Go fishing in the dark with a farmer’s daughter, or take in a fabulous festival:
— A fishing tournament on the St. Croix River with some different twists will be sponsored by Dick’s Bar and Grill on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you might not want to dance too long to the deejay the night before. In this catch and release tourney, you must be wearing your T-shirt and be photographed with the fish for prizes that go beyond the biggest three. Other prizes are for the most rough fish, most unusual catch and smallest catch. You can stake out your favorite spot on the river; no boat is needed. Prizes will be awarded at Dick’s at 6 p.m. There is a $20 entry fee, which includes raffle ticket.
— The Farmer’s Daughters, billed as Minnesota’s premier band that’s fronted by two women, will play the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday night, following up on playing a variety of venues around the area for several years. Both women doing country songs have similarly styled long locks, and each are pictured prominently with microphone in hand on an online site, which promises that you’ll fall in love with the lasses when taking in their performance at “your favorite honky-tonk.”
— A Hudson Hometown Music Festival of family friendly fare, sponsored by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, has an old favorite with her new band in a headliner role. That would be Trandy Blue and the Crew, as perhaps the most locally recognizable of several acts, with a mixed genre of music, at the fest, which will be held Saturday from noon to 9:30 p.m. Also, hailing from a bit outside the immediate area, New Richmond, is Ten Mile Creek, which will crank out diverse hits of almost all standard genres, as well.
— There also are several bands at the Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. each day at Lakefront Park and going until 4 or 5 p.m. They are: The fast up-and-coming, and already there, bluegrass band Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund; Alex Rossi; August Blues; newcomers gaining popularity Firefly; the longtime local duo of the Van Valkenbergs named Practical Goods; ForAllBrazil; and Paul Imholte. Some of the food favorites are these signature dishes from local eateries: Wisconsin cheese curds from the local Carbone’s; fresh walleye over wild rice pilaf from Seasons Tavern in North Hudson; tomato basil soup and caprese salad on a stick from Urban Olive and Vine; and rich tiramisu from Mama Maria’s.
— They may be a mostly country band, but that didn’t prevent the guitarist from having long dreadlocks. That was the case when Coyote Wild played the Smilin’ Moose recently, and the Bob Marley-looking guy put his own twist on Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh, and then the instrumental intro to that “Streetlight People” song by Journey was done with a plucky banjo.

Gimme some new band configurations, and make like TMZ and give them questions galore, about the Green and Gold:

— To use a reference with some meat, the Bacon Bash in River Falls will have some music that is simply shredding it this weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is a newer twist on the often solo performances of a veteran band, this time being the Dave Synder Triplicate. Then from 1:30-4:30 p.m. is the Everett Smithson Band, and from 5-8 p.m. the Danger Rangers. Sunday’s band, Wade and Ella, will take the stage from 1-4 p.m. Also on Saturday afternoon is a dance-off, sing-along that’s called not Gimme Some Lovin’ or Gimme Shelter or Gimme Three Steps, but Gimme Some Bacon.

— The Zebra Mussels, who use the phrasings online about which Mussel is the one that’s say, the most Irish, might also be asked which Mussel takes a lineman stance and is the biggest Packer, or Viking fan. You could take that opportunity when they take their party and variety rock to the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday night, although they might just clam up. But the Willow is also the place to catch the Packers so you can score a chance for a later flight to Vegas, (see below).

— It’s the return of the Flood Run motorcycle rally on Saturday, and the staff at Dick’s Bar and Grill invite you to have breakfast there before leaving, and also possibly dinner there after you’ve ridden many a mile.

— There is indoor and outdoor appeal when the Village Inn celebrates its 10-year anniversary on Saturday starting at noon. That’s when the band The Way Out starts playing, with Mystic Funk to follow from 6-10 p.m. Don’t miss bean bag games and, as is fitting for the day it is, outdoor cooking with the fabulous smoker of owner Leigh Halvorsen.

