Features Editor
When Nick Easton, a native of Southern California, opened the Circus Bar in 2003, the experiment had just begun. Constantly at work trying new concepts to draw the public through his doors, Easton has always enjoyed the freedom of his job.
“It’s one of the main advantages to having your own business,” Easton said. “We’re always trying something different to see what works.”
After eight years of exploration, starting out with just a mere, solitary juke box, Easton may have finally found what he’s been looking for.
“Our slogan used to be: ‘Come to the circus, home of the singing jackasses,’ Now we’re quite a draw,” Easton said.
Adrian Hedden The Washtenaw Voice
Adrian Hedden The Washtenaw Voice
Adrian Hedden The Washtenaw Voice
Hosted every Wednesday, starting at 10:30 p.m., Bluegrass Night at the Circus has developed a dedicated following in just three short years as it packs the bar every week. Attributing its success to a large roots-rock fan base in Ann Arbor, Easton is glad that he has found a genre that the town, by large, has embraced.
“We seem to have hit a nerve with Bluegrass Night,” Easton said. “I think it’s because we got a lot of children of hippies around here. Bluegrass really took off. We expect about 300 people most of the time.”
Beginning with a posse of local bluegrass and roots-rock outfits including the Bearded Ladies, Black Jake and the Carnies, and Dragon Wagon. Easton is always on the hunt for remarkable talent to grace his stage.
“Right now we’re getting quality bluegrass bands from all over,” Easton said. “We’ve seen a lot of talented people here.”
Since Bluegrass Night began, Dragon Wagon, of Ann Arbor, has seen continued success. Taking its bluegrass-fusion with folk rock and Celtic influences on national tours throughout the Midwest, the band has seen the appeal of its panache take shape at many well-known music festivals, such as “Electric Forest” in Rothbury, Mich. last July.
“There’s a huge roots-rock music scene on the national scale,” said Don Sicheneder, guitarist and vocalist for Dragon Wagon. “But the Circus Bar is kind of our home gig.”
Founding the band with mandolinist Troy Radkin, of Hartland, Sicheneder hopes the band’s unique blend of traditional rock leanings will continue to expand the parameters of their music and strengthen the artistic statement for a modern audience.
“It’s not your grandaddy’s bluegrass,” Sicheneder said. “We call ourselves, bluegrass-folk rock with a shot of Irish whiskey. That pretty much says it best.”
Situated above the Millennium Club on South First Street, in downtown Ann Arbor, The Circus Bar has seen many themed events and nights come and go within its walls. Featuring rock, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, rockabilly, techno, dub-step, and even country in the past, the diverse music on tap at the Circus Bar is not its only draw.
“It’s a combination of things,” Easton said. “Really good music is of course number one, but we also offer free pool, popcorn and admission. Our drinks are priced reasonably, but we can mix fancy cocktails if that’s what someone orders. People don’t have to spend a lot of money here, but they can if they want. That’s important during a recession.”
Eric Huston, 25, from Ann Arbor has been enjoying the roots-rock experiment for eight months. Journeying to The Circus Bar, clad in flannel, to dance, drink, and enjoy the music with his friends, Huston sees the Circus as just another piece of the Ann Arbor experience.
“The bands always sound really good,” Huston said. “I try to come at least twice a month. “It’s really the local flavor.”
