Entertainment report: A don’t miss- Cuchulain Kelly to headline at the 3 Legged Crane this Friday

By BEN OLSON/for The Herald  —  This weekend was an adventure. Friday afternoon Gary Battles and I serenaded the residents of Crescent Park in Eugene. Stopping at the Hilltop for a barley pop, I got into a great conversation with Sean O’Reilly. Sean broke into the newspaper business in the 60’s in San Francisco. Sean’s one of the last of the typesetters, and still does custom printing at his shop, the old fashioned way.

From one end of the east county to the other

Saturday morning I drove up to Willamette Pass in a winter weather event to play some tunes for skiers coming in out of the cold. Then my wife and I made a stop at the Circle Bar clubhouse for Michelle and Phil’s wedding reception.

I ended the day playing at the 3 Legged Crane with Peter Wilde and his assembled menagerie. Sunday began with a ukulele concert at the Lion Mountain Bakery. Then I drove my friend Sidney Joseph up to Willamette Pass in even worse weather so that he could play guitar while I skied. It’s good to be back home, sitting in my easy chair, just tapping out this column on my laptop.

Americana on the menu at Dexter Lake Club

Let’s start on the west end of the Highway 58 corridor. The Dexter Lake Club by milepost 12 will be presenting the HipBillys this Friday evening, April 7. Craig Sorseth and Tom West play ‘Americana’ music as authentically as anyone you’ll hear. Check out their website thehipbillys.com. They’ll be playing from 6 until 8 pm. On Sunday night, Brian Chevalier and friends will be hosting the open mic and jam session. It’s always fun. It begins at 6 pm.

The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar, and the adjoining Rattlesnake BBQ has appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu. There is no cover charge for the live music. For more information, call 541 581 3000.

Broken Horn will be singing familiar songs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 7, 8 and 9 at the Lion Mountain Bakery in Oakridge. The music runs from 11 am until 1 pm each day. The Lion Mountain serves both breakfast and lunch, with a spacious seating arrangement and great acoustics. There is no cover charge for the live music.

Cuchulain Kelly at the 3 Legged Crane

One of my favorite troubadours, Cuchulain, will be on stage at the 3 Legged Crane this Friday, April 7. Cuchulain, his real first name by the way, is releasing his newest single, “My Dog” on April 14. I’m certain he’ll be playing it for you at the Crane. The show runs from 7 until 10 pm. You can find out more about him at his website, cuchulainkelly.com.

I’ll be the overseer of the open mic on Thursday evening, playing my first song at 6:30 sharp. Stop on by with a plan to sing a song or two, or bring your guitar or sitar. The Crane is located in the Uptown District of Oakridge on 1st Street. They brew their own beer and also have some tasty beers and ales from other microbreweries around Oregon. The menu features appetizers, sandwiches and dinners. There’s never a cover charge for the live music.

Skiing and music still going well into April at the Pass

I’ll be on stage at the Summit Bar at Willamette Pass Resort both Saturday and Sunday, April 8 and 9. It’s a great spot to relax with a beverage, listen to a little music and watch skiers and snowboarders bombing down the hill. They have a full bar and numerous food options. The music begins at noon each day, and I’ll be playing “Turn Out the Lights, the Party’s Over” at 3 pm.

Willamette Pass Resort is located at milepost 62, just to the north side of Highway 58. There is no cover charge for the music and no dress code, if looking at the get-ups that some of the boarders are wearing is any indication.

Karaoke fans can find it at the Loggers Den in Oakridge on Wednesdays and the Dexter Lake Club on Thursdays. On Saturday night it happens at the Moose Lodge in Oakridge and the Corner Bar in uptown Oakridge has it every weekend. 

I’m going to take the dog out and play in the snow. Hopefully this will be the last time we’ll get to play in the snow in Oakridge until next December.