Well, since our calendar seems to be down I will post the upcoming gigs through October. 

8-13:  Open Mic @ A-Z Books @ 5th & Jeffers, NP – 7 PM

8-14:  Farmer’s Market/Street Fair @ 5th & Dewey, NP 10-11 AM & 11 AM – 5 PM  @ Dewey between 4th & 5th Streets

8-21:  Linden Court @ Phillip Street, NP -  2:30 PM

8-28:  Open Mic @ A-Z Books @ 5th & Jeffers, NP  –  7 PM

9-6:  Labor Council Picnic @ Ag Building  @ Lincoln County Fairgrounds (Time to be determined)

9-10:  Open Mic @ A-Z Books @ 5th & Jeffers, NP – 7 PM

9-18:  RailFest @ Cody Park Pavilion  @ Cody Park- Just North of Highway 30 on Highway 83 North - 12:30 – 1 pm

9-28:  Open Mic @ A-Z Books @ 5th & Jeffers, NP –  7 PM

10-3:  Blessing of the Animals @ Methodist Church @ McDonald & E Streets – 3 PM – Open to the public – Open to ALL Denominations

10-8:  Brown Bag Lunch @ NP Public Library @ 4th & Vine – 12 noon  – 1 PM

10-8:  Open Mic @ A-Z Books @ 5th & Jeffers, NP – 7 PM

10-23:  Open Mic @ A-Z Books @ 5th & Jeffers, NP – 7 pm

Once the calendar is back up you can check there for our upcoming play dates.

For our growing fan base I wanted to let you know of upcoming events we plan on being at.  On August 14th the 2nd annual street fair will be held in downtown North Platte on the bricks and we have been asked to play.  We will play on Saturday, September 18th at RAILFEST from 12:30-1pm, and the second friday in October we will be at a special Brown Bag lunch at the Library from 12-1 (I believe).  We invite everyone to come give us a listen.  At the Brown Bag lunch at the library we will give a history on the songs and the instruments we play.  Keep watching here for future play dates for The Irregulars.

Well, all our hard work learning 1930′s songs for this year’s Chautauqua celebration paid off.  We were a rousing success as evidenced by all of the positive comments we got from the audience.  We sure had a blast, but boy was it ever hot, and the mosquitos were feeding well on all of us.  We played about 26 of the 37 songs we had prepared and we came in right at 90 minutes.  The stage was a bit small so Ed, Stu and I were on stage and Gary and Don stood at opposite ends of the stage and down front.  I’m sure from what I was hearing through the monitors that you could hear us all over Cody park.

I had fun doing my blues number when I sang SUMMERTIME by George Gershwin.  We will be playing this Friday at Linden Estates, then in downtown North Platte on Friday, July 9th – it is part of the downtown revitalization project to get more folks to patronize the downtown merchants.  We will also start playing at the Farmer’s Market again on Saturday mornings.

We would like to thank all of our fans for coming out in the heat to hear us play this last Saturday at the Chautauqua.  We hope to be in Railfest again this year too, but that is way off in September.

We will also be at the next Open Mic the evening of July 9th at A-Z Books.  Come on down!!

The Flatrock Irregulars will play during the North Platte Chautauqua. We play on Saturday, June 26, 2010 from 5:30 pm until 7:00 PM under the tent in Cody Park. We’ve expanded out play list for this special occasion to include songs from the 1930’s since the theme of the Chautauqua is, “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties.” For this event we will play among other songs, “Minnie the Moocher” by Cab Calloway; Tumbling Tumbleweeds, and several Woody Guthrie songs including “DO Re Mi.” Be sure to join us in Cody Park under the big tent on Saturday, June 26, 2010 beginning at 5:30 pm.

We seem to have been neglecting the website for which I apologize.  So, thought I would bring you all up to speed on what we have been doing and about upcoming events.  Yesterday, June 5th, we participated in the 3rd Variety Show sponsored by the North Platte Bulletin and A-Z books.  Once again, George Lauby played host.  There were 12 acts, including the Irregulars.  This one was held in downtown North Platte on the bricks between 5th & 6th streets on Dewey St.  The Downtown Merchants Association also were sponsors.  There is a nominal fee to get into the Variety Shows with the proceeds going  to the artists and performers, so we want all of you to not only come to each event but to encourage everyone you know to also attend.  I don’t know anyplace where you can hear such good music and variety of music for just five dollars.  We had a blast, as usual.

We also played recently (May 22nd) at Linden Court for the residents.  We also recorded that performance and will soon have it available on the website.

Besides the Open Mic nights at A-Z books (next one is Friday, June 11th), we (the Irregulars) are booked to play at the Chautauqua celebration on Saturday, June 26th from 5:30 to 7, at Cody Park.  At this point we do not know if we will be playing under the tent or in the Cody Park Pavilion, but we will post that information here as we find out.  I haven’t talked to Erin yet, but would assume that we will once again play at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in the Parkade Plaza parking lot.  We usually set up just opposite Ace Hardware.

