LATE BULLETIN

We're so sorry, but the tickets are sold out at this time.  However, fans who arrive at the door will have an opportunity to purchase tickets/get in when the club's capacity permits.   [Translation: You might get in after some of the earlybirds leave.]

Of course, those who've enjoyed the Barn Dance over the years and appreciate all that Ronnie has done for artists and live music venues in the area are more than welcome to make monetary donations to the cause. Donations of money (please make checks out to Ronnie Mack) and/or merchandise for the evening's auction can be sent to:

A Tribute to Ronnie Mack's Barn Dance
c/o The Bean Counters
12225 San Vicente Boulevard, #115
Brentwood, CA  90049

Thanks for your support.

Every community needs a central meeting place, and for the roots music community of Southern California, that place is the Barn Dance. And the man who almost single-handedly has shouldered the logistical burden of keeping the Barn Dance alive from week to week over the past 13 years is Ronnie Mack. Now a stellar crew of artists is convening to say thanks.

On Tuesday, October 24, 2000, a music-packed Tribute to Ronnie Mack’s Barn Dance will take place at Crazy Jack’s saloon in Burbank, California. Dwight Yoakam and his band will headline a bill that includes James Intveld, Kathy Robertson, the Blazers, Russell Scott and His Red Hots, Mojo Monkeys, the Rhinestone Homeboys, Eddy Jennings and the Barn Dance Band, plus emcee John “Juke” Logan. There will also be an auction of eclectic memorabilia, and door prizes. The Barn Dance’s traditional hillbilly jam will close out the night. Tickets -- which are going fast -- are $10, plus $5 for dinner. ALL PROCEEDS (including food sales) will be donated to Ronnie Mack, to replace the musical instruments and equipment that were stolen from his home this summer. DONATIONS are also being accepted.

Started almost 13 years ago at the legendary Palomino nightclub in North Hollywood by Ronnie Mack and James Intveld, the Barn Dance has periodically relocated to various clubs but has remained a dependable source of camaraderie, fun and outstanding Americana music, a place where up-and-coming musicians could find a stage and an audience, and music lovers could discover meaningful music. A hard-working country and rockabilly musician himself, Mack was one of the first - and most enthusiastic - boosters of now-famous artists such as Dave Alvin, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Rosie Flores, Buddy Miller and Dale Watson. Mack has arguably done more than any other single person for California’s country and roots music community. It’s worth noting that the Barn Dance is the model after which Nashville’s highly successful Western Beat showcase (and CMT TV show of the same name) is patterned.

With typical simplicity, Lucinda Williams says it best: “Ronnie Mack started the whole thing. There would be no Western Beat without his heartbeat.”

Like the Barn Dance itself, the Tribute to Ronnie Mack’s Barn Dance represents a full spectrum of American roots music performed by local, regional and national artists. It’s a chance to thank and help an individual who’s worked hard to help many, many others.

Barbecue chicken dinner will be served from 6:30 to 10 p.m.; music starts at 8 p.m.
THERE WILL BE NO GUEST LIST
Crazy Jack’s is located at 4311 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank.
For directions, call 818-845-1121.

TESTAMENTS TO RONNIE MACK

Lucinda Williams:   “Ronnie Mack started the whole thing. There would be no Western Beat without his heartbeat.”

Jim Lauderdale:   “We should all thank our lucky stars for Ronnie Mack. For the past umpteen years, he has been the best friend a singer, songwriter, picker and music lover in Southern California could have. He has given us a place to go play, meet, listen - in short, kept a music scene alive for us. Can you imagine what it would have been like all these years without him? I can’t. He has helped me more than he will ever know by his kindness and support. Ronnie Mack is one of those people you hear about who really has a heart of gold.”

Dave Alvin:   “I've known Ronnie Mack for twenty years since his band, The Black Slacks, played on some of the earliest Blasters shows. In all that time Ronnie has remained an honest and decent guy who has championed various artists’ careers, often at the detriment of his own. His selfless work of running the Barn Dance for over a decade (often paying the acts out of his own pocket) has kept roots and country music a presence on the California music scene when other people had given up it up for dead. Ask many of today's ‘Americana’ stars who helped them out in the beginnings of their career and you'll hear Ronnie's name.

“Unfortunately, after promoting so many other artists, Ronnie’s own talents as a singer/songwriter/guitarist are often overlooked. Ronnie, in my opinion, is one of the best rockabilly/rock and roll guitarists I've ever heard and one of the sweetest singers this side of Ricky Nelson.

“For twenty years, Ronnie has bucked the overwhelming odds and fought against the constant trends of disposable music. If the world was a just place, he would be a millionaire or, at least, on the radio. Ronnie's a good, tough man fighting the good, tough fight and, for that alone, he's always been one of my heroes.”

Rosie Flores:   “If ‘roots-rock’ country music had a saint, it would be Ronnie Mack. Ronnie has always been involved in the music scene for the good of others, always putting himself last in line. On a personal level, Ronnie is like a brother and a best friend that I could count on through thick and thin through the last 14 years of our friendship. I'd like to publicly thank Ronnie Mack for all the encouragement and support (this includes financially) toward the growth of country, rockabilly, blues and pop music in Southern California and beyond, and also to thank him for being a great friend to me. I respect him wholeheartedly for everything he has done up to this date in his career. Can't tell I love the guy, can ya?”

Billy Block, host of CMT’s Western Beat:   “I would not be doing what I am doing or enjoying the success I am having if not for my years of friendship and experience with Ronnie Mack. Ronnie has the biggest heart of anyone in the music business and is worthy of the highest praise. I am honored to call him my friend and am thankful for having shared so many years onstage with him as part of the Ronnie Mack Barn Dance Band.”

James Intveld:   “Me and Ronnie Mack have been friends for a really long time. We always thought of music as not a competitive thing. We always thought of it as, like, ‘Do you remember in the old days of the Grand Ole Opry and everybody would play on a show?’ [The Barn Dance] came from that whole idea of putting on a show, more than saying, ‘My band’s great, let’s do a battle of the bands.’ That - battle of the bands - isn’t really what music should be.”