Home » News » Manawa News » Fingerpickin’ fun

Fingerpickin’ fun

Manawa Bluegrass Bash at Bear Lake

This year’s Manawa FFA Alumni Bluegrass Bash fundraiser will be held Oct. 13-14 at Bear Lake Resort.

Friday night features Bear Lake’s fish fry and then at 9 p.m., Dig Deep.

The band is comprised of Oscar Noetzel on banjo and vocals, Alex Dalnodar on vocals and guitar, Pete Pagel on bass and vocals and Bob Weigandt on mandolin amd vocals. There is no cover charge for this pre-bash party.

Admission on Saturday for a day and night full of bluegrass is $20 at the door.

Included in the price is a raffle for a $100 first prize, $50 second prize, and two $25 consolation prizes. A silent auction will run at the event on Saturday along with a Paddle Raffle and a couple 50/50 raffles.

Due to the past generosity of sponsors for Bluegrass Bash X, the Manawa FFA Alumni was able to support agricultural education and the local FFA. Last year, the group was able to contribute $1,350 ($575 for the World Dairy Expo Bus and $775 for the National Convention). So far this year (2017) the group has awarded $5,200 in scholarships and entrepreneurial grants.

Starting the event on Saturday are the Soggy Prairie Boys from 1 to 3 p.m.

Ther group features Kodey Feiner on the guitar, Jim Kvalheim on the mandolin, Tom Kazmerzak on the double bass, Kristen Kvalheim on the banjo, and Carl Rozas on the fiddle.

The Soggy Prairie Boys have been playing together for more than a decade.

In 2002 the formed as a band to play in the FFA Talent Competition where it was chosen to perform for the FFA National Convention in Louisville. In the time since then it has entertained thousands of people at countless events in southern Wisconsin and around the Midwest.

Next up from 3:25 p.m. to 5:25 p.m. is Miles Over Mountains, a progressive bluegrass band based in McHenry, Illinois.

The group consists of AJ Knaack on banjo, Caleb Peters on acoustic guitar, Phil Hoffman on upright bass and Sean Shiel on mandolin.

The Alumni are happy to bring to Wisconsin for a rare appearance, Frank F. Sidney’s Western Bandit Volunteers for performances from 5:50 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. and from 9:35 p.m. to 10:40 p.m.

This is a high octane progressive bluegrass outlaw country band from Galesburg, Illinois.

The band consists of banjo player Neal Minella, bassist Pat Parrish, mandolin player Casey Robbins, guitarist and washboard player Corie “Cow” Weisenberger, guitarist Nathan Anderson and Lacy Rosenberry, who sings and also plays fiddle and washboard.

This Bargrass genre mixes bluegrass, country, Americana and rock.

When you see a Frank show you’ll know they are influenced by whiskey, women, backwoods, double barreled shotguns, moonshine, Pabst Blue Ribbon and greedy ole bastards hoggin’ all the loot.

Noah John and Ringing Iron, based in southeastern Wisconsin, are next playing from 7:10 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. The group plays traditional bluegrass and gospel music as well as country, Americana and folk.

The group is made up of Noah John on guitar and lead vocals, Gabriel Dettinger on banjo and tenor vocals, and Chris Mcdonell on Mandolin. This is a return to the area for Noah John and Ringing Iron as the group played at the Littlestock Music Festival earlier this year.

Closing out the night from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. is Armchair Boogie. The band was formed in the heart of Wisconsin in 2014 as a banjo and guitar duo. After playing a handful of shows,

Augie Dougherty on banjo and Ben Majeska on guitar recruited a well versed rhythm section to hold down the upbeat tempos and provide an extra oomph that’ll bring even the saddest uncle to a dance floor.

This happened in October 2015; and in the few short years since, they’ve toured consistently around the Midwest, played with top notch artists such as Jeff Austin Band and Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, and played venues as big as The Majestic Theater in Madison.

All shows will be indoors at Bear Lake Resort.

Scroll to Top