Chickenwired!

What an AWESOME Night!! Last Friday at the Chicopee AMVETS was absolutely LEDGEN... wait for it......DARY... with an Jam-Packed club, and the floor so full during the lessons I was teaching from the Carpet! 

With 54 Dancers on the floor, the lessons were fun and the atmosphere electric.  We started out by reviewing last weeks dance "Walking Away" and because we had SO MANY new people we taught two beginner dances "Up to No Good" and the Classic Jo Thompson Szymanski dance "Cowboy Rhythm". (We will be teaching a Partner Dance this Friday.) 

Everyone picked up the dances great and got to practice them throughout the evening to some great songs by the band. Speaking of the band, Chickenwire did an absolutely fabulous job of personally interacting with the audience while laying down some beat-perfect rhythms for us to dance to. Great band, Great musicians and singers and some of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet. They will be back on February 15th. Don't Miss Em!

So Many New friends, we can't keep track. It was great to see Shirley, Lana, Nancy and their friend Denise back, as well as meeting all of Kris's Friends, Doreen's friend Jean, etc etc etc. If you haven't yet, get me your emails so we can keep you updated with what's happening with the club!

One couple I'd like to mention specifically and introduce you to is Wendy & Kevin from Otis. We will be teaching beginner & maybe low intermediate dances at their place starting in March. BTW they just got engaged last Friday. Congratulations!! Really nice folks. Stop by and introduce yourself next time you see them. Check out the new Lessons here and share with your western Mass Friends!

Next Friday, it's a , um Oh Yeah...... Just One of the FINEST Country Bands in New England... RADIO RANCH!!! Yeah the Ranch is Back! The night will be hopping as Joe, Justin, Jim, Art and Matt      get your Butt Rocking and Boots knockin' with a mix of classic Country and contemporary standards. They guys really set the bar for  knowing what it takes to please an audience. The place is ALWAYS packed when the Ranch is playing so get there early to get a seat! So Join the PARTY CROWD and Dance with the Ranch, RADIO RANCH!!

BTW - Thanks to Alan & Sonia / UK for recently doing a Demo video of our New dance Nathan's Wagon and putting it up on their website for others. Alan & Sonia run a UK site full of dance videos. Check it out  Alan & Sonia's Site.

EASTHILL FARM!! Book now rooms are going fast!   East Hill Farm Country Dance Weekend March 15th-17th  ** Click for Info** . 

Tell them you're with Randy, Doreen and the One Eyed Parrot Dance club when you book!  

MISHNOCK BARN RHODE TRIP

It's Time to Book your Room for our 5th Annual Rhode Trip to the Mishnock Barn!! May 25th 2012. We will be heading back down almost a year to the day from our last trip that absolutely ROCKED!!  An Annual OEP Traditions WOO HOO!!

 CLICK FOR MISHNOCK FLYER

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Melting Away those Winter Blues!

Sometimes it's hard to get folks to go out in January (arguably the coldest month of the year), but you wouldn't have believed it Last Friday. Folks came out to the Chicopee AMVETs in force and we had 50+ people packing the floor for the line/ Partner dance lessons with a combination of long time dancers and brand new beginners. That's what I'm talking about! Just-N-Kase kept up the momentum hitting the stage with a uptempo combination of Country, Rock & Roll and oldies that fired the place up! They even got up with us to line dance. (Great Job BTW) Gotta love that. Good Musicians, Great People and another great night our dancing with all our friends. 

For the lessons, we reviewed Nathan's Wagon a fun & lively 32 count Partner dance that goes to the song Wagon Wheel by Nathan Carter. For the new dance we taught Walking away that also goes to the 1st song we play on Fridays "Is it Friday Yet" by Gord Bamford. 

Saturday had the OEP's out en masse for the  HAM & BEAN COUNTRY GATHERING (Dinner and Dancing) at the 2nd Baptist Church in South Hadley! 

What a nice night! The hall was packed, and Jenn, Kathleen, Darlene and company did a great job getting everyone if fed and up dancing! We got to teach 4 beginner lines and a Partner dance in between demo'ing for the crowd. But most of all, made some great new friends! Check out the Photo Montage HERE!!

This coming Friday, CHICKENWIRE will be back in the saddle at the Chicopee AMVETS! Yes indeed, our feathered friends are flying south to close out January at our local Honky Tonk! A great addition to the 2013 band Line Up,  you'll be dancing to these guys every month!. If you've never seen/heard them, you are ABSOLUTELY missing out. Check out the dates these guys are playing on our EVENT SCHEDULE. Get there earlier if you want a good seat, From what  I hear, the place is gonna be packed!! As always lessons at 6:30 Sharp $3.00 and the Band starts at 8PM - $5.00 Band cover. The band is advertising our lessons on their site... How nice is that?

