Here’s to doubling your pleasure and more. Kozy Korner in North Hudson is again celebrating its anniversary of opening that took place several years back, and the pizzaria, restaurant and sports bar is offering not one but two music acts. And on the tournament end, there are also bean bags as well as bands.
The sign at Kozy says this about timing of it all, which goes on virtually all day Saturday, July 18: “Beanbags start 1. Garret sings 4. Donovan sings 7.” And beers and other things to your taste until 2:30.
The music acts might be considered the dynamic duo, as they reportedly sing a lot of the same songs, in much the same style. Garret, for example, as a solo act is known for his voice, backed by guitar, that careens widely up, down and around but is never quite out of control; dare I make a comparison to Robert Plant?
Donovan hails from Stillwater, and has forsaken the Logjam mega-fest that is there this weekend to be with, and play for, the Nelson clan at Kozy that he knows well.

It’s a sweetheart of a deal; two summer Somerset-area festivals, mostly music but also maxing out on muscle, and singer Amanda back at a place close to her, as Huey Lewis would sing, heart and soul:
— I must reference again, three hearts for a sweetheart! Jawsy featuring lead singer Amanda will be back at the nightclub where she formerly bartended and sang, Dick’s Bar and Grill, on Friday evening, July 17, starting around 6. A chalkboard sign at Dick’s announcing the gig had a trio of Valentines-style hearts colored around her name.
— There are two large-scale events in the Somerset area all this weekend. One is the Sonshine festival, which features all forms of Christian music. The Somerset mega-music-marathons follow in the footsteps of OzzFest, which attracted as many as 40,000 fans and you might be surprised to know gave strong credence to secular bands that are unusually spiritual, especially on its main stage. Sonshine’s main headliner, Skillet, follows to a great degree in that metal tradition. Like most previous festivals, Sonshine also will have multiple stages, each devoted to a particular genre largely defined by instrumental style.
The fest starts in earnest on Thursday and runs until late-night all weekend at the Somerset Amphitheater, which is known for its music friendly bowl shape that works well with all those stages on the east side.
— Also expected to draw many thousands of spectators is the nearby Tough Mudder competition, part of a national circuit whose miles of obstacle courses, for an example, are even much more intricate then some of those old school metal concert stages (am I sensing a trend?) These extreme athletes will hit the Game Unlimited Hunting Club just east of Hudson along County E for most of the day Saturday and Sunday, and fans should get there bright and early, since upwards of 15,000 are expected at the 900-acre club. Officials say the event brings in between $2-10 million to the local economy, and this would buy a lot of celebratory victory beers at local establishments. See websites for details on both these events.

They’ll roll out the rock and country at River Falls Days, taking the name “Viva La Kinni,” from July 10-12.

Sushi Roll plays on Friday from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Formed in 2012, the band quickly perfected their own blend of high-energy dance music and rock n’ roll swagger, their bio says. They seamlessly transition between revved-up versions of pop and rock hits by artists like Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, AC/DC, P!nk, Madonna and the Jackson 5, connecting them into a non-stop musical journey.
Country bands Rural Route 5 and Lost Highway perform on Saturday, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., respectively.
Rural Route 5 is known for the clarity of their country sound, even though its loud like rock n’ roll, and for doing two-part harmonies to songs where you normally don’t hear it. This band is up-and-coming even though made up almost entirely of youngsters. They hail from New Richmond and will have you stomping your boots and singing along to Reba, Jason Aldean and everything in-between.
Since their inception in 2009, Lost Highway has proven to be one of the Upper Midwest’s top country bands. Their commitment to the genre and to electrifying crowds is evident every time they hit the stage, their bio says.
Opening the show on Saturday, at Veteran’s Park from 3-5 p.m., are the rockers that get a lot of local gigs, Trouble Maker, and feature “extreme variety music” across various genres and a regularly changing set list.
The first three bands are at the Heritage Park lot, in the main stage tent, and cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12, with gate fees starting at 6:30 p.m.
Also musically on Friday is a supervised deejay teen dance, from 9-11 p.m. at the City Hall plaza, hosted by Showtime Entertainment, which includes contests and a variety of DJ flair.
Rounding out the weekend’s bill, the Martell All Stars, consisting of a slate of guitarists and singers, takes the main stage from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Park.
There is other music at downtown bars, and the most original is at Bo’s n’ Mine on Saturday night, the seven-piece band License to Thrill, which is described as a performance dance band that is “witty and cleancut” and has more Green Day on its play list than any other cover. On Friday night at Bo’s, it’s the country sounds of Farmer’s Daughter.
Johnnie’s Bar has three popular bands, Chimney Fish on Thursday, Old School on Friday and the Rhythm Roosters on Saturday. At Maverick’s on Friday is Mitch Gordon and the Unleaded Band, and on Saturday is DJ Tyco. Shooter’s on Friday features a return engagement of the Bad Habits Brass. All are evening performances.
Rural Route 5 also can be seen under the tent by West Wind Supper Club on Friday, and Still Runnin’ on Saturday. Both shows start at 8:30 p.m.
There also is a variety of other entertainment all weekend long at River Falls Days. For information, see their Facebook page.

