The Happy Shak (formerly called the Music Shed) at 322 E. Mills St. in Columbus is happy to announce a special evening of entertainment on Friday, April 24. At 8 p.m. attendees will get an opportunity to hear the debut of 19 year old Berklee College of Music student, Allegra Krieger, who is coming in from Boston. With a name like Allegra, music appears to be her destiny. She will open for Damon Fowler.

 

The way Damon plays guitar, his given name should have been Demon instead of Damon. The fiery guitarist’s slide, dobro and lap steel riffs have been snapping heads around since his ’99 debut, Riverview Drive, produced and played on by legendary rocker Rick Derringer.

 

But, as he has proved with a string of albums for Blind Pig beginning with ’09′s Sugar Shack, Fowler doesn’t need any help getting his message across. A blend of sacred steel, backwater blues and howling, greasy swamp rock, Fowler’s music is a primal, atavistic sound that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

 

His solo gigs with his skin tight power trio have converted rooms full of strangers into a loyal congregation who now attend his services regularly. His exposure as half of the twin guitar attack (with J.P. Soars) of the newly convened blues supergroup, Southern Hospitality, and their March 2013 release Easy Livin’, has given him evangelical status among the faithful.

 

While these musicians will be center stage, the Happy Shak is proud to recognize three local Polk County students whose efforts will make this event and others possible. With assistance from the Happy Shak owner George Baston, Tanner Garrett, son of Cindy Dusenbury and Rodney Garett, will “officially” kick off his chilidog business, The MillBilly Dog Shak.

 

Luke Nelson, son of Kim and Rich Nelson, has recently begun helping with the social media and website, selling concert tickets, music recordings, and band merchandise.

 

Grayson Greene, son of Mary and Aaron Greene, has been working hard on post-facility renovation and operations and the place has never looked better.

 

Come out to hear some phenomenal music and congratulate our local students on their hard work. Go to www.thehappyshak.com for more information and tickets. (Pay close attention to spelling or you will end up in Alabama!)

 

-Submitted by George Batson