New Boston and Boscoe

I know Southwestern Indiana pretty well. There aren’t too many parts I have not explored, growing up here, and now publishing city magazines about all corners of the Tri-State.

Last weekend, friends invited us to their rural Spencer County home (near Newtonville, between Santa Claus and Grandview). Because the kids didn’t go, my husband’s drums could come along — but that’s a different blog entry. The occasion of the invite — besides good company, making music, and Sunday morning breakfast — was to see Daniel “Boscoe” France play in Ferdinand. Evansville Living featured France in the November/December 2012 issue, and I’d not yet seen the blues guitarist from Madisonville, Ky., play.

But before Boscoe, we made a stop in New Boston for dinner. I’d never heard of New Boston or the New Boston Tavern. Right after we walked into the crowded, worn roadhouse, I heard a pleasant, “Kristen, Kristen” — Evansville friends with a home in Christmas Lake Village had come for mass at St. John Chrysostom Catholic Church and for dinner at the New Boston Tavern. Our table enjoyed prime rib, steak, salmon, German fries, and green beans. Year-round, it’s all grilled outside behind the tavern.

Then it was on to Ferdinand American Legion Post No. 124 for the Boscoe France Band. Next to a large American flag hung by the stage, France, drummer Jimmy Cummings, and bass guitarist John Gillespie quickly warmed up the house — patrons who were there for the band, and the kick-off and lineup announcement for this summer’s Ferdinand Folk Festival.

France was better than billed. He played his Gibson guitar to the enthusiastic crowd with his incredible and unconventional slide skills, behind his back, over his head, with bare feet, head thrown back and eyes rolled – and then with his teeth.

The fourth annual Ferdinand Folk Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, in Ferdinand’s 18th Street Park. The event is family-friendly, will feature activities for all ages, and is free to attend. For additional information on the Ferdinand Folk Festival, visit www.ferdinandfolkfestival.com.