Driftless Books & ?

We had a wonderful evening last Wednesday for our first visit to Driftless Books which is housed in the former Viroqua Tobacco Cooperative Warehouse on the corner of Walnut and Rail Road Avenue. Seriously, we hung out in a bookstore for more than 4 hours.

In 2009 its owner, Eddy Nix, moved to Viroqua from Viola with about a 100,000 books and has since built its inventory to about 250,000 books with 35,000 of those on line. There's also sheet music and vinyl records all catalogued.

But we weren't really there to look at books as it was the evening's music venue that had brought us here. The talented Frank Fairfield would be playing a farewell 'retirement' gig with Meredith Axelrod. But what an additional pleasure to peruse the book shelves before the concert evening began and hear other musicians as well.

Adding to small town country charm, a potluck preceded the concert at 6 and about dozen or so folks partook in sharing dinner and conversation.
 By the time the first performer, Sandler Waggoner (originally from Terre Haute) opened the evening more folks had arrived and started filling the seating. 
Sandler's music and lyrics matched his guitar's face wood burned design, full of feeling and definite attachment to nature. 

Bob Bovee filled the chair next with his western Cowboy music.  I have spoken about Bob before as he has been a guest at the Old School Variety Show more than once. We always enjoy his wit and old fashioned playing style. 

In between each performer there was a 10  minute break to stretch and visit a bit with the artists. Fortunately the chairs had filled for at $15/ticket one wonders how these talented folks can pay for gas which may be reason enough for Frank Fairfield, our headliner's early retirement. Such talent from Californians Meredith Axelrod and Frank Fairfield. I lost count at how many instruments Frank played as the two bantered and sparred with dry humor in between tunes. I am still wondering who was the 'straight' man. They filled our hearts with wonderful instrumentals and very unique singing styles. We can only hope a brief reprieve will refresh Frank.
Below's a short instrumental clip from their wonderful Wednesday performance. 

We'll be back at Driftless Books this Wednesday as Natureman's youngest son, Simon, will be performing along with bud Ian Vaver and the Yellow-Bellied Sap-Suckers. You should definitely join us. This will also be another special entertainment filled evening at 518 Walnut Avenue, Viroqua, WI amidst the classics and romance novels in the Driftless. 

*Meredith Axelrod (one month ago youtube recording)