Bourbon Brothers open new season

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A blues group known as the Bourbon Brothers opens the 2009 concert season at Oak Center General Store with a performance at 8 p.m. Jan. 31.

The group consists of Ben Peterson on saxophone, Folka Landvogt on slide guitar, Dave Orr on drums and Smokin’ Joe on bass.

The quartet from La Crosse, Wis., performs original compositions that range in style from blues, jazz and funk to New Orleans and reggae — focusing frequently on the more obscure songs and arrangements.

Up next is the folk duo Bob Bovee and Gail Heil, who will perform old-time country music at 8 p.m. Jan. 31.

They have been performing together since 1980, singing and playing American traditional music on fiddle, banjo, guitar and harmonica.

Bovee and Heil have recorded nine albums and been featured on numerous other recordings, plus they have performed across the country at festivals and on radio and public television.

Along with a repertoire including dance tunes, ballads, cowboy songs, humorous and sentimental numbers, blues and rags, the pair spice their shows with stories, history and folklore. They draw their music from family, old-time singers and fiddlers, and 78 rpm recordings from what is considered the Golden Age of Country Music in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Winter schedule

The rest of the winter season follows:

February: Lehto & Wright on Feb. 7; Paul Mayasich on Feb. 13; Radoslav Lorkovic on Feb. 14; Cam Waters on Feb. 21; Boiled in Lead on Feb. 28.

March: Bill Staines on March 1; Mike Mangione Band on March 7; Miles Johnston Quartet on March 14; Curtis & Loretta on March 21; Tangled Roots on March 28.

April: Lorkovic and Andy White on April 4; Cafe Accordion on April 17; Joe and Vicki Price on April 24; Switchback on April 25; Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart on April 26.

May: Greg Brown on May 2.

All concerts are at 8 p.m. except for the Bill Staines and Stacey Earle/Mark Stuart performances, which will be 2 p.m. matinees.

Oak Center General Store is at 67011 Highway 63 in rural Lake City.

Tickets to events range from $5 to $15, based on ability to pay. Because seating is limited, advance reservations are recommended for many concerts; call (507) 753-2080.

For more information, go online to www.oakcentergeneralstore.com.

Tags: applause, bourbon, brothers