Vie to visit Vegas, from the vantage point of the Packers playing, but before then go acoustic with Garret.
— Who wouldn’t want to go to Vegas? Especially if you got there by rooting on a team that usually wins big. The Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt is again offering its special deal where a drawing for a trip to Vegas is held every night the Green and Gold plays. What a way to kick off the NFL season, (and the opponent is archrival Chicago in a noon Sunday game)! You must be present to win, but again, we’re talking the Packers playing here so why wouldn’t you want to be there on game day. The trip includes three days and two nights for two people, so bring your Packer bud with you.
— In what amounts to a debut, Garret and Embry, who comprise CrystalCreekFalls, are playing Dick’s bar and grill on Friday, Sept. 11 from 6-9 p.m. Note that’s Garret with one “T” while this infamous Friday has the number “1” twice. It might be seen as fitting that the duo of Mr. McPhae and Ms. Quinn are playing their gig at Dick’s, where the staffers wear shirts bearing what looks like a Red Cross logo to go with their pun of a slogan “Thirst Aid Station.”
— Numbers you should know: Twenty, sixty and two to reference the art metal band Tool. I should explain. This is the 20th year of the Art on the Kinni, held along the Kinnickinnic River on the White Pathway in River Falls, which will not only have 60-plus exhibiting artists, but live music on two stages, steering largely to folk and bluegrass. The event is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
— The bassist for Ghetto Superstars, which played the Smilin’ Moose recently as part of their regular returning engagement, did so while seated and this fact and his girth evoked memories of the legendary Big Walter Smith, who used to play in the area. The band is comprised of a large crew, male and female, black and white.
— The Blackout Party at Dick’s, where the dance floor is closed off to any light with tarps at all ends, advertised that people could show up in glowing face paint, so they could, well, really show up. In fact, many of the dozens of patrons who came sported glowing T-shirts and such paint covering their arms. Just prior to turning off the lights, staff members spent time writing dancing instructions on the floor with colored chalk. If you weren’t there to take it in, or dance it off, don’t fret as this is a twice yearly event and you can hit it again in spring.

A decade of tribute to GFunk, and ten years worth of gigs at the Willow, all packed into a three-day holiday weekend:
— The Ghetto Superstars, at the Smilin’ Moose on Friday night, Sept. 4, are unlike virtually any other band you’ll find in Hudson, paying tribute to the GFunk era of hiphop and rap, from 1993 to 2003, by playing the likes of TLC, Dr. Dre, Mary J Blige, Biggie, Missy Elliott and of course Snoop Dogg, (I must say I saw a younger look-alike to Snoop walking down the street the other day).
— The next night, Saturday, is the return of a veteran band that has more than 1,000 shows under its belt, and when they hit the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt will be adding one more notch to their bedpost. Loose Cannon plays even the Neon Trees, and along with it plenty of Guns ‘N Roses, Prince (a cover of his Purple Rain is on You Tube), Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi, Journey, Green Day, Pink and Poison.
For a preview of sorts, to flesh out your weekend’s listening pleasure, you can check out yet another longtime band, Strangers, in a return engagement to the Willow on Friday night.
— The way it stands right now, you just might have to wait until winter for this next celebration, an oldie but goodie. Getting together a good sized group of gamers for a bar Olympics gathering can be hit and miss, since many people like to have their party in the out-of-doors when the weather is nice. Thus was likely the case with some people in the bar Olympics held Aug. 30, that being the last Sunday before Labor Day weekend, which is the last bastion of summer. There were reportedly 50 competitors playing at four different local taverns, not a bad number, but sources at Kozy Korner in North Hudson assure me they always do better when the snow is flying. So then there will be another such event.
— You won’t be snow-blind, but there will no visibility when Dick’s Bar and Grill holds its annual lights-out-party on Saturday night. The dance floor will be shrouded in darkness, because of lots of black tarp, and glow sticks will be the only light.