The Parrot has been mobilized for your viewing pleasure. Now when you go to our website from your Smart Phone it will appear as shown in this picture and formatted to fit your phone. You can browse the schedule, view Weekly Updates or click the phone number or email to call or write us. If you view the website from a PC it will look as it always has. Check it out from your phone at OneEyedParrot.Org

*****Reminders***** 

-Book your Rooms for East Hill Farm in March and Mishnock in May

EASTHILL FARM!! Book now rooms are going fast!   East Hill Farm Country Dance Weekend March 15th-17th  ** Click for Info** . Tell them you're with Randy, Doreen and the One Eyed Parrot Dance club when you book!  I think we have AT LEAST 17 booked already from the OEPs... COOL!

MISHNOCK BARN RHODE TRIP

It's Time to Book your Room for our 5th Annual Rhode Trip to the Mishnock Barn!! May 25th 2012. We will be heading back down almost a year to the day from our last trip that absolutely ROCKED!!  An Annual OEP Traditions WOO HOO!!

 CLICK FOR MISHNOCK FLYER

Wagon Trails

Last Friday we had a full floor for the lessons to start off another great night our dancing with all our friends. YEAH!!! I Love this Bar.....

For the lessons, we started off with the review of Hick Lake Lick. Fun upbeat dance with a great feel (Hick Lake Lick Video Here) and then we taught our new dance, Nathan's Wagon! It's a fun & lively 32 count Partner dance that goes to the song Wagon Wheel by Nathan Carter. We had a lot of really positive feedback on this one. Check out the usual suspects in the NATHAN'S WAGON VIDEO HERE!  Also if you never heard of Nathan Carter, here's his Music Video of the song. Addictive to watch.

Truck Stop Troubadours

After the lessons the Truck Stop Troubadours took the stage and got the joint hoppin' with that Classic outlaw country sound for a 4/4 foot stompin' two steppin', beer drinkin' good time. Speaking of the Troubadours, Brian and the performed an OUTSTANDING rendition of the Classic Song Wagon Wheel. The tempo was perfect, the vocals top notch and most importantly to structured dancers, they never missed a beat. Straight 32, through and through. Had several people comment on how great it was that the Troubadours we're calling out the dances we do to the songs. They left us with the request to send them songs to learn for us.  Great Job Guys!! 

BTW, Really glad we did a reteach of the line dance Walk the Line as so many of our bands (The Troubadours are one) play Waylon Jenning's classic "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line. (Same with Gary Allan's remake of the Del Shannon Classic, Runaway)

Country Gathering

This Friday, Just-N-Kase will be back at the AMVETS to help you dance away your Mid Winter Blues and don't forget that Saturday is the HAM & BEAN COUNTRY GATHERING (Dinner and Dancing) at the 2nd Baptist Church in South Hadley and Jenn tells us they're gonna have a great crowd!! The OEP's will  be there providing beginners dance lessons so don't miss it!!

We updated the Club's Choreography Page - CLICK HERE!!

Reminders - Book your Rooms for East Hill Farm in March and Mishnock in May.. 

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EASTHILL FARM!! Book now rooms are going fast!   East Hill Farm Country Dance Weekend March 15th-17th  ** Click for Info** . Tell them you're with Randy, Doreen and the One Eyed Parrot Dance club when you book!  

MISHNOCK BARN RHODE TRIP

It's Time to Book your Room for our 5th Annual Rhode Trip to the Mishnock Barn!! May 25th 2012. We will be heading back down almost a year to the day from our last trip ROCKED!!  

         CLICK FOR 

MISHNOCK FLYER

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Great way to Start the New Year!

What a great way to kick off the 2013 dance season!
It may have been cold outside last Friday but the Chicopee AMVETS was on fire with the joint hopping till closing!

We started off the night at 6:30 with a full floor of dancers for the lessons. It was great to see the new folks and make a bunch of new friends as well as seeing a few of the Circa 1997 Lighthouse Line Dance crowd. For the Partners  we reviewed Sassy Shanay and taught a favorite of ours from a few years back, Hick Lake Lick to the Song Hickory lake by Bekka & Billy. Great song, fun dance.

Later in the evening Radio Ranch did a great rendition of Party Crowd that had half the place on their feet singing  and doing all the animation that go with that song., (BTW That chair dance has been around since at least 1996)  Check out the video at a Club Vance venue.

The Ranch did as they always do and made sure a good time was had by all, 1st band of the month, Every Month. We'll see them back in February.

This Friday, Brian and the Troubadours will be back playing that 4/4 foot stompin' two steppin', house rockin', diesel truckin', beer drinkin' music in true Honkytonk style. They'll get the place moving and we'll be reviewing Hick Lake Lick and teaching a brand new Circle Partner dance (Same footwork) to a song the you will love and be singing on the way home! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, January 19 is a Ham & Bean Country Gathering  at the SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH 589 Granby Rd (RT202) South Hadley)from 5-8 pm. We'll be there to introduce folks to beginners line and maybe couples dancing. For dinner they'll be ham, beans, coleslaw, rolls, beverage and dessert  from 5-6:30 pm.   Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door.  Children under 5 are free.   

