HONKY-TONK SHOWDOWN: Western-Swing Edition! April 23, 2011

Every since those first recordings in the 1920s, country music has gone through multitudes of changes and has seen it's popularity raise and fall. Each decade seems to take on it's own flavor and style of what they call country music. And for many a moon the current Nashville pop sound has ruled the radio air waves and music sales across the country. However, some pockets of America still thrive and flourish on the old classic sounds of way back when. San Francisco is one of those pockets. The 7th annual HONKY-TONK SHOWDOWN is a celebration of classic country and western-swing music, dance, and old-time fun!

The western-swing movement was an outgrowth of jazz and is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the Southwest, and later the West, among the region's country-western stringbands. It's an amalgamation of rural, cowboy, polka, folk, Dixieland jazz and blues blended with big band swing; and played by a hot stringband often augmented with drums, saxophones, pianos and steel guitar. It is dance music, often with an up-tempo beat; which attracted huge crowds to dance halls and night clubs in Texas, Oklahoma and California during the 1930s and 40s until a federal war-time nightclub tax in 1944 led to its decline...but never officially died. Hardcore western-swing lovers have kept this music alive, kicking & swinging for over 90 years!

Dance Contest - win an awesome prize!
Pie Eating Contest - win a messy prize!
Best Dressed Contest - win an ok prize
Classic Country Music Trivia - win a cheap prize!

Come early for the free dance lessons (7-8pm).
Stay late for the DJ spinning classic country & western-swing records.

LADY A & THE HEEL DRAGGERS (SF)
San Francisco based western-swing band, Lady A & Her Heel Draggers are formed by members of several prominent area roots Americana groups, including members of the Mad Cow String Band, Five Dollar Suit, and the Real Sippin' Whiskeys. They focus on the sounds of the classic era of western-swing and honky-tonk music, when country music still swung hard and had more than three chords. This is high-energy music to keep our fans dancing and drinking. The band features vintage steel guitar, accordion, fiddle, upright bass, guitar, drums, and of course, the beautiful and powerful voice of Lady A belting the tunes out front.
http://www.myspace.com/theheeldraggers

MISISPI MIKE & THE MIDNIGHT GAMBLERS (SF)
The Midnight Gamblers take their classic country music serious. It's like these boys were born in the 20s, honed their chops in the 30s, became superstars in the 40s, and were killed by either drugs, drinking, polio, or a plane or car crash in the 50s. Classic country music never sounded so classic. Featuring the best looking country boys this side of Misisipi Mike, including Misisipi Mike Wolf (Misisipi Rider, The Mission Three, The Bootcuts, Sally Rides A Broom Stick), Mike Anderson (Hang Jones, The Cowlicks, 77 el Deora, Muffin & Cupcake), Leif Karlstrom (Lady A & The Heel Draggers, The Midnight Gamblers, Leif & Mrs. Garrett).
http://www.misisipimike.com

THE BOOTCUTS (SF)
Fun lovin', foot-stompin', honky-tonkin', twang-buster of a band!!! If you find yourself sitting still through a Bootcuts show, you're either deaf, dead, or just plane stupid. This classic country 8 piece band (3 female lead singers with 5 guys as the back up band) take their listeners on a journey though time, to way back when, when country music was just called "music". Be sure to pick up your very own copy of "In The Comfort Of Your Own Home"...it will change your life.
http://www.myspace.com/thebootcuts

WEST NILE RAMBLERS (Yolo County)
WNR combine influences from western-swing, country, and rock into a style they call Western Garage. Whether performing powerful original songs or tasteful renditions of old favorites, the band inspires audiences to dance and sing along. Their shows feature hot fiddle chops, ripping guitar leads, vocal harmonies, and a rhythm section that drives the sound home evenly balanced, and strong. Oh yeah, did I mention these cats played the SF Bluegrass & Old-Time Festival back in Feb 2011 and blew the roof off the joint? Well they did!
http://www.myspace.com/thewestnileramblers

DJ BLAZE ORANGE (SF)
Local country/bluegrass DJ will be spinning classic records before the show, in between acts, and after. So plan on wearing comfy shoes so you can dance all night!

Official Website: http://www.shelbyashpresents.net/honkyTonk/honkyTonk.html