Annual event features Wisconsin bands

By Randy Steingraber

The Manawa FFA Alumni‘s annual Bluegrass Bash will feature some Wisconsin bands.

The event will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, with a Pre-Bash Party on Friday, Oct. 16.

The Friday night Pre-Bash Party will begin at 8 p.m. with music by Goodtime Specials, from the Fox Valley.

The Bluegrass Bash will start at 2 p.m. Saturday with Chicken Wire Empire, from Milwaukee, with a blend of traditional old time music. Since their formation in 2012, the Chicken Wire Empire has wasted little time becoming established as one of the hottest up and coming bands in the local and regional music scene.

Around 4:30 p.m., Piper Road Spring Band, from Watertown, will take the stage. This group from the 1970s does not get to the area much.

The Piper Road Spring Band was born into the age of rock ‘n roll with individual backgrounds diverse as classical, cowboy, folk, blues and Dixieland. The band’s music was influenced by live performances of Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Dead Horses, from Oshkosh, will perform at 7 p.m. This troupe crafts powerful coming of age narratives sung by Sarah Vos, supported by Peter Raboin on acoustic guitar and Daniel Wolff on double bass.

Topping off the night will be the band that started the Bash – Art Stevenson and High Water. Performing classic Bluegrass will be Art and his wife Stephanie, along with Bruce King on mandolin and Dale Reichert on banjo.

Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Included in the price is a raffle for a $100 first prize, $50 second prize and two $25 consolation prizes.
The event includes a silent auction, a paddle raffle and 50/50 raffles.

Due to the past generosity of Bluegrass Bash sponsors, the Manawa FFA Alumni is able to support agricultural education and the local FFA.

Last year, the FFA Alumni awarded $1,800 in scholarships and entrepreneurial grants. The alumni also contributed $1,450 to Manawa FFA students to attend the National Convention and World Dairy Expo and assisted with the cost of student FFA jackets.

So far in 2015, the Manawa FFA Alumni has awarded $3,600 in scholarships and entrepreneurial grants.