Western ragtime duo performs at Dangberg Park

CW and Mr. Spoons will bring their western ragtime guitar — and a musical contraption called the “wonder bucket” — to the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Their music is both a novelty and deeply reflective of American music roots, serving as a platform for stories about the music, the songs, the forms, the instruments and CW’s 50 years of experience playing guitar and singing songs.

CW’s Nevada-flavored songs are in the style of the older material, and the two have performed across western Nevada and central California. Experienced guitar players will find interest in CW’s fingerpicking on his all-steel, 1930 National guitar. Mr. Spoons’ homemade “wonder bucket” gives the music lift and hilarity, with selections that both children and adults will enjoy.

CW has been singing on street corners and in saloons for 50 years. He has also participated in the Young Audiences program in Washoe County, toured the state providing music for original puppet shows in libraries, penned three children’s musicals, founded the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association, and has received two awards for song-writing from Sierra Arts.

Originally from Chicago, Mr. Spoons plays guitar and mandolin at home, but performs on his wonder bucket with CW.

The hour-long, outdoor performance costs $5 per person; tickets are only available at the performance while they last. Children 16 and younger enter free. The gate will open at 5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Soft drinks and water will be available for purchase, or visitors can bring a picnic and their favorite beverage.

The duo is the second of four concerts in the park’s Twilight Acoustic Series, sponsored by Bently Enterprises, SoaringNV, Douglas County, and the Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation. Others on the schedule in this year’s Twilight Acoustic Series are All Hat No Cattle performing country/western on July 24, and the Irish-Celtic music of Ciana on Aug. 28.

The park is located at 1450 Highway 88, about three quarters of a mile south of the Carson Valley Swim Center. The park’s full event schedule is at dangberghomeranch.org.