Folksinger to share celtic tunes, history with guests

Celtic tunes and a bit of its history are coming to Concrete Saturday for the Chamber’s first ever St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Theater.

Traveling folksinger Hank Cramer will provide entertainment at the historic Concrete Theatre as part of the chamber’s event.

Cramer will present “Celtic Cowboy — Roots Music of the American West,” as he performs Irish tunes and popular songs of the American cowboy, while providing a history of how the music has evolved into various forms in the West.

Cramer’s performance teaches people about the history and culture of the West, said Valerie Stafford, Concrete Chamber of Commerce president. He not only provides musical entertainment, but his performances have a sense of humor and he is a great story teller, Stafford said.

“That’s what makes it different from a typical concert,” she said.

When Irish immigrants came to the United States, they brought their music with them and it evolved as they moved West, Cramer said. A lot of cowboy and pop music have Irish roots to them, he said.

Cramer, who lives in Winthrop, has traveled all over in the United States and Canada. He performs with a vintage flat-top guitar and a five-string banjo.

Although he has been a full-time folksinger for eight years, his past careers have led him to be a miner, soldier, wrangler and world traveler.

“He’s someone people in our community can relate to,” Stafford said. “He’ll be really well received.”

Cramer said he is of Irish decent on both sides of his family and enjoys playing the high energy tunes of Celtic music. St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to play that genre of music, he said.

Cramer said he’s looking forward to visiting Concrete and having the opportunity to perform for a new crowd. It will be a nice way to come spend time in the town, he said, as he has not had the opportunity.

Cramer’s Saturday performance is under-written by Humanities Washington, a non-profit organization and public foundation that provides cultural and educational programs throughout the state.

The event will begin with dinner at 5 to 7 p.m. and Cramer’s performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Concrete Theatre.

Participants will have five restaurants to choose from for dinner. Stafford said having dinner in the theater would be difficult, so the Chamber decided to hold the dinner at different restaurants in the area. This way, people can choose where they want to go and there should be enough variety between the menus and prices, Stafford said.

The restaurants include Annie’s Pizza Station, Cajun Bar & Grill and Cottage Café in Concrete, Birdsview Brewing Company in Birdsview and Buffalo Run Restaurant in Marblemount. It also will be fun to see who goes where for dinner, Stafford said.

Having a choice between several restaurants will also help reduce crowds if a lot of people attend the event, said Annie Bussiere, owner of Annie’s Pizza Station. That way it gives patrons an opportunity to relax, she said.

Bussiere said the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Theater should be a fun evening and she has heard that Cramer is a “good quality entertainer.”

“He’s got a really good voice,” she said. “I’m hoping people decide to make a whole evening of it.”

The tickets for the event cost $20. Half of the price admits one to the evening’s performance and the other $10 serves as a certificate toward dinner at one of the five restaurants.

The Chamber isn’t trying to make money on the event, Stafford said. The purpose is to help increase the visibility of the businesses upriver, she said.

“I think it’s just a good opportunity for people to see Concrete,” Stafford said.

Tickets are available from the Concrete Chamber of Commerce, participating restaurants, local businesses and Chamber members. For more information, call the Concrete Chamber of Commerce at 360-853-7621, e-mail at or visit http://www.concrete-wa.com.

Upriver dinner options

The following businesses will participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. In addition to their traditional menus, each restaurant will provide an Irish-themed dinner.

Birdsview Brewing Company, Birdsview
Corned beef
360-826-3406

Annie’s Pizza Station, Concrete
Celtic pizza with spinach, mushrooms and sausage
360-853-7227

Cajun Bar & Grill, Concrete
Frog legs
360-853-8518

Cottage Cafe, Concrete
Reuben casserole with cream topping and soda bread or Steak and Guinness pie with Irish potato farls.
Dessert is Irish coffee chocolate mousse
360-853-7922

Buffalo Run Restaurant, Marblemount
Traditional boiled Irish dinner with corned beef and cabbage, carrots and potatoes
360-873-2103