There’s just one less pair of bluejeans this time around.

After three years together as a four-piece band, Waukesha’s Barefoot ‘n’ Bluejeans returns to Freeman Friday Night Live for the first time this summer as a threesome.

“Many of our fans have been asking when we’ll be back in downtown Waukesha,” said guitarist Tim McNulty.  “We are sorry to have made them wait so long but with the departure of our good friend Tom Casale, who is enjoying his retirement, we needed to work out some new music and regroup at bit.”


Submitted photo
Steve Hollister, left, Tim McNulty and Megan Hintz comprise Barefoot ’n’ Bluejeans,
which will play on the ProHealth Care/Smooth Jazz stage outside of
Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s Books at Freeman Friday Night Live this week.

The ‘regroup’ occurred when Steve Hollister, who was the band’s drummer, moved upfront to join McNulty on guitars.  Megan Hintz continues to front the band on lead vocals.

“It’s a new and exciting sound to Barefoot ‘n’ Bluejeans,” McNulty said.  “It’s a bit more on the acoustic side. We continue with many of the favorites from Janis (Joplin) and Jewel but with a bit of twist and more harmonies.”

Along with the new sound, Barefoot ‘n’ Blujeans has added many new ‘deep cuts’ to its song list.  The band gets a kick of performing songs that other bands won’t try.

“We have all been playing and performing most of our lives,” McNulty said. “Together, we have played in a variety of bands in one form or another.  We all love playing songs that you just don’t hear other bands playing live.”

On Friday, you’ll hear those songs at the ProHealth Care/Smooth Jazz stage outside of Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s Books on the corner of Main Street and Gaspar.

Elsewhere, 5^th Avenue plays the Sounds on South stage near South Street and Clinton.   South Street will be closed from Clinton to Grand for the event.

Fran Brown, Jerry Danks and Chris Koterba meet up at the Rockin’ on Broadway stage while The Steaming Cup on Main Street and Clinton hosts Waukesha’s Joey Leal.  Buffalo Entertainment Group entertains at the Waukesha Antique Mall stage on Bank Street.

Freeman Friday Night Live runs through September.  For more information, call 262.544.8030 or visit gmtoday.com/freemanfridaynightlive

 

As part of Week 11 of Freeman Friday Night Live, Ruby Street returns to the Sounds on South stage at 6:30 p.m.   Friday marks the band’s second performance this summer at the weekly music series held in downtown Waukesha .

And according to band member Karen Delvecchio, Ruby Street is anything but one-way.

“We play a lot of classic rock and top 40 but we’re more ‘roots rock,’” said Delvecchio, guitarist/vocalist in the band. “It’s honest and edgy rock and roll from a lot of different decades. We have 45 songs ready to go and all of our energy. Our show is together and we’re hitting the road.”

Other band members include band leader Jim Hardrath on guitar and vocals, Mike McOlash (bass) and Dave Schieble (drums).  Their Web site (www.rubystreetband.com) describes the band as … “a 4 piece roots rock band from Milwaukee . Strong, edgy vocals on top of rockin' electric guitar, backed by smooth harmonies and a rock-solid, feel-good rhythm section offer everything you need for an entertaining rock 'n roll experience.”

“Our message is that we play some honest rock and roll,” Delvecchio said. “There’s no other place that we’d rather be or no other thing that we’d rather be doing. I think that shows up during our performances.”

On Friday, it will show up on South Street .

Also performing Friday are Richard Holly outside of The Steaming Cup on Main St. and Clinton, Peter Llanas on the Rockin’ on Broadway stage, Dublin O’Shea at Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s Books and Buffalo Al and Matt Story at the Waukesha Antique Mall.

Freeman Friday Night Live is a rain or shine event.  Each stage has an ‘indoor’ alternative should weather become a factor.  The event runs through the end of September.

“As the President of the Waukesha Downtown Business Association, I would like to ask our citizens to be civic minded by supporting all of the downtown businesses this summer, fall and upcoming holiday season,” said WDBA president Roger Igielski. “A lot of new businesses have recently opened and tenured businesses have stayed open despite the economy, but we need our community's support to keep the doors open.”

For more information, call 262.544.8830.

To five local musicians, CrossWord is an exercise for the soul.

For the first time, the band CrossWord will play Freeman Friday Night Live on the Rockin’ on Broadway stage beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“CrossWord represents the primary focus of our lives: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His Living Word,” said Tim Gehl, a guitarist for the band. “Depending on the venue, we play mainstream rock and we don’t play typical worship music at Christian-based events. However, we do always want the message to be there.”

