Dust off those cowboy boots, Honky Tonk Saturday Night is back in Chico this weekend.
Hosted at The Winchester Goose on the first Saturday of every month, attendees can take a line dancing class and enjoy local bands covering the best country music has to offer.
Winchester Goose bartender Marin Hambley and local musician Scout Parker launched the event this spring. Hambley said the idea first began as a casual conversation.
“We both just came to the table and shared a little bit about our love for country,” they said. “The gaps we see in access to country here for the queer, for the BIPOC communities and wanting a source for that sort of community sharing and dancing.”
Honky Tonk Saturday draws a crowd
Hambley said honky tonks have a long history that is rooted in many different communities. The term honky tonk describes a bar that provides access to country music and its associated culture. Parker said the event is a beautiful celebration of music, dance and overall country music culture.
“The origin of country music is very celebratory and freeing in general, so in the natural essence of it, it creates this vibe of relief,” Parker said.
The event is already proving to be a success, delivering a packed house month after month. Hambley said its opening night drew a lot of people.
“There was like 200 people synchronized dancing,” Hambley said. “You're learning the same steps. You don't have to know anything to step in the door. And I looked up at one point, I was working, and the whole bar was just in movement together.”
Honky Tonk Saturday centers inclusivity
With the help of Winchester Goose’s owners, Hambley and Parker aimed to create an environment that welcomed individuals from all backgrounds and provided a sense of belonging. Parker said they also strived to ensure the space still felt safe for every visitor.
“It's a celebration of a culture that for a long time, we all kind of kept secret, not all of us, but a lot of us kept secret,” he said. “And it feels freeing to just be like, ‘I know all these songs, I love this music. Do you?’”
Parker said he's been teased for listening to country music before.
“I've definitely been teased for being Black and listening to country music. My whole childhood, I was teased for that,” he said. “But the root of it is very Black, so it, ironically, definitely belongs with me.”
He said that country is a genre of music many genuinely love and should be able to express freely.
Hambley agreed with the idea of providing a space that served as a gathering place for individuals from all walks of life. The idea is to come together to create a shared experience through dance and music in the face of life’s challenges.
“A honky tonk overall is also rooted in a lot of poverty, and so it's a kind of spot where all of the others of the world gather and are there in whatever ways possible, with whatever means,” Hambley said.
But you don’t have to be a country music fan to enjoy the event.
“Anyone can walk in the room, have never heard a country song, never had access to go to dance lessons, never felt comfortable in these sort of more public performance spaces, and we try to meet everyone there,” Hambley said.
Saturday’s show will feature live music from local bands
Local band The Cheatin’ Hearts will perform again this weekend, other performers include local artist Nono San Pedro and Lake Tahoe band Everyday Outlaw. Line dancing lessons will start at 8 p.m.
Parker encourages those unfamiliar with line dancing or country to try it out.
“It's such a beautiful opportunity to try something new,” Parker said. “Make mistakes, look around, notice everyone else is making mistakes too, laugh at yourself, and then try again.”
The evening starts at 7 p.m. and is for those 21 and older.