Just in case you needed another Booster Days band primer, and you might need a reminder to keep things straight, considering there are, count ’em, nine bands at the annual festival playing from July 2-4 at Lakefront Park. Here goes:
— On Thursday, it’s the internationally prominent guitar wizardry of one-man-band Jeff Loven from 5:30-8:15 p.m.; and a late-teen country phenom from Minneapolis, Devon Worley, from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
— Friday brings more of the rock sound with Alive, a complete-list Pearl Jam tribute band, playing from 3:30-6 p.m.; the heavy strains from the ’80s and other periods of Rock Brigade from 6:30-8:30 p.m.; and the locally-popular Arch Allies as a tribute band to Styx, Journey and REO Speedwagon from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Opening on Friday is 23rd Hour, a female duo that says they like to go beyond the constraints of a full band, from 1-3 p.m.
— On Saturday, it’s a bit more diverse, with the cranked up, Texas blues of Armadillo Jump from 1:30-4:30 p.m.; the horn-section driven Ponzi Scheme from 5:15-8:15 p.m.; and the popular rock, pop and country of top cover band Uncle Chunk from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Sponsors include the Hudson Boosters (two bands), Uncle Mike’s Em Pour E-Yum, Luther Hudson Chevrolet GMC (one of the headliner bands), Chad Carlson as a financial representative, Hudson Ford (a headliner), Pita Pit, Family Fresh Market, and Croix Gear and Machining (a headliner). There is no cover charge for any of the bands, including headliners.

— As an added accoutrement, there is all-out acoustic music starting with “August” at Mallard’s in Bayport this Fourth of July weekend.Things started with a well-attended contemporary acoustic show by August Blues on Friday, followed by a band doing a similar style, Joel Katchel, on Saturday and the interactive acoustic performance by Riverside, Dave Burkhart on Sunday. The shows typically start at 7 p.m.

You can go fast, or just bop and fiddle around with entertainment offerings on this weekend before the Fourth:
— Clubs that are just opening or have recently opened can opt to open with events particular to them, in Saturday’s case the E-Rat-Icate Cancer Cruise, which starts at Not Justa Bar in Bayport and travels throughout the day through the scenic St. Croix and Mississippi River Valleys, down to Wabasha, Minn. and back. The event, which benefits the fight against adult and childhood cancer, has among its more than a dozen regional co-sponsors the just opening Big Guys BBQ Roadhouse north of Hudson. The cruise honors the lives of former Valley residents Donald Johnson and Mike Quast. At 8 a.m. is registration and breakfast at Not Justa Bar, followed by the cruise itself — which can include rat rods, hot rods, bikes, classics and customs — at 10 a.m.
— The Tin Pan Alley Cats, founded by Doug Johnson who is a professor emeritus of art at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, plays 8 p.m. to closing on Friday, June 26 at Juniors in River Falls. The group offers “swinging jazz music from western Wisconsin” that includes trumpet and tenor sax, as well as the styles of Bossa, blues and be-bop.
— Even though this is not a county fair or street dance, which the country-leaning band Smokescreen says are their favorite venue types, they will be bringing the “fiddle into overdrive” when they play the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night. And that fiddle-playin’ band is more than just tapping into Charlie Daniels, based on their play list, they may even kick it with some Metallica!

