The Prairie Rose Band

The public is invited to enjoy cowboy songs of the old west and of the west that never was, during a free performance of the Prairie Rose Band to be presented by the Menlo Park Library on Saturday, July 12.

Wearing colorful cowboy outfits that Gene Autry or Roy Rogers might well have worn, Prairie Rose delights audiences with a wide-ranging repertoire that begins with songs that were popular during the Civil War, and then packs in folk and camp songs, 1930s and '40s western swing, country hits from Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Carter Family & Jimmie Rodgers, a Cole Porter tune or two, some Stephen Foster, and even audience requests.

“People often come up to us and exclaim, ‘I haven’t heard that song since I was a child,’” says George Martin, the band’s banjo player. “Hearing tunes that people have almost forgotten they knew brings them a lot of pleasure.”The Prairie Rose Band is made up of Martin on banjo & vocals, Paula Scholten on guitar & vocals, Gene Tortora on eight-string Dobro (acoustic slide guitar) & vocals, and Mark Hedin on bass. The band travels throughout the greater Bay Area and well beyond, prompting much toe-tapping and singing-along.

The concert is part of the Menlo Park Library’s Adult Summer Reading program, which runs from June 9—August 9 and offers special programs and prizes to adult readers. Other adult-oriented programs will include a Peruvian cooking class, and a course on mastering Sudoku puzzles. Adults who complete the summer reading program will win a cup of coffee or tea donated by Café Zoe & a free book, and will be entered into a drawing for prizes donated by the Friends of the Menlo Park Library. Separate summer reading incentive programs are being offered for children and teens.

The free performance by the Prairie Rose Band is sponsored by the Friends of the Menlo Park Library, and will take place Saturday, July 12 at 11a.m. at the Menlo Park City Council Chambers, located at 701 Laurel Street. Free wheelchair accessible van service is available for Menlo Park area seniors and people with disabilities. Call 330-2512 for van reservations. For event details, visit www.menlopark.org/library.