Happy Thanksgiving!

I just wanted to tell everyone to have a safe and very Happy Thanksgiving!

Tribute to Bill

Here are the pictures of Bill I promised.  He was a gifted musician, loving husband to Marilyn, and a true friend.  I sure miss him.

2009 Bluegrass Shack STUDENT Christmas Party!!!

Alright, the time is here!  If you are a student of the Bluegrass Shack, then this is just for you!  Our annual Christmas party will be held Saturday, December 12, 2009, at the St. Agatha School Cafeteria in New Athens, IL, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.  This is just a few blocks from the shop.  Everyone is asked to bring something to eat, drink or paper/utensils.  If you would like to supply the drinks or paper/utensils, please let me know so that we don't have too many people bringing the same thing.  For food, you can bring anything you would like -- snack, dessert, chips, sandwiches, chili, etc. 

I have heard that Santa Claus will be visiting again this year.  There will be two giant stockings for the kids (we hold a drawing -- one for boys and one for girls), attendance prizes, and lots of great music.  Bring your instrument if you want to join us for Christmas carols.

The party is open to students and their families, this also includes grandparents and siblings.  St. Agatha donates the use of their building free of charge, so we would appreciate any help cleaning up afterwards.  We will also have a donation jar in the food line so that you can make a donation if you would like (not required). 

To get to St. Agatha's from The Bluegrass Shack, turn left out of our parking lot (towards Gary's Restaurant).  Make a right at the laundromat onto Market Street.  St. Agatha's is at the beginning of the 4th block right at the corner.  You can enter from the back of the school through the double glass doors into the cafeteria.

The party is free, so come join us!!!!!

Pickin' Chicks Win both 1st & 3rd in Pinckneyville for their Float

The Pickin' Chicks and their parents put together a float for the girls for the Marti Gras parade in Pinckneyville, IL. Pinckneyville has a nice parade there every year for the event. The Chicks won 1st Place for the float in the Farming Division, and 3rd Place Overall. Here are a few pictures.

Pickin' Chicks Win First in Springfield

The Pickin' Chicks entered the Saturday morning talent contest at the 23rd Annual Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival in Springfield, IL.  They won first place!  This is a clip of their last song "Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band" (Alabama remake).



The girls also got to play personally for Rhonda Vincent!  Here is a picture of the girls with Rhonda.

Pictures from the October Contest

Here are lots of pictures from our October contest. I hope you enjoy them!

Contest Results!

I will do another post later with more details and lots of pictures, but for now, I wanted to make sure to get the results posted. By the way, this was our largest contest ever with a total of 59 contestants!!!

Junior Fiddle Ages 11 & Under
1st - Amelia Eisenhauer
2nd - Rosemary Hall
3rd - Colton Dever
4th - Emma Neumeyer
5th - Patrick Garner

Junior Fiddle Ages 12-17
1st - Emily Ryan
2nd - James Ryan
3rd - Paige Johnson
4th - Veronica Steibel
5th - Angela Winkeler

Junior Banjo 16 & under
1st - Nikki Warnecke
2nd - Emily Hall
3rd - Ben Politte
4th - Andy Eisenhauer
5th - Christi Gray

Adult Beginner Banjo
1st - Larry Reuss
2nd - Jim Nall
3rd - Jim Albers
4th - Bobby Napier
5th - Stacey Ward

Adult Beginner Fiddle
1st - Ellen Gomez
2nd - Liz Durako
3rd - Jim Simpson
4th - Lois Politte
5th - Amy Atwood

Open Fiddle
1st - Marc Rennard
2nd - Tyler Moore
3rd - Hannah Finley
4th - Brian Smyth
5th - Chelsea Perkinson

Senior Fiddle
1st - Zane Prosser
2nd/3rd (tie) - John Bell & Janice Nirscher
4th - Ron Dailey
5th - Stan Farlow

Open Banjo
1st - Dave Landreth
2nd - Zach Hardesty
3rd - Brian Smyth
4th - Terry Hill

Senior Banjo
1st - Stan Farlow
2nd - John Bell
3rd - Dick Nicolas