Hudson Booster Days gets a real lift from the nine diverse bands that play the annual festival, from July 2-4 at the Lakefront Park band shell.
On Thursday, it’s the guitar wizardry of One-Man-Band Jeff Loven from 5:30-8:15 p.m., and teen country phenom Devon Worley from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. There is no cover charge.
Friday brings more of the old school ’80s rock with Arena playing from 3:30-6 p.m., Rock Brigade from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Arch Allies, a Styx, Journey and REO Speedwagon tribute band from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Opening up on Friday is 23rd Hour, a female duo, from 1-3 p.m. Again, there is no cover charge.
On Saturday, it’s more diverse, with country rock group Armadillo Jump from 1:30-4:30 p.m., Ponzi Scheme from 5:15-8:15 p.m., and popular mainstream rockers Uncle Chunk from 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

Often a Bloody Mary can be just the ticket for selling out:
— Sometimes a ten-spot will get you a lot. The new “fully loaded” Bloody Mary at Woody’s in Bayport comes with a complete-with-toppings burger attached to the top of the glass, along with all the usual enhancements, all for $10. Included is a tall glass of Miller Lite as a chaser. One would think that is ironic, a lite beer combined with a drink having enough carbs to allow you to die happy.
— Perhaps the signature blues act for the summer at Bayport BBQ, the Reverend Dead-eye, drew a full and appreciative crowd to its intimate setting for a special Tuesday evening show. But there are many other shows each week to be attended at The BBQ, which is a self-described deep blues juke joint, for the rest of the summer, so you don’t have to sing the blues if you couldn’t squeeze into that performance. A caution, though: The place can sell-out.
— On that note, a return engagement of Sell Out Stereo at the Smilin’ Moose featured some spirited percussion on Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran, and some stellar work on the fast-paced vocals on Walk This Way and Funky Cold Medina. See them again soon.
— Mystic Funk, which plays at the Village Inn in North Hudson on Saturday, June 20, says it taps into six or seven styles of music, “plus a splash of other genres.” (If you consider “groove” a genre). They perform “old school dance party music,” (now that sounds like a genre). Oh yeah, there are current hits played, as well.

The music to be found in the area this weekend is “Purdy” special, (and now truly funky).

— Guitarist Dave Purdy for the classic rock band Bullseye, which was initially scheduled to play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Saturday, June 13, was written up in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and according to his bio was even briefly with Hammond’s Rokker Chic. The band’s drummer has for many years toured in a five-state area, and has shared the stage with members of bands that have provided instrumental for some big names. But these long established players aren’t geezers, they also delve into some of the newest of music. (Editor’s note: Due to a late rescheduling, the band that will play Willow River Saloon on Saturday has been changed to Funkwire, a soul revue out of the Twin Cities. If you want to see Bullseye, you’ll have to wait a bit).
— The Erin Lee and Elijah Adam Band, which plays Shooter’s Pub in River Falls on Friday night, June 12, is called online a “Blazing Infusion of Rock, Groove, Country & Power Rockin’ Blues!”
And they’ve been linked in concert billings to dozens of top national acts.
The band has been well-established in the Upper Midwest for ten-plus years, and its size and instrumentation is modified to match the entertainment needs of the venue. The group has performed “Along Side Of,” “Opened Up,” or “Concert Events,” with and for acts such as — take a breath — Buddy Guy, Jeff Healey, 38 Special, Night Ranger, Black Oak Arkansas, C.C.R. (Revisited), The Little River Band, Dierks Bentley, Dwight Yoakam, Sara Evans, Josh Thompson, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Stone Temple Pilots, Eddie Money, Great White, Candlebox, Burton Cummings, Paul Rodgers, KISS, Poison, Heart, Alice Cooper, The Doobie Brothers, Ted Nugent, The Outlaws, Steve Miller, The Guess Who and The Coasters.
“They sound like a melting pot of all the excellent groups you love with a blistering horn section and phenomenal score of originals and covers,” the band’s web site says. “E.E.B. also features several extremely talented up and coming artists.”
— The flyer at Dick’s Bar and Grill says it will have live music on Fridays (plural). So the performance on June 12 will not be a one-time thing. The venue has started its summer music schedule, which in past years has been on Wednesdays, with shows that will be each Friday, not just selected dates. The first one from 6-9 p.m. on June 12 will be by Jambo Jones, whose trop rock is the perfect way to kick off a summer, (Jambo will also be at Shiner’s in Lakeland on Thursday, also starting at 6 p.m.) Also announced at Dick’s are the TC Cats on June 19 and July 3, and the Ella and Wade duo on June 26. Speaking of return engagements, Ella and Wade also will make their regular monthly appearance at Guv’s this weekend.

