Performing as Blue Wolf Duo, Jerry and Shirley Spanhanks perform throughout Minnesota using the banjo, fiddle, accordion, dobro and guitar to provide incredible variety in their shows. They will be back to perform at Evansville Art Center on June 7.

Jerry Spanhanks was raised in a musical family in Texarkana, Arkansas. At the age of 9 his dad and mom formed a family country band. Performing with the Spanhanks Country Band for nine years, Jerry played lead guitar and sang. Jerry has won state guitar player in a contest in Minnesota twice. He started playing with bluegrass bands while trying to find the groove that musical artists strive for. Expect great playing on the banjo and dobro also.

Shirley Mauch Spanhanks grew up on a farm near Mooreton, North Dakota listening to her mom play piano, harmonica and accordion and she took accordion lessons for about four years. While working in Yellowstone National Park one summer, she was given a guitar and dabbled in folk songs. When she found Adam Granger teaching flatpicking, she became a lifelong student of his. She also studied bluegrass at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas.

Whether it is a bluegrass or country standard, or a specialty song from Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley or Patsy Cline, the duo gets the audience clapping and tapping their toes. The audience can also expect to hear waltzes, polkas (even on the guitar),  some novelty songs by George Jones and even an original or 2.  Be sure to listen for the phrase “Red River Girl (ND) and Red River Man (AR)” in one of their songs.

This is a show you won’t want to miss! The concert starts at 7:00 p.m. Doors will  open at 6:30.  There is no charge for this event. Please feel free to bring a treats to share at intermission. Beverages will be provided.

Evansville Art Center is located at 111 Main Street in Evansville and is handicap accessible.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund and in part through a Minnesota State Legislative general fund appropriation.