Members of CrossWord include Tim and Connie Gehl, Jeff Machovich on bass, Cami Bergguist and Bill Beglinger on drums.

All five are from Waukesha.

“CrossWord was conceived by Tim, Jeff and our former drummer, Brian Carter, over ‘all-you-can-eat’ ribs at Panos two years ago this July,” said Connie. “We have been having a great time ever since.  We all love music and this gives us a chance to do something with our gifts from God and have some fun in the process.”

The audience will have fun, too, especially if they are fans of 3 Doors Down, Daughtry, Paramore, Kutless, Pink, Plumb, Natalie Grant and Collective Soul, which are all on CrossWord’s song list.

And while CrossWord is new to performing at Freeman Friday Night Live, they are no strangers to the weekly music series in downtown Waukesha.

“We are really impressed by how much life it brings to downtown Waukesha on a Friday night,” Tim said. “Everyone seemed to be having a great time.”

For the second straight year, CrossWord has been invited to play at the Vibes on the Westside concert set for Saturday, September 26 at Center Court on Northview Road in Waukesha.

“Vibes on the Westside is a community event to put faith into action by serving families with children that are struggling with illness and hardships,” Connie said.

Elsewhere on Friday night, Buffalo Al and Matt Story team up on the Waukesha Antique Mall stage on Bank Street, Craig Siemsen and Patty Stevenson play outside of Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s Books, Ruby Street performs on the Sounds on South stage while Ben Kammin returns to The Steaming Cup.
 

07/02/2009
By Tom Badger
Special to The Freeman

Week 5 of Freeman Friday Night Live will go on tomorrow night, July 3^rd, on the streets of historic downtown Waukesha at 6:30 p.m.

Scheduled to appear on July 4^th is Waukesha’s own Notebenders and folk guitar/singers Mike and Kathy Gallenberger of Gman Music.  Both are regular performers at the weekly Freeman Friday Night Live music series.

For more information, call (262) 544-8030 or visit www.gmtoday.com/freemanfridaynightlive


Mia Montenegro

06/24/2009
By Tom Badger
Special to The Freeman

But don’t be surprised if the birds start chirping a bit louder tomorrow night when guitarist Ben Kammin starts his set at Freeman Friday Night Live.

Kammin kicks off the fourth week of the popular free music series outside The Steaming Cup on Main Street and Clinton in downtown Waukesha at 6:30 p.m.

“I very much like performing outside,” said Kammin, a talented finger-style guitarist from Milwaukee. “It has a completely different vibe.”

Audiences have enjoyed Kammin’s vibe at Freeman Friday Night Live for several years now.  Friday night marks his second appearance this season – three weeks after playing opening night at the Sounds on South stage.

“My music is a mix of instrumental acoustic finger-style guitar music and vocal songs,” Kammin said. “I like to think it’s diverse and formed by numerous genres and styles.  It includes tunes by finger-style guitar icons such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges and vocal tunes by artists from Bob Dylan to Radiohead.”

Kammin also has a long list of original compositions to share with his audience. A sample can be found on his Web site, www.benkammin.com.  Some of Ben’s own include Song for Robbie, The Happy Couple, Ojo, and Dreamsketcher.  During each one, it doesn’t take long to realize that Kammin is a very accomplished guitarist.

“I don’t know if I have a goal when I perform,” Kammin said. “I just want to be present with the music and hopefully connect with myself and anybody who may be listening or watching.”

And that’s sure to be a large audience Friday night.

Also scheduled to appear this week is Waukesha’s Spring City Grass bluegrass band outside of Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s Books on the Smooth Jazz/ProHealth Care stage, Buffalo Al and Drugstore Cowboy on the Waukesha Antique Mall stage on Bank Street, Rick & Pete D’Amore at the Rockin’ on Broadway stage and Richard Holly returns for a soul-filled blues performance on the Sounds on South stage at South Street and Clinton.

 For more information, call (262) 544-8030 or visit www.gmtoday.com/freemanfridaynightlive.

06/15/2009
By Tom Badger
Special to The Freeman
 

Those who were ‘there’ last Friday experienced an electrifying evening as Freeman Friday Night Live kicked off in downtown Waukesha.  Not since Harley's 105th anniversary has downtown been zapped by such energy.

“Opening night surpassed my expectations and I wish we had some way to count the people strolling about enjoying themselves,” said Roger Igielski, the president of the Downtown Waukesha Business Association. “The weather was awesome, the stage managers were prepared, the musicians were fantastic....the night really couldn't have gone any better.  With more families staying home for vacation this year due to the economy, Freeman Friday Night Live is a fun, inexpensive ‘stay-cation’ right in our quaint and historic downtown.” 
Norm Bruce, stage manager at Cuddles/Martha Merrell's Books, said Friday’s attendance was the largest opening night crowd in the event’s history. 

