August 27, 1999

Friday evening we drove 550 miles in 10+ hours arriving in Fremont, NE just in time for our gig at Nick's Main Street Grill. Nick's Main Street Grill is located upstairs from Fremont's hottest new blues club, "Blondie's Underground". Both businesses are owned and operated by Nick Herrman and his wife, Kathy.

The restaurant and bar area of Nick's is surrounded in dark wood tones and soft lighting, creating a classy dinner atmosphere. Bartenders Kathy and Keith took great care of us on both Friday and Saturday night, serving up some of the best of their menu.

My acoustic performance at Nick's Main Street Grill featured Bret Billings on dobro and harmonica and Fred Wolking on lead guitar. Fred and Bret are long-time Denver musicians who have accompanied me on various musical adventures; both within Denver, and outside of Denver. I was grateful to have their talent, professionalism (and sense of humor) on this road trip.

Our dinner performance at Nick's in Fremont, NE was over by 10:30pm. As we were packing-up for the night, sounds of a cookin' blues band began to filter into the room from the underground blues bar. Bret, Fred and I wandered into the lower level to check it out.

Descending the basement stair-well, we were finally leaving the humid Nebraska air. The cool wave from Blondie's Underground dried the evening's sweat from our necks, as the wailing blues guitar sounds of Mr. Eddie King pulled us into the room.

Eddie King is a Chicago blues veteran of over 40 years. In 1973 Koko Taylor took an interest in Eddie King, and they worked together for 20 years on and off. His current band line-up, the "Swampbees" includes Drummer-Terry Smith, and Bass-Gary Adkisson, creating a driving rhythm section that I could sway my hips to all night-long. Sax and piano player, Douglas Daniels, blends his sweet and steady melodies into every blues, shuffle, and contemporary jazz cross-over. "Big Fred" Jenkins plays a mean blues guitar with obvious jazz influence, complimenting the hot and tasty guitar phrasing that Eddie King is best known for.

Thank you to Eddie and his band members for sharing their stage with us. It was a blast jamming with such seasoned players!

August 28, 1999

On Saturday afternoon I performed with my acoustic line-up (Fred Wolking and Bret Billings) at the Fourth Annual Wine and Wings festival at Cuthills Vineyard in Pierce Nebraska. The Cuthills Vineyard is owned and operated by Ed and Holly Swanson. This year's event featured food vendors from across the state and Cuthills best wines from the season. Holly was very happy with the record turnout for Saturday's event.

We performed in the afternoon, between the OK Sisters and Phantom Freeway. If the OK Sisters ever get to Denver, they are a MUST SEE! These foxy ladies blend their sweet harmonies and a kickin' rhythm section to complete one of the finest festival bands I have seen. The crowd at Cuthills was pleasant and somewhat mellow, sipping their various Meads and Merlots in the shade of a hot, Nebraska day. We completed our three hour performance, and started heading back to Fremont, Nebraska for our evening show at Nick's Main Street Grill. But, not before catching part of Phantom Freeway's first set at the festival. As always, in just a few short songs, they had the crowd up and dancing.

Thank you to Nick and Kathy Herrman (Nick's Main Street Grill/Blondie's Underground Lounge) and to Ed and Holly Swanson (Cuthills Vineyard) for this opportunity. The Nebraska crowds treated us great, helping us to sell lots of tapes and bumper stickers.

Little Mary, Fred Wolking, and Bret Billings at the Wine and Wings Festival, Pierce, NE, August 28th, 1999

Yes, we did it! 1600 miles overall, three shows, and all in three days! When is the next "mini-tour"? And where will this next adventure take us?

Stay in touch with Little Mary's schedule page to find out . . . .