ELLICOTTVILLE ENTERTAINMENT
(04/17/2009)
Checking Out the Tunes and Other Stuff In Ellicottville
By Robby & Sherm Wilkens

Wow the Ellicottville music scene will have a new addition on July 19th at Holiday Valley. Rumor has it that the Rotary Foundation for Youth will be hosting the Americana Folk Art & Music Fair. Part of the weekend includes an outdoor concert on the slopes at Yodeler Lodge on Sunday July 19th from noon to 7:00 PM. This family event will feature some great acts like Old Dawg and Country Jam with National recording artists The Doerfels and Canadian Juno award winner Tom Wilson. Stayed tuned to this column for more information on this event which is part of the evolution of the Antique Farm Fair that will take place on Saturday July 18th in front of the town hall.

With Tax Day behind us and Mud Season in full swing, the activity in our clubs and music venues has slowed down a bit. However, one can still have a really good time out and about in Ellicottville most every night of the week. There are just a few less people and a few less bands. Our restaurants are still serving the wonderful meals that they always serve, plus the cocktails are still served cold and with the same friendly smile we always receive and that is what Ellicottville is all about; Good times and friendly people.

Starting today Friday April 17, 2009 through next Thursday we will have six bands, two DJ’s and a two night Bartenders Choice, which I believe includes requests.

We get started in a different place this week. “The Bartenders Choice” will begin around 8:00 PM tonight in Madigans. What happens here, the bartenders on duty will be selecting the tunes played through Madigans Excellent Sound System. However, Chad has informed me that requests will be taken and if possible those tunes and or artists will be featured. This again will be a two night event and will be going on till close both Friday and Saturday nights.

Precisely at 9:00 PM Friday “THE PARTY MONSTER”, Chatty Frank Watson, will be displaying his over the edge and around the bend humor along with a tune selection that creates a “Party Time” from Balloons Sound Booth. With the excellent food Balloons serves till 10:00 PM and the whole Party Atmosphere that is so prevalent in Balloons, you might want to check this out for yourself and enjoy the good time.
Saturday 5:00 PM Balloons will have “The Rhythm Rockers” in house. Most of us “Old Timers” remember these guys as “Stevie B and The Rhythm Rockers”. Their music, while is based on The Blues, is quite up beat and fun. This is another of what I call original Balloons Bands that have been part of this 5:00 PM gig since the start. Following “The Rhythm Rockers”, “DJ W.T. F.” will continue the festivities from Balloons Sound Booth. This whole evening will be all ages friendly so feel free to bring your family and friends for a “Rhythm Rockin” good time this Saturday.
The first of the two later Saturday gigs “Live & Kickin” will begin at 9:00 PM in The Gin Mill. Cover classic rock best describes the music of this group. They bill themselves as “Music for All Occasions” which they do quite well. I also feel there is a bit of a “Country Twist” to their sound. Anyway they are fun and very crowd involved. With The Gin Mill serving food till mid-night you can enjoy a late dinner and catch some good tines all at user-friendly prices this Saturday in The Gin Mill.

The gig of the weekend will take place around the corner on Monroe Street at 9:30 PM in The Double Diamond. “Mr. Jack Darfaset” and his original cast of characters, which may be just him, will be doing a Saturday version of MONDO MONDAY appropriately named MONDO SATURDAY. This gig will be very humorous and fun. It will also be All Original Music. Some of which will be created on the spot. The Double Diamond is a perfect fit for this type of fun stuff and has been since it opened five years ago. Fun music and an even more fun crowd is what The Double Diamond is all about.

After a quiet Sunday and vacations causing The Gin Mill to serve their “All U Can Eat Spaghetti Monday Night Dinner” for $5.95 without “The Blue Mule Band”, the next music gig will be where Saturday left off MONDO MONDAY 10:00 PM in The Double Diamond. Again with “Lil Joey” in Florida and “Fritz The Kat” also missing, this will more than likely just a three-piece gig. For sure Mr. Jack Darvaset will be there, as will “Frankie of The DuWop Brothers” and more than likely “Brandon The Hydro Ceramic Engineer”. The music, as always, will be ALL ORIGINAL and an EXPERIENCE you just have to be in The Double Diamond on Monday night to appreciate.
The final two gigs of the week will be in The Gin Mill. Wednesday, Wings, Wagner and Winston will begin around 9:00 PM Wednesday night. Like every week, excellent thirty-five cent Gin Mill wings, acoustic Folk to Southern Rock by Joe and John plus the antics of Mr. Chorny from behind the bar will create a really fun time this coming Wednesday in The Gin Mill.

Then on Thursday at 7:00 PM “Kuk & Freddie” will take The Gin Mill Music Stage. “Kuk & Freddie” are and continue to be one of the best “Mellow Rock” groups that can really get The Gin Mill Rockin when they so choose. My favorite is still, and always will be, the old “Grateful Dead” tunes that they do so well.