If you go to River Falls Days this weekend, you can check out Johnnie’s Bar on Main Street for a triple-header of music, with tried and true local favorites that also have the talent to branch out regionally with their performances. There will be music at Johnnie’s each night of River Falls Days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Bands start at 8 p.m. each time.
Chimney Fish 5th Swipe is on Thursday, Old School on Friday and the acoustic sounds of Dave Snyder on Saturday.
Chimney Fish is said to sound like Shawn Mullins, Flogging Molly and Bryan Adams, and they also have original tunes. My favorite that I’ve heard them play live locally, with vigorous audience response, is Ode An Jagermeister, a parody that has humorous references to all things Wisconsin.
Snyder’s play list spans an impressive 500-plus songs that stem from Americana, country, a little rock mixed in and Red Dirt country. He is a breath of fresh air, the likes of which you seldom find, and you’re know your hearing something different at his performances. Not to mention that he sounds a bit like the Mavericks.
Sandwiched between is a return to straight-forward rock and pop with Old School.
Friday’s headliner for River Falls Days is Uncle Chunk, which redefines what it means to be a cover band, churning out hit after hit. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. at the Heritage Park lot. There is no cover charge.
Come back to that place on Saturday for Rural Route 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Lost Highway at 10 p.m. Rural Route 5 is an up and coming country band from New Richmond, which is billed as an act that will get your boots stomping and have you singing along to tunes done by Reba, Jason Aldean and everything in between. Lost Highway was formed in 2009 and is described as one of the Upper Midwest’s top country groups that gives out electrifying performances. Fees for Saturday are $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Also on Saturday, at 3 p.m., are local favorites Tin Pan Alley Cats performing their classical strains.
The Westwind Supper Club has bands as well. On Friday night, its the Whiteside Walls, billed as the Upper Midwest’s premier doo-wop, rockabilly and old time rock ‘n roll band. On Saturay night, it’s Still Runnin’ formerly known as Stampede, which features some of the best rock and country music around. Both concerts are free.