This next Saturday, June 12th will be our one year anniversary.    We are planning to have some sort of celebration, but will most likely just be the band and families as we haven’t enough capital to throw a big party, however you can come help celebrate by comng to Open Mic on Friday the 11th.

So, that’s the latest.  Will try to keep posts more current.

Just a brief reminder that we will be at the 2nd of the A-Z Variety shows this Saturday, April 10th at 7:30 pm at the Espresso Shop at 5th and Dewey in North Platte.  Come and join in the fun – there will be a lot of good entertainment, so don’t miss out.  See ya there!

As Stu told you all, St. Paddy’s Week was fun but EXHAUSTING!  I didn’t know singing could be so tiring, but we had a BLAST!!!!!  Judgng from the smiles on the faces of the folks who came to listen, we were a rousing success. 

At Open Mic we had planned to repeat the songs we had introduced at the previous one, but when Stu got called to work, we stuck with some of our favorite standards.

At this last Open Mic on Saturday, Ruth Frohman got up and said she had 58 people come to her party on the 13th, including two she didn’t even know, and she has gotten back about 40 thankyous.  According to what she told us, the thankyous all said they loved having the live music and would definitely be back next year, PROVIDED that the band (us) was also there.  So looks like we are booked for the Saturday before St. Pat’s day for 2011.

Now, for April – We will be at Open Mic on Friday, April 9th, then on Saturday April 10th A-Z Books will host the Second Variety night – this one to be held at the Espresso Shop on 5th and Dewey in North Platte.  Will run from 7:30 to 10 pm, and once again we have been asked to close the show.  Look for more on this at the bookstore.

The really BIG news is – We will be playing in the Bluegrass Showcase on Saturday April 24th at the 10th annual Bluegrass Festival here in North Platte.  Look here for the times.  We haven’t been told yet when we play that Saturday morning.  We would love to see all our fans come out and cheer us on.  We are really excited about getting this opportunity, plus the chance to just jam with all the professionals who will be at the festival.  I would imagine that we will also be at Open Mic that night if Sharon schedules one for that Saturday. 

I encourage any of you out there – if you get a chance to play with a band, just DO IT!!  This is such an amazing journey for all of us.  I couldn’t have imagined that I would EVER be doing this, and now I can’t imagine ever NOT doing it!!  You cannot believe  what joy this brings all of us.  Now more than ever, I believe that music and the ability to make music and having the opportunity to share it with others, is truly a gift from God!

God Bless you all, and thank you for your continuing support.

What an incredible week! Now we can sit back and rest for a couple of weeks? (I hope so.)

The week in review. Played at A-Z Friday for open mic. I was called away to work so Maggi will have to write the update there.

Saturday we played at Ruth Frohman’s open house. New experience, we had to play quietly/not so loudly. Had a wondrous time. All in attendance had to tell a joke or limerick and the odor of fresh bread baking was just scrumptious.

Tuesday, we played at the Espresso Shop. Don was called away for his dad’s funeral, Larry, Ed’s son filled in for Don on Bass. Maggi was on the road so we had to fill in the vocal parts. In addition to Ed, Gary, Stu, and Larry, David Brown filled in or rather added a new element to the group with the fiddle. If he sticks with us I no longer will be the youngest in the band. I believe David turns 21 this year.

Sorry this is getting long, but there is more to report. St Patrick’s Day We played the Senior Center, a retirement community, and a spagehetti dinner at the Methodist church. Once again Larry sat in with bass. Was great but made for a nine hour day. Started moving stuff around before ten am and didn’t finish packing up till after 7pm.

Thursday the 18 we played the Eagle’s Club where we were well recieved and invited back next year, Autumn Estates concert/show was postponed because of bad weather.

Did I tell you my fretting hand fingers are kiling me? They are, and the nails are below the quick. Thanks for all your support. Talk to you all again soon.

STU

Well Being the only Irish band I know of in North Platte we are comng up on our first busy season. The 13th of March we’ll be at Ruth Froman’s place for her Irish Open House.

On the 16th we are planning to play at the Espresso Shop from 10:00 till noon.

On the 17th we’ll be playing the Senior Center before lunch. They’ll be serving up Corn Beef and Cabbage. Later we’re going out to Linden Estates to entertain the folks out there.  In the evening we’ll finish up at the United Methodist Church  at their Wednesday Night Dinner.from 5:30 to 7:00pm. Dinner is open to the public any donations appreciated.

On the 18th we will be playing for the Railroad Retirement group at the Eagle’s Club from 6:00pm-?

The 19th we’ll be playing for the residents at Autumn Estates on Phillip from 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Of course there will be the usual open mics at A-Z Books on the 2nd Friday and 4th Saturday at 7:00pm every month.

I would imagine no two performances will be the same, so come out and catch us several times if you can.

Keep listening, Keep learning

STU

We played at A to Z Books  Valentine’s Eve Variety Show.  Other acts featured during the show included, Andie Foster, John Martin, Ronnie Weigel, Stu Meesenburg George Lauby and poet Scott Lucas. It was a great evening. Thanks for coming out and singing along with us.