Yard Dog Charlie’s Pine Island Labor Day BBQ celebration set
Yard Dog Charlie will be holding his 12th annual Pine Island Labor Day BBQ and Pine Island Food Pantry Supply Drive this Monday at Woody’s Waterside Island Bar & Grill.
Starting at 2 p.m., Yard Dog Charlie will perform his unique blend of Cajun, zydeco, bluegrass, country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll into what he calls “Florida Swamp Music.”
Playing a keyboard and accordion, Charlie is a lifelong musician and while with the popular Milwaukee based band Hat Trick, he performed with C.J. Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco and Jimmy Buffett. Charlie has also shared the stage with U-2, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon and others.
“This will be the 12th year of the BBQ and my first show back at Woody’s Waterside since getting back from Wisconsin,” Charlie said. “We will collect canned foods, toothpaste, soap, etc., that will be donated to the Pine Island Food Pantry. There will be raffles and a 50/50 drawing all to benefit the Pine Island Food Pantry.”
In 2002, Charlie helped found the now disbanded touring band The Yard Dogs, which has played from Wisconsin to Key West while producing 11 CDs in 10 years.
Charlie covers the songs of Credence Clearwater Revival, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Mary Chapin, Johnny Cash, Cheap Trick, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. He also writes his own unique tunes: “Git Yer Swamp On,” “My Zydeco Queen,” “Beer for Breakfast” and many others.
Charlie will have his CDs available for sale.
Charlie has been playing every Monday at Woody’s for 11 years. Mardi Gras Mondays, as they are called, have grown into a weekly event attended by people from all over the world.
“I schedule a few events every year to help out the local organizations,” Charlie said. “Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American worker. The Pine Island Food Pantry helps so many people on the island I hope everyone comes out to celebrate the national holiday and help this great cause.”