They are country through and through, and although they may have names like Johnny No Cash, both patrons and club owners hope to “cash in” on their sound this weekend:
— Johnny No Cash started by being an instant hit at fraternal club music halls, and now they bring their honky tonk show to the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt for the first time on Friday night, Nov. 11. Artists well-represented in their sets of Old School, authentic and classic country and western music, will include Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Johnny Horton, Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, Dwight Yoakam, George Jones, Ray Price, Charlie Pride, Waylon & Willie, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride, Hank Thompson and Don Gibson. Members are Les Butch Blake, Rick Jenkins, Don Kaste and Kent L. Kramer.
Johnny No Cash was formed in August, 2014, with the intention of playing one car show. But the four veteran musicians came together for their first rehearsal on bingo night, and the rest as they say is history, with the local VFW filled with more than 30 couples out on the dance floor. At that rehearsal, they were asked to play an outdoor biker benefit, and at the car show a proposal was made to play a wedding. Soon, Johnny No Cash was bringing their honky-tonk sound to Eagles Clubs, Elks and Moose Lodges, VFWs and other types of venues around Minnesota and Wisconsin.
— The Chad Edwards Band band has been around with various forays into music, and the country band now will take their act to Juniors in River Falls on Friday night. A California native, Chad started his music ambitions by learning to play the fiddle at age 10, and made many more landmarks in the next decade. Now back on the area scene is the national recording and touring artist and songwriter. Never to be mainstream, Chad has his own distinct style, with a voice that has been likened to George Strait and a rockin’ show compared to Aldean. As far as Sam De Leon on lead guitar, his true love lies in “real” country like Hank, Roy and Cash, and the rhythm section is known for their iconic ties.
— One of the series of well-attended wine tastings, with six brands to choose from, is at the Bungalow Inn in Lakeland on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 6-8 p.m. While this aspect of the show is sold out, you can still take in throughout the night the strains of another popular local offering, the musical duo of Beebe and Keeley, alternatively munch on some of the upper-end appetizers — and if you like what you see and hear make reservations for the next tasting at about the same time next month, although you’ll have make plans fast, as seats also go fast, servers suggest. The duo dubs their performances as electrified acoustic, with one guitar each, and they say they offer an eclectic spin on standards from several genres (totaling almost a dozen styles).
— This is the ultimate hybrid. Patrons at the Village Inn in North Hudson can be in the midst of entering a drawing to win an either Packer or Viking themed MP3 cooler, which has an oversized capacity and incorporates the wheeled ability to be mobile — making it easier to access your drink — as well as a speaker system for your favorite music that makes it possible to literally blow the doors off your party. (You also, obviously, have the option of toning down the volume and mellowing out with a favorite drink it dispenses).