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Take me to the river — or its park — so I can see the best of both art and music, in spirit

The organizers ask you to experience the art of music, including some of both the old and new, at the Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival this weekend in Hudson’s Lakefront Park. This is the lineup:
Saturday in the Artist Village: From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Paul Imholte who will be strolling the grounds; from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., The Big Smooch featuring Nici Peper and Jeff Krause; and from 2-5 p.m., August Blues.
Saturday in the bandshell: From 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., ForAllBrazil; and from 2-5 p.m., The Barley Jacks with Brian Wicklund.
Sunday in the Artist Village: From 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., The Big Smooch featuring Nici Peper and Jeff Krause; and from 2-4 p.m., August Blues.
Sunday in the bandshell: From 10-11:30 a.m., John Bertsch and Charlie Riddle; and from noon-4 p.m., Boom Boom Steve V and the Knockouts featuring Good Time Willy.
The fest offers multiple performances by three bands. One of those features Nici Peper, who first gained listenership by playing at venues such as the Village Inn in North Hudson several years back. Another featured performer, Good Time Willy, also has been around for years, notably playing Dick’s Bar and Grill. In both cases, a lot of them were early evening shows, not really for Night Owls, so they should fit in well with the early starts of this fest.
Also, the headlining Barley Jacks have been gaining popularity fast by playing music such as bluegrass all around the area.
— Back at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt after a while is Rock Brigade, with the members that front the band often looking like something straight out of the 80s hair band scene — although they also play 70s and 90s — but having rhythm section players who look more like something you’d typically see at The Willow. Their set list includes gems often forgotten by cover bands, such as two from Billy Squier, and Ballroom Blitz, Too Much Time On My Hands and Whole Lotta Love. They play The Willow on Friday night, Sept. 23.

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