The Band

Sturgeon Bay based Bubble & Squeak played its first performance in 1993 with three of the current members. This performance followed about a year of occasional sessions to play Irish music. Their success inspired them to learn more tunes and expand the group. At that time the instruments played were tin whistles, guitar, mandolin, bodhran (the Irish drum) and hammered dulcimer. During the next three years the group added cello/fiddle & wooden flute.

Bubble & Squeak has played numerous public performances in Door County, including the Door Community Auditorium, Maifest, Olde Ellison Bay Days, Blossom Festival, Fyr Bal, the Maritime Festival, the Miller Art Museum, the Town Hall Bakery in Jacksonport, Bjorklunden, and the Red Barn on Washington Island. They also play for weddings, private parties and receptions. Members of the band additionally play in The Sugar on the Floor Barn Dance Orchestra and have played for over 40 barn dances during the last five years. Bubble & Squeak has two recordings.

A final note about the band is the answer to a question they are frequently asked: What is the meaning of the band's name? Bubble & Squeak is a combination of leftover potatoes and cabbage that is first boiled and then fried (look for the recipe on the back cover of their first recording). In the British Isles it is an unpretentious, satisfying meal commonly served to friends and family. Somehow the name seems to fit the band.

The Music

Their first recording, released in August, 1996, features many familiar reels, jigs, and polkas. Their second recording (which is out of print) released in November, 1998, is a Celtic Christmas recording featuring traditional Christmas carols mixed with traditional Celtic tunes.

The more standard Celtic instruments of fiddles, flute, tin whistles, guitar, mandolin, bones, and bodhran are augmented by hammered dulcimer, steel drum, low whistle, dumbek, string bass, and cello.

Contact

For bookings, questions, further information or to buy a cd contact Cy Rosenthal.

PO Box 517
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

920-743-7240 Evenings and Weekends

bubsqueak(at)hotmail.com

The Band

Hobson’s Choice was founded in 2002 by members of Bubble & Squeak who wanted to sing songs featuring fine harmonies. The group members are Jeff Bradley, Paul Klapatch, Bob Moellenberndt and Cy Rosenthal. They have performed at the 1st Avenue Pub in Sturgeon Bay, The Cork in Kewaunee, the Town Hall Bakery in Jacksonport, for private parties and weddings, and at various churches in Door County. The first recording by Hobson's Choice, "Take 1", was released in August of 2005. See below for details on how to purchase a copy.

Hobson's Choice, a definition: Hobson's choice is said to have had its origin in the name of one Thomas Hobson (ca. 1544-1631), at Cambridge, England, who kept a livery stable and required every customer to take either the horse nearest the stable door or none at all. In no time, people adopted Hobson's Choice to mean "an apparently free choice when there is no choice at all" in situations having nothing to do with horses.

The Music

The focus is on traditional vocal harmony singing as found in various folk traditions, including Bluegrass, old time spirituals, western songs, Irish songs, Sea Chanteys, jug band, Old Timey and other folk songs. Hobson’s Choice is even known to sing a Crosby, Stills & Nash song now and again.

While they sing numerous acapella songs, they also play a wide range of instruments: guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, Liliu ukulele, button accordion, concertina, tin whistle, low whistle, kazoo, washboard, along with various percussion instruments.

Contact

For bookings, questions, further information or to buy a cd contact Cy Rosenthal.

PO Box 517
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

920-743-7240 Evenings and Weekends

bubsqueak(at)hotmail.com