This weekend at Dick’s Bar and Grill, there are events for every Tom, Dick and Harry, (those being three people and there are a total of three special offerings).
— Mixing paint and potions might just be the thing. The Art and Elixir event is painting for beginners, which is set to a musical backdrop and accompanied by food and drink, from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 at Dick’s. Participants can choose their own design. Fee is $40, and for information or a late signup call (612) 998-9941.
— The latest Obey Clothing Company sale, which in this case will specialize in summer-type clothing, is at Dick’s on Sunday, June 7 from noon to 5 p.m. In this case, too, the flyer there has artwork of a skull — complete with spiked Mohawk — alongside the written copy that lists various categories of decidedly cool people who might benefit from such a clothing line. The event is cash only, and everything must go. All the clothes have the brand new with tags that label them as Obey gear.
— Between those two events at Dick’s is yet another, on Friday from 6-9 p.m., the band Dog Leg Left, whose music is definitely not for old duffers. It is atypical, sounding like My Morning Jacket, Pavement, Modest Mouse, the Jayhawks and even Dinosaur Jr. The resemblance to the Jayhawks is fitting, as the group has toured the country for a decade, but now has returned to their old stomping grounds, the St. Paul area.

With summer now here, there is the Man of the Year, and bands to also hear.
— The North Hudson Man of the Year did not quite end up being a woman. The new guy on the NH block to be given that annual honor is Dan Klatt, besting a lass named Amy Beth. As the sign said at Kozy Korner, the North Hudson pizza restaurant and bar that spearheads the contest, Klatt as Man of the Year is definitely not sheepish. It had said last Saturday in announcing the upcoming finals, that people could attend and “see history being made.” That history almost had them rethinking whether the contest would have to be renamed “person” of the year, as although Dan got over 900 votes from patrons, Amy Beth received only 130 less, which would have made her a winner in four of the past five years. And although that end of it is all in good fun, what is more important is that the whole effort raised $3,000 for a vital local charitable cause, victims of a house fire in North Hudson.
— It’s now officially summertime, and the livin’ is easy, and the bands are playing and often free! Leading off is Practical Goods, the duo of local couple Eric and Sarah VanValkenburg, at Dick’s Bar and Grill from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, May 29. These days it is especially hard to pigeonhole bands, although people keep trying, and the VanValkenburgs apparently have heard it. They say online that they play various styles, are heavy on folk, “and I guess Americana?”
— The flyer for Practical Goods on display at Dick’s shows two publicity photos on different ends of the spectrum. One appears to be at the aviation-themed Hangar Taproom at American Sky Brewery, and the other at a regional bistro. There are many other photos online, and that’s the case also for a band that begins playing on Friday about the time Practical Goods stops, that being the aptly named Almost Famous at Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt. To give an idea of what can be heard, there are three of their full video clips to be seen on YouTube, again at opposite ends of the spectrum — Gimme Three steps, Purple Rain and Machine Gun Kelly.