“On average, there were over 200 people enjoying the music of Mike and Kathy (Gallenberger) of Gman Music at our stage – and that was only one of the five stages,” Bruce said. “Old friends again met up and everyone strolled up and down the streets of downtown.  It was the start of another great season of family fun.”

It wasn't just the store owners who were sparked. Shortly after The Notebenders finished their set, a new fan raced up to guitarist Larry Ripani and demanded to know when his band would be here again.

She was thrilled to find out The Notebenders will be back in August.

“This is great for Waukesha,” the fan told Ripani. “I have never had so much fun in downtown Waukesha. I can't wait to come back next week.”

Next week is tomorrow night and another solid line-up of local talent awaits music fans starting at 6:30 p.m.  The groups include:

-The Front Porch Boys at The Steaming Cup stage on Main St. and Clinton

-Fair Webber at Rockin on Broadway stage at 258 W. Broadway

-Theiss & O'Connor at Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s stage at Main St. and Gaspar

-5th Avenue at Sounds on South stage on South St. and Clinton

-Buffalo Al and Matt Story at the Waukesha Antique Mall on Bank Street

“One customer that stopped by our store on Monday even said that we should close some of the streets since there were so many people downtown,” said Igielski, who, along with his wife Carrie, own Allô! Chocolat, 234 W. Main Street. “With all of the new restaurants and shops, there are noticeably more people coming downtown to begin with, so I'm sure some came down to have dinner or to shop, with no knowledge of Freeman Friday Night Live.  But now that they've experienced it, they'll be back sooner than they would have otherwise.”

For more information, call 544-8030 or visit www.gmtoday.com/freemanfridaynightlive

Freeman Friday Night Live launches 
on June 5th

By Tom Badger
Freeman Correspondent

WAUKESHA – It’s known as Freeman Friday Night Live, but this summer, the free weekly music series in downtown Waukesha just may go by the name “Freeman Friday Night Five.”

That’s because for the first time, Freeman Friday Night Live will have five stages and five performers playing every Friday – starting tonight at 6:30 p.m. 

In past years, the event hosted four stages. “What a great opportunity we have to be able to offer the community five stages this year,” said Kerry MacKay, owner and stage manager at The Steaming Cup, 340 W. Main Street.  “That's a simple 25 percent expansion.  It sounds little, but I can just imagine the satisfaction of spending even a quick 20 minutes at five different personal concerts on a warm Friday night.”

These ‘personal concerts’ come from the area’s top local talent in all genres of music, including jazz, folk, rock, country and even bluegrass. The musicians use the opportunity to gain exposure, try out new material and play in front of a live audience.  The performers set up underneath green garden tents and play for two hours.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

“There is a lot of excitement in the downtown and we're anticipating an unbelievable summer of fun,” said Roger Igielski, President of the Waukesha Downtown Business Association and owner of All’! Chocolat, 234 W. Main Street.  “The best way to experience the downtown and see all the new places is by parking your car and strolling around.  Freeman Friday Night Live is the perfect vehicle to make that experience totally relaxing and enjoyable.”

There are three new stage locations to go along two original sites. Joining The Steaming Cup (340 W. Main St.) and Cuddles/Martha Merrell’s Bookstore (231 W. Main St.) as hosts are Poppin' on Broadway (258 W. Broadway), South Street Stage by Jess Fleur Fun/Clinton St. Gallery (corner of South & Clinton), and at the Waukesha Antique Mall on Bank Street.

“As I was planning our line-ups for the Friday nights, I had a wonderful experience speaking with the performers,” said Kathy Garcia, owner of Poppin’ on Broadway. “They want to perform because they just love to play, and have been a part of the Freeman Friday Night Live for years.  They got me even more excited because of their enthusiasm, and their love for music.”

Kicking off Freeman Friday Night Live tonight is:

-Rockin’ on Broadway stage - The Notebenders.

-South Street stage – Ben Kammin

-Cuddles/Martha Merrell Books’ stage– Gman Music’s Mike & Kathy

-The Steaming Cup stage – Victrolum Republic

-Waukesha Antique Mall stage – Buffalo Al Drugstore Cowboy

Freeman Friday Night Live is a rain or shine event.  In the case of rain or other inclement weather, the musicians set up inside a building near each stage.

 “Freeman Friday Night Live has proven to be an incredible customer pied-piper event,” MacKay added.  “The live music on Friday night has literally drawn the community to the downtown area.”