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Memorial Day is fast upon us, and the virus is now staying back in the corner, so the tunes we have been waiting for are here now more than almost a year ago, and Prescott with Muddy Waters and Scabs Place is leading the resurgence

They are South Of Heaven, (that’s a  good thing), as the heavy metal song says, so Prescott being less than a half-hour’s trip on the flip side of the Hudson-area is helping lead the way for the return of music to the St. Croix River Valley, both Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The biggies are open again, to the cheers of their faithful! The singular strains of Scottie Miller will be at the regionally famed Muddy Waters Saloon in Prescott on Sunday from 3-7 p.m. The bar is known for its music and a promise made by a manager in spring, to begin hosting it again in the early days of summer, was followed. The staff has been working so hard for you, they have been given the next day off.

The continuing music this spring/summer continues at Scabs Place in Prescott with the YaYa Boys, two guys and two guitars, at 4 p.m. on Monday, Memorial Day. It shows off its view of the St. Croix River from the tunes on the deck.

Musicians say it has been hard to get many gigs during the heyday of the virus, but that it would come back if we all bide our time. The rollout of bands playing that also has been prompted by the lifting of all virus-related restrictions on Minnesota bars, has thus far been a marathon, not a sprint. There was not the sharp spike you might see on their volume meter, because booking bands once the state and county announcements were made so quickly does not happen overnight, much like grill and bars that have had trouble finding enough now-more-needed wait staff. Some of these venues, especially to the south end of our coverage area, have had waits of up to an hour to get served, or maybe even get in, during the height of the two-state differential, reps said.

As  related point, First Avenue in Minneapolis is now back with concerts about a year after its shades were shuddered, and the stage of a heavy band were not the only thing blackened. There are Hudson-area bands that also have at times played the adjoining Seventh Street Entry, now also being opened.

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