We’re getting ready for our next big show with the Walker family, and right now we are in the process of revamping our show.   We gathered around for band practice last night and started brainstorming.  We love playing original music and wanted to do as much of it as we could in our show, but then again, there’s also those great  old hits by artists like George Jones, Elvis Presley, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette and many others.  We had to play some of those, too!  Of course there are way too many to play them all, so we picked out several of them that are well known, and wrote them down…..we still had too much music!  Rather than crossing any of them off, we thought we’d just make medley’s-with our own twist- to some of the good ol’ “Country Classics”.        We’re looking forward to seeing you all down the road and performing our new show for you all! 

We were driving the RV down the highway one night and pulled out to stop real quick at a gas station.  Well our “Quick stop” turned into a lot more than that.  We were only two turns to the gas station, and just as we were about to make the first turn the RV quit running……..okay, so this wasn’t the first time our RV has broken down!…….once again we took it in for repair.  We rented a 12 passenger van -because we needed a vehicle to get us to our shows that were coming up- so we left our motor home there over the weekend……….and the next weekend……and the week after that……..and the next two weeks following those…………Well, I guess we got tired of waiting and just rented a house!  Haha!  Well, we now  live in a happy little ol’ farmhouse in the country.  It’s beautiful out here, and we just love it.  We moved out of our RV, bought a 15 passenger van and a trailer.  We’re now on to a new chapter in the story of our life.

It had been almost three and a half years since we’d last seen my dad’s brother and his family, so you can probably guess how excited we were to see each other again!

  We met up in a little town in Anaconda MT, and spent the rest of that day catching up at the shooting range, the pool, and gathered around an order of pizza hut.  The next day we went to the “Washoe Theatre” where we were playing that evening.  It was the first time the Walkers had seen us do a professional show, and the venue was perfect for the occasion. It was a beautiful theatre from the early 1930′s and still in its original form.  The hostess gave us a tour of the place, and during the show, she and the two gentlemen who welcomed the guests were even dressed in the 1930′s period attire.  Talk about a cultural experience!

We gathered around for pictures with the family after the show, and when the equipment was finally loaded out we all headed off to” Perkins” one last hurrah.  It was so wonderful to see family again, and we’re looking forward to coming their way to Idaho next month.

If you’re in the Boise area the 19′th of this August, then feel free to come on over to the Centennial High School PAC where we’ll be performing, and join us for an even bigger Walker gathering!  Just check out our tour page!     

Check out this cool blog someone posted about our show in Holstein Iowa last month!

Hats Off to The Redhead Express

The nine members of the Redhead Express rolled into Holstein last Friday and collectively stole the audience’s heart. There were no special effects; no pyrotechnics; no electrified anything. What they brought to the stage was just plain great music – instruments, and voices , and a genuine love of performing. It was quite simply a wonderful show. I haven’t seen that much toe tapping both on and off the stage in a long time.As promised, there was something for everyone. Songs ran the gamut from Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” to tricky banjo picking on Bluegrass standards to an Irish medley. The latter so moved Pat Forristal that he leapt to his feet and stayed there for the entire first verse. We were also treated to the Express’s rendition of “Amazing Grace”and a Gregorian Chant as an encore. There really wasn’t much more they could have done except maybe acid rock and that just isn’t their style.

The whole thing resembled a musical family reunion. The Walkers might have been relatives you hadn’t seen for a while and who you wished would stay around longer. They were just so darn nice. Witness their honouring local veterans and singing Happy Birthday to Helen Wanberg.It’s difficult to single out anyone of them or anyone of their numbers for special mention as the evening was so enjoyable. However, the four sisters seemed to have an extra spark whenever they teamed up to perform one of Kendra’s songs. “Somewhere Where the Road Don’t Move” was piercingly effective and especially well done. Their brothers were a delight as well. Dueling banjo and mandolin, anyone? The whole family gave 110% and it was a real treat to have them here. As one fellow observed as he walked out of the auditorium, “That was a show and a half!”.

