Entertainment report: Louisiana come to Oregon at the LMB

By BEN OLSON/for The Herald  —  It’s 2023, a year that, in my youth, seemed possible only in futuristic science fiction novels, or songs like Zager and Evans, “In the Year 2525”. But this is real – the future is now, and I’m here to write about it. I’m only going to go one week further into the future, though.

Live music and gumbo

Oakridge’s own Kelly Thibodeaux and his band Etouffee will be putting on a free acoustic show this Saturday evening, January 7. Friends of Theater and Arts will be presenting “Louisiana Saturday Nite” at the Lion Mountain Bakery. It’s also the new home of the Zero Clearance Theater. The doors open at 5:00 p.m. and show time is at 6:00. There will be a cash bar. LMB owner, Jacqui Lamont, will be serving up Gumbo and blue-ribbon, prize-winning Pralines made with a treasured Thibodeaux recipe.

It should be a fun night of Cajun music.  Also at the Lion Mountain, Broken Horn will be playing his Epiphone guitar and singing from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 6,7 and 8. He has a song list of the classics from the 50’s and 60’s in country, rock and pop music. The Lion Mountain, located on Highway 58 in Oakridge, serves breakfast and lunch in a spacious, relaxed atmosphere. There is no cover charge for the live music.

Look for Olson at the Crane

At the 3 Legged Crane on 1st Street in Oakridge, I’ll be at the helm for the regular open mic this Thursday. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. There are a lot of talented singers and pickers in Oakridge and I’d love to see them drop by the Crane to do a song or two. The 3 Legged Crane has a big selection of beers and ales made right there on site, as well as from other microbreweries in Oregon. They serve appetizers, sandwiches and dinners. There is no cover charge for the live music.

Have a bite at the Rattlesnake sometime

I’ll be on the main stage at the Dexter Lake Club this Friday, January 6, beginning at 6 p.m. The plan is to split time accompanying myself with my upright bass and my old Guild guitar. I’d like to say that I’ve got all new songs for 2023. The truth is it’ll be mostly the old staples that have taken me years to perfect.

On Sunday evening, January 8, Brian Chevalier and friends will be back for the regular Sunday evening jam session and open mic. The show starts at 6 p.m. This is a great opportunity for all you wannabe rock and rollers.  You can get on stage and do a song or two with a real band backing you up. The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar. The adjoining Rattlesnake BBQ has appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu. There is no cover charge for the live music. The Club is located in Dexter, just off Highway 58 near milepost 12.

Hit the slopes and hear some good music at the WPR

At the other end of our coverage area, straddling Willamette Pass, is the Willamette Pass Resort. It is the largest, tallest and steepest ski area in all of Lane County. (full disclosure: some of it is in Klamath County) I’ll be entertaining in the main bar this Saturday, January 7, from noon until 3 p.m. While the room may be bustling with skiers and snowboarders taking a little break from fun on the slopes, it’s also a great spot for non-skiers to observe the action. The resort has a full bar and a variety of food options. There is no cover charge for the live music. WPR is located at the crest of the hill on Highway 58 at milepost 62.

Karaoke on the 58

For all of you fans of karaoke, here’s where it’s happening and when: The Loggers Den in Oakridge has karaoke on Wednesday evenings. The Dexter Lake Club every Thursday. The Moose Lodge in Oakridge does karaoke on Saturday nights and Rob at the Corner Bar in uptown Oakridge will crank up the karaoke machine anytime the demand is there.

If you know of any live music or entertainment event open to the public in the Highway 58 corridor, please drop me a line with the details and I will be glad to include it in my column. Please support live music and the musicians who make it.