all got rolling at the Bungalow when a longtime karaoke-meister, Lori, was at the helm, having gotten started in singing while a music teacher and building a reputation as a superior songstress. She would take the mic and do an introductory song or two, to warm up the crowd, then might do the same at certain junctures at other points in the night. There since have been other band leaders for Bungalow Idol, such as the current Chad, each bringing their own style and many times prompting people to hit the spacious dance floor. They would also get up and boogie during the competition itself.
This Friday, Jan. 22, and the next are the last nights to qualify for the finals, which will be held Feb. 5. The four qualifying rounds started Jan. 8. All the steps in the competition are held on Fridays, with things getting going about 9:30 p.m. and running until quite late when merited.
For information, call the Bungalow Inn at (651) 436-5005.
– Over decades, Howard “Guitar” Luedtke has built a reputation for what has been called a powerful, muscular blues sound in the electrified Chicago style, with some of the best guitar to be found from a Wisconsinite, as a rare genuine blues man. Indeed, Luedtke really seems to live the blues, not just pump out its tunes. You can judge for yourself this Friday evening when he performs with his band, Blue Max, at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt.
Though his solo shows have a toned-down acoustic essence, Luedtke’s Blue Max performances show high intensity and emotion he says people can feel.
Luedtke has maintained that energy built on bluesy guitar runs, often on slide guitar, over a run of nearly 35 years, most of it with Blue Max.
Though he and wife, as well as longtime bassist, Deb Klossner, have scaled back their number of shows, which have been as high as 150 a year, they still play as much as possible.
Their show usually is a mix of crowd favorites and 1960s-era rock and blues covers, mixed in with a bit of stuff that’s more recent.
– Great liquor is born not made, so if you want some “American Born Moonshine,” you can order it at Dick’s Bar and Grill for a mere $4, but that’s only good for the brand’s “apple pie” version. If just that, could be a lot to serve: I think Mom needs a raise! Be assured that despite the moonshine name, this is legal, as Dick’s has been open for business without interruption since 1860, both before and after prohibition and through all the travails where people have made their own. The fact the business has been around that long is celebrated as one of the things listed on their chalkboard, right alongside a drawing of their llama mascot and motivation for their Lucky Dog brand of house beer, which also has been around for many years. The llama on the drawing appears bug-eyed; I guess you would be too if you had been open for 156 years! And there is another prominent $4 special on tap for this bar that is billed as the oldest in Wisconsin, and lets you “get Surly” in the Badger State. Its Furious brand is now available here, not just in Minnesota, as the chalkboard also says. A like-minded sticker that is attached to the counter at the bar that you can flip up says this: “Arise Surly Nation.” All this could be seen as the reverse of border hopping as it compares to the recent New Glarus debacle, where Twin Cities bar owners came HERE to get Spotted Cow beer, because it isn’t available in the Gopher State. Bartender Matt and I joked about these things being regulated not by the FDA, but the FBA (Food and Beer Administration).

The group called The Strangers, and the various configurations of bands in which they play, is no stranger to the local music scene, and have attracted critical acclaim, all while being stalwarts in Burkhardt.
The Strangers again play the Willow River Saloon on Friday night, Jan. 15. Founding member Steve and well-represented guitarist Rich, have performed together since high school, which is many years, and Steve said their set list is heavy on ’70s classic rock.
Steve also regularly runs sound at The Willow, so he has seen hundreds of bands perform there and knows what acts are the most stellar, and the Strangers and accompanying bandmates are near the top of the list, Steve said. Most of these musicians are local, or at least have strong regional ties. (In his day job, Steve also owns a series of area convenience stores, including the one across the street from The Willow).
He raves about the lead singer, Nikki, in both the Strangers and other area bands, with whom there is some mixing and matching. Included in that realm is the group Nikki & the Ruemates, which includes her beau, that being the aformentioned Rich.
Acoustic country blues is a growing thing in Minnesota, and Nikki pulls off the same re-animation trick for hippie folk-rock, too, having disarming, convincing vocals and being an unguarded, very personal songwriter, which means that by turns, music of her bands is dreamy, sexy, gritty, smooth and always intimate, wrote reviewer Tom Surowicz in the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune, about the Ruemates in particular. Nikki also is said to have a piercing but sweet, achy warble in her voice that makes her perfect for her genres. And she too can play a killer guitar, and has been compared to Memphis Minnie and Iris DeMent in her originals.