Just about last week it was back to the stomping grounds of our mom’s childhood home in northern Wisconsin.  One of our first stops was at her baby-sitter’s house (Mrs. Merkel)!  The Merkels’ daughter (mrs. Merkel having been diagnosed with cancer) had called us prior to our coming.  And knowing how her parents love our family, she asked if we would be willing to stop by their home and pay a visit when we came to Wisconsin.  Well of course we would!  We arrived with Papa (aka Grandpa), and after visiting a little, pulled out our instruments and gave them a mini concert right in their home!  The trip to their home was definitely worthwhile, plus Mr. merkel and Papa were able to catch up on the many years that had gone by since they’d last seen each other.  We sure love Mr. and Mrs. Merkel!  While in Wisconsin we also enjoyed spending time with Papa and Grandma Betty, and even more family and friends.  It was good to see and visit with people we haven’t seen in a while!

It was another very packed day at the "Bluebird Cafe" in Nashville TN. We were lucky to get in at all!  Now you might be thinking, "What is the ‘Bluebird Cafe’?"  And I’ll tell you.  The "Bluebird" is a little cafe in Nashville, TN, though it’s no small deal.  On Monday nights songwriters from all over the US, even from Canada (who knows, perhaps from all over the world) gather in to the cafe and share their original songs.  And just last Monday my sisters and I had the honor and priviledge of performing there, as the captivated audience had our undivided attention from the mention of our band name, "The Redhead Express". Where else do you see Four good looking redheads in one band?  We played one of Kendra’s (the guitarist) newest songs.  A beautiful piece called "The Strongest Word".  What a great opportunity it was to be there.  We’re loving the Nashville music scene! 

We arrived at the "Spring Creek Bluegrass Festival" while our good friends, the Zahasky’s, aka, "Alaska String Band" were playing their evening set.  Not long after our arrival we took the stage, closing out the night.  Little did we know that that night the Redhead Express kids along with 9 others would be working on songs for Saturday’s "Open Mic"!  That night and the night after we stayed up late practicing and jamming ad such.  And when Saturday morning came we all met up together and headed down to the stage to prepare for our "show".  When our turn came all 16 of us piled on to the stage-not to mention the announcer, Billy (Now that’s a team effort!).  For our first introduction each person took a turn saying their name, then Sean and I kicked it off with "Salt Creek" on banjo and fiddle.  Partway through the set one of our leaders announced our band name by saying that they have a tradition of naming the band after whatever his friend ate for dinner the night before.  And this year we were….."The Dog Biscuits"…

We have been traveling to different festivals from Missouri to Iowa, all the way to Virginia and more.  Making new friends and visiting with old.  People like the Balyeat family, the Meyers, the Wissmans, and our good friends the Punches and the Harper family.  On our very first day at the Dixon Missouri Bluegrass Festival it rained and poured.  But nonetheless, "The show must go on".  And yes, it did.  We opened up the night with rain pouring down on the roof above us, and streaming off the umbrellas and rain jackets of our devoted audience.  We pulled out songs like "Rain please go away", and "Missouri Rain", and as things rolled along the rain actually happened to slow down.  Imagine that!  The next day was beautiful. The sun was shining, and the weather was great.  That is until later on in the day when the thermometer dropped about 30-40 degrees.  Next thing you know people were pulling out their jackets and sweatshirts to keep warm.  I guess Summer is just about over, so get ready, winter will be here before you know it!                                                             

"15 minutes," mom warned.  Showtime was getting closer!  We rushed around the R.V. frantically putting on our faces, fixing our hair, rummaging through the closet for shoes.  9 year old Joseph said, "Mom, where’s my cowboy boots?".  And 7 year old Ammon, "Mom, I can’t find my performance pants.  Can I wear Blue Jeans instead?" …..Despite all the chaos, we were miraculously able to make it on stage on time!  There was wonderful energy that night, with Amazing Arthur opening up the show, bringing the audience to roaring laughter and excitement.

We spent the following day at the fair, and the boys had a hey-day riding rides.  The highlight of the night was watching the Chain-pull.  A two-car race where the front car has the engine and gas pedal, and the back car has the brakes.  Then there was the Combine Derby.  Basically where combines run into each other untill all but one can’t go on any further.  We feel we have experienced true small-town, "red-neck", culture!