I wish I had known of this before. The 2022 edition of Bluegrass, Bourbon, and Brews was my first ever trip to River Falls, Wisconsin. Started in 2011, BB&B was first created to fill a few hotel rooms during a slow part of the year. After a year or two off due to the pandemic (I couldn’t confirm how many) The party returned with great fervor.
The new Tattersall Distillery served as BB&B’s headquarters. Minneapolis-based Tattersall turned the old Shopko building – to the tune of $15M – into a beautiful event space, restaurant, gift shop, and distillery. A dozen venues and roughly 30 bands were involved through the weekend, including the local grocery store.
If you had told me 15 years ago that I would grow great fondness for Bluegrass, I would have called you insane. Now I certainly appreciate a banjo roll every bit as much as a power chord rhythm.
Friday night’s music began at Johnnie’s Bar with Danny Frank & the Smokey Gold, followed by the Potluck String Band. A quick stop at Maverick’s to hear a few songs by Chris Snyder, then over to Tattersall for Them Coulee Boys – one of Wisconsin’s best.
Saturday began at The Garage Bikes & Brews (a bicycle shop/ tap house combo!) for Barefoot Bluegrass. Then to Brickhouse Music where Everett Smithson taught a harmonica clinic. Back to Maverick’s to see Foxgloves. I had never seen a large harp on stage before.
Junior’s Restaurant was next for Adam Greuel before heading to Tattersall for High & Rising and Pert Near Sandstone. Then all serious partiers wrapped up the night at Shooter’s Pub, to hear Chris Castino & the Fightin’ Popes of Science.
