Checking Out The Tunes & Other Stuff in Ellicottville
Our Ellicottville Entertainment Writers
By Robby & Sherman Wilkens
2010 is one week old. Holiday Valley has been up and running thirty days so far this season and the skiing is fantastic. Between the natural and man-made snow, coupled with the excellent grooming, the conditions couldn’t be better. Just remember to really bundle up cause it’s cold out there.
Now onto the music, this is “Blue Festival Weekend” and we have some really good stuff going on. Beginning tonight, Friday, January 8, 2010 through next Thursday, January 14, 2010, we will have fourteen Bands, three DJ’s, one Karaoke night and one In-House Blues Weekend of Music.
The Depot starts the weekend at noon Friday and again at noon Saturday with their “In-House Blues Weekend of Music” flowing through their sound system.
Back in The Village “The Todd Eberwine Band” will be in Balloons beginning at 8:00 PM Friday. “The TEB Band” as they are known was the headline band for “The Blues Rally in The Valley” last summer. They did an encore in Balloons Labor Day Weekend, which was unbelievably good. Following “The TEB Band”, “Personable DJ John Barry” will keep the party going with is Personality Show-off Show LIVE from Balloons Sound Booth.
Back on Washington Street at 9:00 PM Friday “The Speedy Parker Blues Band” will be in The Gin Mill doing their version of “Unique Blues”. This group is a Gin Mill regular band that is here about once a month. Their music is truly “Blues You Can Feel”. Just ask either Brigid or Ruthie.
One half hour later, 9:30 PM Friday, “Greg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars” will take The Music Stage in The Double Diamond. This Contemporary Blues Band is quite Hi-Energy and crowd involved. They are also a Double Diamond regular band that has a good following and is very much fun.
The Final Friday Music Gig will be “Chance The DJ” spinning tunes and taking requests in Madigans Up-Stairs Bar beginning around 10:00 PM.
Saturday things get going around 3:00 PM in The East Bar of Holiday Valley’s Main Chalet with “Jay McDonnell” doing his “Unplugged Acoustic Music Show” This will be one of two gigs this weekend that isn’t totally “Blues”. Jay is a solo act and is really good listening.
Two hours later, 5:00 PM Saturday, Balloons will have “The Tommy Z Band” in house. Tommy Z is one of the best Jazz Blues Guitarists we get to see here in Ellicottville. Most of his music is original and very good. Following “Tommy Z,” “Chatty Frank Watson” “The Party Monster” will take things over from Balloons Sound Booth. While Frank’s antenna doesn’t get all the channels, he does have fun and creates a really fun time for all who stick around to catch his show.
This week there will be three 9:00 PM Saturday Bands. First, “Doug Yeomans & The Lo Blu Flame” will be in The Gin Mill. Mainly original Blues, done in a style that is all “Doug Yeomans” will make for another fun Blues Music Night in The Gin Mill.
Also at 9:00 PM Saturday, “The Mo Jo Hand Blues Band” will be in The Ellicottville Brewing Company. Classic Blues done to perfection are what this long time Blues Band is all about. It is good to have this group back in Ellicottville again.
We will have a very special gig taking place in Madigans at 9:00 PM this Saturday. “The Mick Hayes Blues Band” has merged with “The Reinhardts” formally “Willie & The Reinhardts”. Both of these groups are excellent Rhythm and Blues Bands the combination of the two will create another wonderful Blues Night in Madigans.
Saturday finishes off with “The Jony James Blues Band” 9:30 PM in The Double Diamond. Jony plays his guitar in such a manor that almost talks with the audience. Besides The Double Diamond, this really fine Blues Band’s home is The Tudor Lounge on Franklin Street in Buffalo. Like was mentioned last week, Artvoice has named “The Jony James Band” “ Best Blues Band” on more than one occasion.
Sunday will have two music gigs. First country singer “Sean Patrick McGraw” will be doing an 8:00 PM show in The Gin Mill. Sean is a solo act of primarily original country music. He is a very talented guitarist and vocalist who toured last summer with Toby Keith. This will be a good music Gin Mill Sunday night.
An hour later 9:00 PM Sunday “Karaoke Ferris Abdo” will be set up in Madigans encouraging audience participation. The thing that is so neat about this wintertime Sunday gig is participation is your choice. You can be part of the show or just sit back and enjoy the fun time Ferris creates in Madigans on Sunday night.
Wow what a weekend and we still have our regular weekly gigs to look forward to and enjoy. Like every week we begin with “Pasta & Bluegrass” 7:00 PM Monday in The Gin Mill. This weekly event features an All U Can Eat Plate of Spaghetti and Garlic Toast plus a one-time salad for only $5.95. To make this Gin Mill evening even better, Gail, Doug, Bernie and Don, “The Blue Mule Band” will be performing their “Bluegrass with Heart” music that they do so very well.
A little later, 10:00 PM Monday in The Double Diamond, “The Reverend Jack DarVazette”, “Basser Brandon” and more than likely “Lil Joey” will set up and put on MONDO MONDAY Ellicottville’s Only All Original Music Experience.
Wednesday 9:00 PM in The Gin Mill, Joe Wagner and John Winston’s Acoustic Folk to Southern Rock gig will be happening. Joe and John’s music plus The Gin Mill’s excellent chicken wings served at only thirty-five cents each are a Wednesday Tradition.
Thursday rounds out the music week with two gigs. First at 7:00 PM, “Kuk & Freddie” plus “Lil Joey” will be ROCKIN’ The Gin Mill with their wonderful acoustic, yet very Up-Beat Music Show. This evening is further enhanced by the wonderful Meatloaf Dinner Special which The Gin Mill serves every Thursday.
A bit later, around 10:00 PM Thursday, Buffalo’s Party Rock Band, “The Party Squad”, will take over Madigans Up-Stairs Music Stage doing one of the best gigs that happens here in Ellicottville. “The Party Squad” as most of us know, is a wonderful Classic Rock Band that, depending on Mark’s disposition will even do some Johnny Cash, and we get to see them in Madigans every Thursday night during ski season.
C. U. Round The Music Scene Good Stuff No Worries