It’ll get wild this weekend, and you can be sure to “plant” a bid for seafood a few days later.
— Coyote Wild, playing the Smilin’ Moose on Friday evening, Aug. 28, has all the fun of the movie Coyote Ugly with, dare I say, an almost scholarly PR approach. “Country music has had a massive influence in the history of rock music and rock music has changed the direction of country,” their online bio reads. “You can enjoy both with Coyote Wild.”
— Trouble Maker, I think it was, had a band member that looked just like Robert Plant, (post-Zeppelin days), except that he was on guitar not vocals, and kept his shirt on during a recent, and recurring, gig at the Village Inn in North Hudson.
— There are high-profile meat raffles at various local venues, most notably the Village Inn, but few offer both meat and seafood at the same outing, such as is the case at Woody’s in Bayport. This tasty tandem is held there the first Wednesday of every month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
And I may have egg on my face for not mentioning earlier that as part of the “fully loaded” Bloody Mary at Woody’s, there is egg on the burger tacked onto the top of the glass, and also cheese and bacon.
— The recent version to close the night, by the female lead singer of Dirt Road Dixie at the Smilin’ Moose, found them doing a popular and traditional country song, (I’m sorry, the name escapes me, as it was near to closing time), but it was dead-on in matching the tonal quality of the usually male-sung lyrics. Then, during their breaking down of stage equipment, she hauled away a flag staff with big bright orange cloth at top and bottom that was on the other end of things, being quite unusual. They’re likely to again play the Moose soon, so check out what they have in store.

Make no Muss-take about it, there are quality appearances being made locally:
— Woody’s in Bayport is again having one of its periodic guest appearances, and this one is sure to raise a fuss, because it involves a live broadcast by Muss from Country K102. He will on at Woody’s from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. Tickets will be given out for the Minnesota State Fair grandstand show by Carrie Underwood. The people at Woody’s will as they say, “fire up the party,” when the Miller Lite girls make a showing of their own from 5-7 p.m. There are taps of that brew available from 2-3 p.m. for, you guessed it, $1.02. This is one of several beer specials.
— Recently, Fat Bottom Girls was playing on the juke box at the Cajun Club, while a very tiny dancer did her Queen routine. No comment from me. I will chime in on the dancing showcased downtown, with some styles that were either like that of an amped up Peewee Herman or a karate kick-boxer-dancer.
— The Smilin’ Moose brings back old favorites, both last Friday and this coming Friday. Longtime rockers Audio Circus, who have performed in Hudson many times, were back on last weekend, and now seven days later, its the return of the very solid, top to bottom, strains of the Tim Sigler band. Most people tend to think the cover charge, which isn’t cheap, is worth the price of admission.
— Female-doing-male songs was again the highlight when Solving 27 hit the stage at the Village Inn in North Hudson, twice in recent weeks. Singer Billie Jo did The Stones and a bit later The Police. Then, inserted into the middle of their set list, was Rock ‘N Roll by Led Zeppelin. Besides noteworthy “falsetto,” there were some high-powered, grinding guitar riffs used on Roadhouse Blues, and some guitar fills inserted into a few songs, also. Look for them at The Village again soon. But meanwhile, this Satuday night, check out the down-home, Cajun infused blues of the Swamp Kings there.The dancing showcased some styles that were either like that of an amped up Peewee Herman or a karate dancer.

Seasons Tavern owner Brad chimes in on the Pepper Fest relationship, which plays out again this weekend in North Hudson, as everyone can get a “happy” feeling at the restaurant and bar — even during throat-burn eating contests at both places.
“The synergy between the Seasons Tavern experience and the Pepper Festival is definitely there,” he said. “The whole community is celebrating one of the ‘largest’ small-town events, and Seasons Tavern is right in the middle of that event. If there is a party going on, we want to be a part of it and add to it!”
Saturday, Aug. 15, promises to be a big day full of pep for Seasons Tavern.
They will serve breakfast sandwiches and hot Italian Beef sandwiches outside during the parade, and offer a full-service breakfast inside starting at 8 a.m. The full menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with appetizers being served until 1 a.m.
The outdoor bar and beer garden will open at 10 a.m., with the Wicked Wing Challenge starting at 2 p.m. and the band Thirsty Camel starting 3 p.m.
Ten people are already signed up for the wings challenge, and that fills up the bill. But there still will be lots of opportunity for spectating this decidedly “hot” food event. Last year, when it was first held, upwards of 40 people watched in awe, giving standing ovations to the best competitors as they finished eating.
“The bartenders are ‘Seasoned’ in the history of Pepper Fest and the name of the restaurant is intentional, to incorporate the experience of the staff along with the history of the building and location,” Brad said.
“As far as parking, we offer parking to Seasons guests only, and do our best to manage that. I think street parking is the best way to go.”