Tickets are available from Jen Crafts at 413-552-4140 or in person on Friday Nights at the Chicopee AMVETS 

EASTHILL FARM!! Book now rooms are going fast!   East Hill Farm Country Dance Weekend March 15th-17th  ** Click for Info** . Tell them you're with Randy, Doreen and the One Eyed Parrot Dance club when you book!  

MISHNOCK BARN RHODE TRIP

It's Time to Book your Room for our 5th Annual Rhode Trip to the Mishnock Barn!! May 25th 2012. We will be heading back down almost a year to the day from our last trip ROCKED!!  

         CLICK FOR MISHNOCK FLYER

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Happy 2013!!

Wow!! What a great year! 

2012 saw lesson attendance records being broken, great new additions to the band lineup and even better,  Wonderful new friends to dance with every week! There were more Road-trips, more Barbecues more dance events that we were invited to then ever before  and more great new dances that we’ll be doing for years to come! So let’s take a look back at 2012… 

2012 PhotoHighlights CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT!!!!   

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OEP Line Dance of the Year!

1st Place A Tie: “Baby Dance with Me” “OLLY”  &   “Shotgun Jenny”

2nd Place “1452 beers Ago”

3^rd Place “Summer Sun”

OEP Couples Dance of the Year!

Colorado Girls 

Followed by Heartstrings

OEP Song of the Year!

The Wind by Brad Paisley

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2012 Bands

Radio Ranch! I can't say enough about what great performances the Ranch gave last year and as previous stated I'm tired of trying to find new adjectives that mean Awesome. Take away the fact their performances were "AWESOME". Take away the fact that they're Great Musicians and Singers. Take away the fact they play a Great all around country mix and genuinely relate to the crowd. When you do you'll find that you're left with 5 of the nicest people you'll ever want to meet. Good Times, Good Friends. Looking forward another year of making memories with these guys in 2013.

Just N Kase – Just N Kase you didn’t know, this band was a new addition to the line up in 2012 making their debut performance on March 23^rd. Great Musicians and all around nice folks, they entertained us all by mixing it up with a Little Country / a Little Rock and Roll and a drummer that never missed a beat. This Premier Rock & Roll Band consistently delivered great up-tempo tunes to keep us dancing all night. Deb and the guys will be back in 2013!

 

 

 Truck Stop Troubadours.  Brian and his gang  have become a staple of the Country Music scene in Western Mass with their  4/4 foot stompin' two steppin', house rockin', diesel truckin', beer drinkin' music in true Honkytonk tradition. 2012 saw them adding several new songs to their standard repertoire and on performance after performance they never fail to deliver!  Besides making a point to call out the dances we do to specific songs they worked in some off our favorites like Runaway and Act Naturally, Nice Touch Guys! Looking forward to 2013.

True West – Well sad as it was, June 14^th 2012 was the last time anyone will get to see this band perform at the Chicopee AMVETS. These folks have been playing the Chicopee AMVETS since they blew us away with their debut performance on Jan 25, 2008. Known for Modern Country played to perfection; this band will be sorely missed. Good News? Look for John Kelly and Jim Pederson coming back in 2013 to the New England Music scene in a newly formed band! Yeah Buddy!!

Chickenwire – Wow! Another great new 2012 addition to the band Line Up at the Chicopee AMVETS. Making their debut performance on October 19^th. this local band with one of the coolest logo's around is also one of the areas coolest bands! Yes, this local band out of the Greenfield, Massachusetts area really Rocked the House in 2012. Playing mainly upbeat rhythms, they entertained the crowd with a mix of Country, Rock n Roll, Southern Rock etc that kept people up on the floor and dancing all night. They worked well with the Line dancers playing songs they knew dances to and they also threw in a few Buckle Polishers and Hopping Swing Tunes for the Freestylers and Swing Dancers. Nice Guys, Good Musicians.

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Happy New Year to All! Looking forward to a wonderful 2013 dancing with all our friends!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday, January 19 is a Ham & Bean Country Get Together at the SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH 589 Granby Rd (RT202) South Hadley)from 5-8 pm. We'll be there to introduce folks to beginners line and maybe couples dancing. For dinner they'll be ham, beans, coleslaw, rolls, bev. and dessert  from 5-6:30 pm.   Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door.  Children under 5 are free.   Tickets are available from Jen Crafts at 413-552-4140 or in person on Friday Nights at the Chicopee AMVETS 

The first 15 people who ask Jenn for tickets this Friday will get theirs FREE!!

New Info Page for the East Hill Farm Country Dance Weekend March 15th-17th . Check it out and Book NOW! Tell them you're with Randy, Doreen and the One Eyed Parrot Dance club when you book! 

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Looking for places to Dance on other days?

Vance Reed has Lessons every Wednesday Evening starting at 7:30 at Tommy D’s in Westfield

Millie Gagne has Sunday Night Dances at the Scout Hall Youth center just off Rt 5 in East Windsor on Jan 6th & 27th / Feb 10th & 24th and another one on St. Patty’s day March 17^th.

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See Ya on the Dance Floor!