Also looking back, Nikki was a finalist on the annual “A Prairie Home Companion” talent contest at the age of 16. In that moment, she was said to sing like it’s 1967 and she’s auditioning for Elektra Records.
In more than one band, Rich plays a lot of resophonic guitar, as well, and has been reviewed as raising up the Muddy Waters and Blind Willie McTell covers from being more than mere coffeehouse workouts.
“In a music industry where most artists seem to take yesterday’s remix as a starting point, it’s refreshing to hear music that has the nerve to dig a little deeper and look a little further back,” wrote Youa Vang in the Twin Cities City Pages about the Ruemates.
Also added to the Strangers mix, on bass and keyboards, and — you guessed it — also on guitar is Dan, who is described by Steve as being a quick study who can pick up fast on how to play a song, even if he does not know it well. Such was the case recently when a patron made a request for Desparado by the Eagles.
– For something on the other end of the area, at Shiner’s in Lakeland, you can find some targeted specials that are set apart by the fact they are offered all day and night, every day. You know the direction this is taking when seeing a sign on the back wall at the edge of the bar rail that says, “Combat veterans parking only, all others will be deployed.” Under this heading, “Local hero,” such veterans, and EMS, fire and law enforcement personnel, and school teachers, get 20 percent off. (To elaborate on what the signs say at Shiner’s, that’s 10 percent on food and 10 percent on liquor). They might have to show some ID, but hey, flipping out your badge is not hard to do. Another special is 10 percent off for people coming from the St. Mary’s Point skating club and showing one of their jerseys or jackets — whether hungry after attending a kid’s practice or getting together after a game, your choice.
– And across the St. Croix River at Pudge’s, the pour-it-from-a-hopper tradition continues, this time with four Wisconsin craft brews, these being fairly well-known, not the kinda obscure kind. Your $20 gets you 96 ounces of Wisconsin beer that goes well beyond Miller.

From acoustic at Afton Alps and other attractions, to breakfast appetizers, you can hit a diverse series of events in the coming days.
– A local man recently hitting the music scene, and forming an acoustic duo with his female counterpart, says his goal for the winter season is to play about one gig a week — at different venues, for the sake of variety. With that in mind, Garret will play Afton Alps this coming Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at Paul’s Pub, the main stage area for that ski-based attraction, then follow up with performances around the area, including River Falls. He adds that because of a change in policy, patrons do not have to pay a cover to get in and watch the band, like if they were to be using the ski hill.
– This new year’s holiday, and post-holiday season, is all about you and your honey celebrating edibles such as entrees and appetizers in twos, which is why breakfast offered at the Willow River Saloon/Carbone’s in Burkhardt is so applicable. You can get two eggs, two slices of bacon, two sausage links and hash browns for $2 on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon, not to mention their daily specials, which include the 2 for Tuesdays, namely two pizza sandwiches for $8, two small pizzas for $16, two medium pizzas for $18 and two large pizzas for $20, all pizzas being one topping. (All these references to “two” made me consider substituting the words “couple of,” but you get the drift.) On the flip side, eggs withstanding, the counterpoint this weekend at night is the music of Full Tilt on Friday, Jan. 8, and Fiddlin’ Johnnie on Saturday, Jan. 9.
– And there is more at The Willow this weekend, sandwiched between the times when the two bands play, that being an benefit event that’s noteworthy on many fronts. It runs Saturday from 3-6 p.m. and is for Mike Miller, the long-time sexton at Willow River Cemetery who is father to nine children in a blended family, (his wife’s mother died last fall to increase the loss), and also is a long-running member of the North Hudson Pepper Festival community. It is a group from their board that set up the event, which features a silent auction and, of course, a spaghetti and pizza dinner for $10 a person to aid the cause. Miller, who hopes to be well enough to attend, for a long time has battled myriad medical conditions, one of which would lead to another, as what could go wrong would. The problems started with gastrointestinal woes that were a combination of colitus and a nasty infection called C-Diff.
– On a lighter note, this Sunday is the back-to-back playoff times for the Vikings and Packers, starting at noon. While many a venue is offering specials, Pudge’s hopes to take advantage of their position of first bar over the border by already advertising its drink specials on a marquee outside on Thursday.