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Of the good, the bad and the ugly …
— The Wolf River Band is on tap at the Willow River Inn in Burkhardt on Friday, Dec. 14. The band has opened for stars like Loretta Lynn and George Jones, to name a couple, and has been nominated for Native American Music Awards and Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards. They had a No. 1 hit in Europe for their rendition of Honky Tonkin’ by Hank Williams. The band members range in age from the early 20s to the mid 50s, and it shows in the diversity of their song mix, which includes mostly traditional country, fiddle music and ’50s and ’60s rock. The Wolf River Band does songs by Brooks & Dunn, Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson, Box Car Willie and Elvis, to name a few.
— The number of patrons who are again frequenting Guv’s Place in Houlton has picked up tremendously in the last few days, as the Stillwater Bridge has finally been reopened after over two months of repair. The project was completed more than a week earlier than forecast, and it couldn’t come any more soon. Guv’s is celebrating this fact with a bridge reopening party on Friday, Dec. 14, which will feature music by Kyle Kohila with his vigorous finger picking style, and prize giveaways in conjunction with the Boots ‘n Bears campaign, of which Guv’s is one of the places around the area taking the lead. Patrons are asked to donate clean and lightly used or new items — footwear or teddy bears — for children of any age. Big wrapped boxes that look very festive have been set up as collection sites at various venues including Guv’s through the St. Croix County Tavern League, and can be loaded full of gifts through Dec. 17. Guv’s has set up a decorated box that’s five feet high for the collection. The event is co-sponsored by a bar in Baldwin. Guv’s will give you a free
drink on Friday night with donation, and there are $3 Cherry Bomb specials and holiday wrapped mystery prizes.
— The Bad Girlfriends Band will play at Dibbo’s on Saturday night, Dec. 15, with their area-favorite “Girl’s Night Out Party” music, current and classic rock, a little country and all your favorite dance tunes. The musicians are former members of veritable bands Gridlock and The Pearl. Longtime patron Bill, who is in his 50s but known for his devil-may-care approach to trying wacky activities, says the band is simply the Best in the Valley and explains: “First their was Phat Pearl, then the Pearl, and now Bad Girlfriends.” The band actually is made up of equal numbers of men and women, one of whom is noted for picking up a tiny, pulled-in violin for Kashmier by Led Zeppelin. Lead singer Lori is known for really showing her pipes on vocals, and also her bawdy showmanship. (Or is that show-woman-ship?)
— You thought yours was bad? Well show it! (Redux). On Saturday, Dec. 15, Green Mill becomes the second establishment this weekend to host an ugly sweater contest, from opening time at 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., and the winner will get a $40 Green Mill gift card. You need not be present at the time when they make the decision to win — and who would want to be, looking like that! Everyone showing up in an ugly sweater, (management decision is final in what truly qualifies as ugly, although they’ll be pretty liberal), gets a free drink.

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