Hillbilly band set to play Garden Gathering ’06

OLD TOWN – Again this year the lunch break at Garden Gathering ’06 will feature the Beecher Boys ‘n’ Girls Hillbilly Band. Garden Gathering ’06 will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Rogers Farm in Old Town.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. Admission is $3, $5 per family and free to children under 12.

The clog dancing demonstration during the lunch break at last year’s event proved so popular that the band has added cloggers to its ensemble. Visitors can expect a demonstration of their skills, accompanied by some toe tapping music from the band.

The live lunchtime entertainment is in addition to an all new Garden Gathering program that includes a question-and-answer session at 9:30 a.m. that kicks off the day. As always, there will be supervised events throughout the day designed especially for youngsters.

The Beecher Boys are Jeremy (Junior Bob Simple) George on acoustic guitar; and Joe (Joe Bob Simple) Cannon, mandolin. In addition to his duties with the band, Cannon is also farm manager at Rogers Farm.

Also in the band are John Bob Simple, a.k.a. John McCallum, who doubles on acoustic guitar and harmonica; Ben (Ben Bob Simple) Lagasse, also acoustic guitar; banjo picker Paul (Paul Bob Simple) Carlson; and upright bass player Ben (Ben Bob More-Simple) Dresser.

The “girls” are cloggers Mia Simple, Ima Simple and Pretty Simple. Included in their clogging repertoire are bluegrass favorites “Rocky Top,” “Boiling Cabbages” and “Cripple Creek.”

Two of the ladies are married to band members. Janet, the wife of mandolin player Joe Cannon, plays the autoharp. Karen Dresser, married to Ben, plays the ukulele. The two newest members are Simple Cousins, too. Amanda Lynn Simple clogs, claps and plays the kazoo. Eileen Simple sings and plays a “mighty good” fiddle, according to another band member.

For more information about Garden Gathering ’06, call the Cooperative Extension Service office at 942-7396 weekdays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.